Mike Babcock called Thursday his worst day during the decade he’s served as coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
Will Wednesday’s 2-0 Game 7 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning be Babcock’s final one as coach of the team?
That question will be debated from today until the day either Babcock signs a new contract with the team or opts to end his 10-year tenure as Detroit bench boss and move on to another job.
Potentially becoming hockey’s most sought-after unrestricted free agent does not appear to be a prospect he seems excited about in the least.
“I don't know about that, if I look forward to this at all, to tell you the truth,… Babcock said. “The worst day I've had in coaching in Detroit period in my 10 years here was yesterday, bar none.
“Was that because I thought in my heart we were going to win that series and we should still be playing? Was that because of what's coming? I don't know the answer to that but I just know that there's a 24-hour rule in my house for sulking and I used all 24 hours.…
As the Wings packed their bags during Friday’s season-ending locker clean out at Joe Louis Arena, Babcock didn’t sound at all like a guy looking for an exit.
“I've been here for 10 years and they've been fantastic,… Babcock said. “My kids got to grow up here and the Ilitch family's looked after me and we've had a great run. We're the only team in the National Hockey League that's been able to make the playoffs 10 times in that span.
“I'm proud of what we've done here and I'm proud of my relationship with our leadership group and with the ownership and with the general manager. I'm going to think about all those things.
“I moved a lot to lots of new jobs. When I went someplace before, there was always a better job.
“There's no better job.…
Babcock was also adamant that having more say in personnel moves or sitting in the GM’s chair won’t be an enticement for him to move elsewhere.
“As far as being a general manager, that's not happening for me because that's not where my skill set is, that's not where my interest is,… Babcock said. “So do I want to have input? Yes. Do I have input here? Lots.…
Detroit GM Ken Holland let it be known that Babcock is the man he wants behind the team’s bench and owner Mike Ilitch feels the same way.
Holland also insisted that money – many expect Babcock to set a new salary standard for NHL coaches – wouldn’t be a stumbling block in the negotiating process.
“If anybody is going to question our owner’s commitment to anything he owns I would say our owner is committed as anybody in in professional sports to the city and to the team,… Holland said.
Holland doesn’t believe that money will be the reason why Babcock leaves, if he chooses to do so.
“When I sit down with players, money is one of the things you talk about but there are other things you need to talk about,… Holland said.
“In Mike’s case he understands the relationship between the manager and the coach. We’ve lived together for 10 years. I hired him in 2005. I’ve known Mike since the early 90s when he was coaching in Spokane (of the WHL). I really got to know Mike well when he was the coach in (AHL) Cincinnati - half the team was Detroit players and the other half was Anaheim players - so there’s a relationship.
“We’ve worked together. He came to my daughter’s wedding in British Columbia two years ago. Not only is there a professional relationship there’s a personal relationship.
“But I also know and understand in the end sometimes that doesn’t mean 100 percent it’s going to end the way you want.…
Babcock admitted that the Detroit area has become home for his family and that would be tough to give up.
“I still go home to Saskatoon,… Babcock explained. “My dad moved all over the world in the mining business and then stayed in Saskatoon. I still have a house outside there.
“Roots are important too so there's lots of things into it. What I found is every time I speak right now, someone tries to read into what I said. I wouldn't read anything into it because there's nothing there. There is nothing because I don't know myself. And if you think I'm trying to snow you or something, I'm not. I don't have any idea. I'm going to go through it in a logical manner and make some decisions."
“My wife (Maureen) and I will go through a process and Kenny and I will go through a process and within 10 days we'll have a plan. I'm not letting this go forever and neither is Kenny.
“We'll decide what we're going to do.…
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