The clock is ticking on Detroit head coach Mike Babcock to make a decision on his future, but as zero hour closes in, the likelihood of the Stanley Cup and Olympic winning bench boss leaving the Motor City appears to be lessening.
“I’ll bet you by the 20th, I’m gonna know what I’m doing.… Babcock said to TSN’s Darren Dreger in Prague at the World Championships on Friday.…When your situation is as good as it is….in Detroit for me, I’ve said this before…there is not a better job, there’s a different job, so you got to be careful.…
The Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly expressed interest, but all four teams did not qualify for the playoffs and are in various stages of retooling or rebuilding, as is the Red Wings who have aging core players in Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall, but also have a crop of impressive youngsters led by Gustav Nyqvist and Tomas Tatar.
“I think about the Red Wings are an Original Six franchise and that’s a special, special thing.… Babcock said. “I think about the opportunity to win, I think about my family, my time in Detroit. Is change important to invigorate you? I think about lots of things.…
The scenario that seems to offer similar benefits to Detroit for Babcock is Buffalo, who would be prepared to spend top dollar for a prominent coach as owner Terry Pegula did with the Bills by hiring former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and familiarity with his GM(Sabres GM Tim Murray worked with Babcock in the Anaheim organization for two years). Philadelphia and San Jose do not offer familiarity, but have a better chance to win right away with talented rosters on hand.
Toronto offers the component of an Original Six franchise, security in terms of financial compensation and the biggest challenge of any of the rumored clubs, but the opportunity to win is not something that is realistic with the Leafs, as they are planning to move most of their core players and rebuild with young players through the draft, which could take three to four years to come to fruition.
Babcock’s comments in Prague and the fact that he has spent most of the trip with Wings GM Ken Holland evaluating prospects like Detroit first rounder Dylan Larkin are indicative of someone not anxious to leave the organization unless there is an opportunity too good to pass up. Buffalo possibly offers that with the prospect of drafting Jack Eichel and molding a group of young talent, but Toronto does not.
The Leafs could quickly switch focus to Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill. The Calder Cup winning coach is the heir apparent in Detroit if Babcock leaves for greener pastures, but would be blocked if Babcock re-signs with the Wings. A head coach may be a better fit in Toronto, who will not have the pressure and expectation of winning right away and has experience working with young players readying themselves for the NHL.
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Eastern Conference Final Prediction
New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous Series - New York – defeated Pittsburgh in 5 games, Washington in 7 games Tampa Bay – defeated Detroit in 7 games, Montreal in 6 games
New York Strengths
Two shutdown defensive pairings in Ryan McDonagh/Dan Girardi and Marc Staal/Kevin Klein that can match up against the Lightning’s top two lines centered by Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson.
Team speed that can stay with the fast skating Tampa Bay offense.
A rested and experienced Henrik Lundqvist, who has been at the top of his game after missing two months to injury.
Tampa Bay Strengths
The Lightning have more offensive weapons than the Rangers and have 34 goals in 13 post-season games(2.61 GPG), as opposed to New York who is averaging just two goals per game and relying on Lundqvist to be near perfect.
Tampa enters the series the healthier of the two teams. Concussion issues may keep both Mats Zuccarello and Dan Boyle from playing in Game 1. Veteran forward Martin St. Louis was used sparingly in the third period and overtime of Game 7 and has only four assists in 12 games in spite of being moved up to play on the Rangers top line with Derick Brassard and Rick Nash.
Tampa is also arguably the deeper of the two clubs up front. The Rangers injuries mean more minutes for Jesper Fast, rookie Kevin Hayes, James Shepherd and Tanner Glass, while the Lightning have veterans Brian Boyle, Brenden Morrow and Valtteri Filppula in the bottom six.
New York Keys To Victory
New York needs to continue being successful at playing a suffocating defensive game and neutralize Tampa’s offense. If the Lightning succeeds in making the series a track meet, the Rangers will need St. Louis and Rick Nash to be more successful to keep pace.
The Rangers will have to generate pressure and more traffic in front of Ben Bishop, who helps Tampa’s defensive corps with his puck handling ability. Bishop showed that he could be distracted early in the Detroit and Montreal series, but played better late in each series.
Tampa Bay Keys To Victory
Tampa needs to take advantage of the chink in the Rangers armor, the third defensive pairing of Keith Yandle and either Matt Hunwick or Boyle. Yandle is a plus player offensively but has shown a propensity for giveaways so far. Boyle has shown his age in the playoffs and may be cloudy after getting freight trained by Brooks Orpik. If Rangers coach Alain Vigneault gives his top two pairings the lion’s share of the ice time, then the Lightning forwards must hit them to wear them down.
Prediction –Tampa in 6
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It was confirmed earlier this week that the Leafs would be selecting 4th and 24th in the upcoming NHL Draft. The Hockey News Draft Preview projected Erie center Dylan Strome in the fourth slot and Ottawa 67’s pivot Travis Konecny at #24.
The publication expected has Otters center Connor McDavid at #1, Boston U’s Jack Eichel at #2 and Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin 3rd, which would leave the OHL leading scorer or runner up Mitch Marner of the London Knights for the Maple Leafs.
The diminutive Konecny showed off his impressive skill set at the CHL Top Prospects game in St. Catharines earlier this year and had 29 goals in 60 games with Ottawa this season and many draft lists have the top pick in the 2013 OHL Draft going in the mid teens, but concerns over concussions and injuries could drive his stock down slightly which could make him available to the Leafs with the pick acquired from Nashville for Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli.
The Hockey News had defenseman Ryan Pilon (the 24th player on NHL Central Scouting’s list) ranked at #100, Prince George center Jansen Harkins(24th on McKeen’s Hockey’s Scott Wheeler list) 21st overall and Kelowna winger Nick Merkley ranked 15th overall.
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