Next summer’s unrestricted free agent list got slightly smaller on Thursday, as the Ottawa Senators locked up winger Bobby Ryan with a seven-year, $50.75 Million contract extension. With Boston’s David Krejci agreeing to an extension last month, Dallas center Jason Spezza, Capitals blueliner Mike Green, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Sabres winger Chris Stewart may be the target of high-dollar contract offers next July, but the free agent who could have the biggest impact may be Detroit head coach Mike Babcock.
Red Wings GM Ken Holland has been seeking to get a deal done with the Stanley Cup and two-time Olympic winner before next week, since Babcock will not negotiate an extension during the regular season, but according to Detroit reporter Ansar Khan , the chances of the two sides reaching an agreement by October 8 are quickly fading.
"Sometimes negotiations take a week, sometimes a month, sometimes they take 4-5 months," Holland said."We both agreed our talks should be private, I don't know that there should be a Mike Babcock watch. We want focus to be on the team."
The hesitancy in signing a new deal with Detroit could be tactics to get Babcock the highest salary of any coach in the NHL, it could be a recognition that the days of Detroit being Stanley Cup contenders are done (with future Hall-of-Famer Nicklas Lidstrom retired and aging stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg constantly injured) or it may be the realization that his demanding brand of coaching can be tuned out by players after hearing it over and over for nine seasons.
Babcock’s name has been continuously linked with the Maple Leafs, who have their own uncertain coaching situation with head coach Randy Carlyle entering the season. Carlyle’s job security is tenuous after a late collapse last March cost the club the chance to make the playoffs for the second straight year.
The more modern methods of Babcock could have more success in Toronto than the supposedly archaic philosophy of Carlyle and the Leafs would be seen as going in a new direction if they brought in one of the most respected coaches in the league, but that tune is similar to the one heard when the 2007 Stanley Cup winner replaced Ron Wilson in March, 2012.
Carlyle did not stop being a good coach once he stepped behind the Leafs bench. Any potential replacement would face the same challenges in Toronto as their current coach, getting core players Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul to buy into playing at both ends of the ice, getting youngsters Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri to not giveaway the puck and establishing a coherent team defensive philosophy that can limit shots on goal and scoring opportunities.
This first season under Brendan Shanahan is expected to be a transition year in Toronto. Carlyle’s future hinges on the club getting more production from players acquired during the summer and from returning veterans David Clarkson and James Reimer. If those changes fail and Babcock is free next summer, Toronto could very well be his final destination, but the only way his presence will make any difference is if the Leafs also make those “culture change… moves they referred to incessantly last spring.
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The Leafs practiced in the final day of their three-day retreat in Collingwood, ON in preparation for their final exhibition game against Detroit on Friday. Veteran blueliner Stephane Robidas is expected to play for the first time and was paired with team captain Dion Phaneuf on Thursday. Injured defenseman Cody Franson did not skate and remains day-to-day with a bruised knee.
Forward Phil Kessel left practice early due to soreness, but it did not appear to be anything of a serious nature. Winger David Clarkson wore a full face shield to protect his partially cracked orbital bone and will be medically reevaluated on Friday before playing on Friday.
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