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Pegulas, Murray, Babcock Have Mother Of All Meetings |
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Updated 9:16 pm:
Thanks, WKBW-TV
Here are the facts:
Mike Babcock was in Buffalo for his meeting with Sabres GM Tim Murray and Terry and Kim Pegula.
The photo below shows Babcock walking through the parking garage at First Niagara Center. That's Murray in the background of the photo.
Murray and Babcock are friends and former co-workers. Murray hired Babcock to be the head coach of the then Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.
It was 85 and muggy in Buffalo on Sunday and Babcock was wearing a Sunday suit. This was no brunch encounter. It was a job interview.
The group left the arena together. Were they headed to dinner?
Babcock rode shotgun for Pegula as the two men drove away from the arena. The two men drove together to the Buffalo Airport.
Pegula likely dropped of Babcock in Detroit before flying back to his home to Boca Raton, Florida.
My guess is that Mrs. Babcock will be picking up her husband from the airport. They likely will spend a couple of hours discussing the Pegula courtship and the glorious opportunity that awaits the Babcock family in Pegulaville.
Let's review Babcock's criteria for his next coaching job:
1). Great Relationship with his GM. Check.
2). Strong Relationship with his owner. Check.
3). The Plan to win the Stanley Cup. Check.
4). Assets/Roster" Eichel, Reinhart, Girgensons, Ristolainen, Zadorov, etc.. Check.
5). Salary North of $5M+ per season. Check.
Terry and Kim Pegula look to be in the first position to close Babcock which will make him the highest paid head coach in NHL history.
Babcock will be flying to Prague in the morning. Or, will he be heading to Boca Raton for a round two discussion with Murray and the Pegulas?
According to the AP, Babcock told the Pegulas and Murray that it will take a week or so to make a decision on his future. Babcock informed the Sabres that he still intends to travel to the World Hockey championships currently taking place in the Czech Republic. The tournament runs through May 17.
Babcock has also told people close to him that he doesn't want a long, drawn out courtship with the team that he signes with.
More to come....
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The HARBORCenter employee has since deleted all of his tweets from his timeline that refer to Mike Babcock being in Buffalo for his facilities tour and meeting with Tim Murray, Terry and Kim Pegula.
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Mike Babcock sighting in Buffalo. In fact, Babcock is reportedly inside Terry Pegula's HARBORCenter complex right now.
According to a tweet sent out by a Harbor Center concessions employee, Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock has been seen touring the Sabres' facilities with Tim Murray and Terry and Kim Pegula in the 6:00 hour (eastern time ) on Sunday night.
On Friday afternoon, Detroit GM Ken Holland gave his permission to Babcock to speak with other teams. On May 1, Holland said that he was going to strictly enforce the contract that he has with Babcock, whose contract expires on June 30. Babcock and Holland commuted together to a Grand Rapids Griffins playoff game on Sunday May 3.
Holland said Friday that Babcock has "earned the right" to pursue offers from other NHL teams after his 10 years of loyal service to to the Wings. Babcock reportedly met with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. He is scheduled to fly to Prague, Czech Republic later tonight to speak with other teams and to scout the IIHF World Championships.
The Toronto Maple Leafs spoke with Babcock on Saturday. The Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, and San Jose Sharks are in need of a head coach as well and will be throwing their bucket in the ring.
Babcock won the Stanley Cup in 2007-08. He never missed teh playoffs in his 10 year career in Detroit.
The Sabres fired Ted Nolan on April 12 after finishing 30th overall in the NHL standings for the second season in a row.
More to come...
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