Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday afternoon that the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly filed the necessary paperwork to surrender a third round draft choice if/when Mike Babcock decides to leave Detroit. The third round draft choice is the agreed to compensation that it will take for a competitor to hire Babcock away from the Red Wings. Not a huge price to pay for a Hall Of Fame head coach, in my own humble opinion.
"As of (Friday) night, only two teams had officially filed for permission, agreeing to give up compensation if they hired Mike Babcock and that was Toronto and Buffalo," Friedman said on Hockey Night in Canada's Rangers vs. Lightning broadcast.
"So unless when he comes back from the ( IIHF World Championship) this week, someone else does it, it's going to be the Maple Leafs, the Sabres or the Red Wings."
Thanks, Sportsnet
It's a three horse race between Buffalo, Toronto, and Detroit to hire Babcock.
Friedman says that the Sabres are preparing a "big pitch" to land Babcock.
Babcock told TSN's Darren Dreger on Friday night that he expects to have a decision made on his coaching future by May 20. Babcock will return to Detroit on Sunday May 17.
Last Saturday, he visited with Toronto.
Babcock spent the majority of Mother's Day Sunday in Buffalo with Tim Murray and the Pegulas. He then flew home late Sunday night and departed for the Czech Republic on Monday.
Babcock has been Red Wings bench boss for the past 10 seasons.
"Now it's believed that the Sabres are putting together a big pitch," Friedman said Saturday. "That doesn't mean they're going to get him. However, it does look like we're finally heading to a conclusion this week."
Babcock, 52, will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
He will become the highest paid head coach in NHL history when he inks his new deal. He will earn north of $5 million per season for six or seven seasons. A source that I have spoken with tells me that Buffalo will not be outbid for Babcock. If that means given Babcock a six year, $40 million deal, then so be it. Money will be no object for Terry and Tim Pegula, whoclosed the deal for Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan for 5 years and $27 million.
The Leafs can play a dollar for dollar game of chicken with Buffalo and Detroit. That will happen when MLSE, Bell and Rogers are a virtual printing press for Benjamins. However, the Leafs have a below average lineup right now. Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf are as good as gone at the NHL Draft. You think Babcock is going to go all-in on JVR, Bozak, and a couple of vets and top prospect William Nylander? Sorry. Leafs honk. Your team hasn't even begun the tear down phase of it's rebuild. You still have to endure the pain and suffering that Sabres fans have endured the past two and a half years. Realistically, the Leafs are 4 years away from being a true Stanley Cup contender. Babcock wants to win now, not when he's pushing 57 years of age. Thanks for playing, Toronto.
It's really a two horse race between Buffalo and Detroit.
The Pegula and Illitch families both want Babcock. Question is, what does Babcock want for himself and his family? I've watched the Darren Dreger TSN sit down interview with Babcock and Holland. I keep coming back to Babcock not knowing how to tell his great friend and boss, Holland, that he is in the midst of a mid-hockey-life-crisis and that he wants to pursue and new challenge in another NHL city. That new city is Buffalo, NY where he will work in lock step with his good friend Tim Murray. The Buffalo pipeline of talent is the best that the NHL has to offer with Jack Eichel set to join Samson Reinhart, Zemgus Girgensons, Zach Bogosian, Evander Kane, Rasmus Ristolainen, Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno, Nikita Zadorov, Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe, Nic Deslauriers, Connor Hurley, JT Compher, Nick Baptiste, Justin Bailey, Linus Ullmark and others. What's more,Murray has $38 million in salary cap space to invest in free agents. He will take a hard charge at Ryan O'Reilly and a scoring top six winger like Tyler Toffoli or Patrick Sharp.
The Sabres are on the warpath. The losing is over.
Mike Babcock can step right in place his indelible thumb print on this fine young collection of talent. The Pegulas will pay him north of $40 million, too.
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