Mike Babcock made his decision on Wednesday: He will coach the Toronto Maple Leafs. That's according to numerous well-placed hockey sources, including Darren Dreger of Canada's TSN and Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.
Long believed interested in Babcock and widely seen as a logical landing spot, the Leafs jumped back into the bidding on Wednesday. Get this: at $50 million over eight years.
Mike Babcock (Getty Images)
To make this day even crazier, Guy Boucher is meeting with TOR. Assistant coach?
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 20, 2015That sound you hear is every current and future NHL coach clinking beers with Mike Babcock. Just changed the way hockey coaches are paid.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 20, 2015There was no immediate confirmation of Babcock's decision. An announcement was expected Wednesday evening.
Wednesday was decision day for Babcock, whose coaching options before the Leafs' final push appeared to be these: $4 million a year for four years to stay with the Detroit Red Wings; or $5 million a year for six years with the Buffalo Sabres.
A massive deal would bring a conclusion to #Babwatch. It also had Twitter exploding with jokes, comments and half-truths.
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Reports were flying Wednesday that the Red Wings and Sabres dropped out of the Babcock bidding. At midday it appeared three teams were left in the mix: the Leafs, the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues also appeared to drop out Wednesday, settling on the return of Ken Hitchcock, according to Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford. Other reports wondered whether the Blues were in the mix at all.
And the Sharks also appeared to end their pursuit of Babcock in favor of other options.
Babcock's 10 years with the Wings produced Stanley Cup playoff appearances every season, with a win in 2008 and a second appearance in 2009.
The Sabres could well become the 2015-16 season's team to watch, with good young talent and a chance to draft and sign Jack Eichel, an American college prospect, at No. 2 overall.
Other teams believed interested in Babcock: the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and for a while the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers.
MORE: Four reasons why Babcock should take Sabres' offer
Ahead of Wednesday's the Wings reportedly increased their offer to $4 million a year for five years, MLive.com's Ansar Khan reported.
Babcock, 52, had set May 25 as his deadline for a decision on his future, but told media members last week he might not wait past May 20.
"I've done enough thinking," Babcock said. "It's time to make a decision here pretty quick."
The Sabres offer something the Wings don't: a future. Detroit's roster is aged and likely near an overhaul. GM Ken Holland will rebuild with or without Babcock. Buffalo's grand plan began last season, and although the Sabres lost the NHL Draft lottery, seeing the Oilers get the first overall pick, they do have a head start of a rebuild.
The Leafs are not likely to land Babcock, according to media reports. The Leafs are likely to land Babcock, according to other media reports. Babcock met with Sharks officials this week and with Blues GM Doug Armstrong last week at the world hockey championships in the Czech Republic.
Holland made it clear he wanted Babcock back but granted him the courtesy of speaking with other teams as a reward for 10 years of success.
"My attitude with the Detroit Red Wings has always been that we want people in Detroit because they want to be in Detroit," Holland said.
"This is an opportunity for Mike, if he's not the best coach in the game he's on a small list of the best coaches in the game and it's an opportunity to decide that we are the best fit."
Babcock worked with Sabres GM Tim Murray when they were with the Anaheim Ducks; Babcock's first appearance in the Stanley Cup finals was with that team in 2003.
Babcock's Wings contract expires June 30. He rebuffed team offers for a new contract during the season.
"He's an unrestricted free agent in the prime of his career,” Holland told earlier this month.
If Babcock leaves the Wings, Jeff Blashill is expected to take over as coach. Blashill coaches the team's AHL Grand Rapids affiliates, giving him insight into the roster. He is a former Babcock assistant and to some observers the second coming of Babcock in speech and mannerisms.
Blashill, 41, told the Detroit Free Press:
"My ultimate goal is to be head coach in the NHL someday. But the most important thing is that what you are doing currently, you do the best you can. Opportunities come as they come."
A 2013 AHL championship cemented Blashill as a Wings' future coach, and the team signed him to a long-term contract to keep other franchises away.
"I know that I work for an organization that values me, and the contract last year was proof of that," Blashill told the Free Press. "In reverse, I value working for them. I know how lucky I am to work for organization with the long-term success they've had. I've been fortunate to coach a group of real good prospects. It's been a great experience, and I will continue to enjoy it here."