San Jose and St. Louis have joined Buffalo and Toronto in asking permission to speak with Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who has said he expects to have a decision about his future by Wednesday.
Babcock planned to return after today's gold medal game between Canada and Russia in the World Hockey Championships in Prague. An NHL source said he believes Babcock will meet with San Jose General Manager Doug Wilson on his return, probably on Monday. Babcock previously met with Toronto and Buffalo, and it's likely he met with St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong, who also attended the Worlds in the Czech Republic.
Neither Philadelphia nor Edmonton -- both widely speculated to be among the contenders for Babcock's services -- have sought permission from the Wings, the source said.
Detroit has asked for a third-round draft pick in the next three years from any club that signs Babcock away from Detroit.
Babcock, 52, is the NHL's most sought-after free agent after spending 10 years with the Red Wings and allowing his contract to expire despite two offers from Detroit that would have made him the highest-paid coach in the league. Chicago's Joel Quenneville, who's making a run at a third Stanley Cup, is tops now at $2.9 million.
In September, the Wings made an offer of $3.25 million for four years, but the bidding now is expected to hit at least $5 million a season.
Ownership in Toronto and Buffalo can easily pay that or more, and both franchises are desperate to make a move like this to rejuvenate a disenfranchised fan base. But both are long-term reclamation projects -- rebuilding teams that Babcock has said he's not interested in because he likes winning too much.
San Jose is widely perceived to be a strong team that has underachieved in the playoffs under Todd McLellan, who appears to be the front-runner for the Edmonton coaching job. But the Sharks, who have seen attendance fall dramatically, are losing money and may not be able to afford a big-ticket coach.
Moreover, Babcock would be walking into a situation he's been nervous about in Detroit, with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in the twilights of their careers. So, in San Jose, are Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.
St. Louis is by far the best team of the four options Babcock has outside of Detroit, but the Blues have underachieved in the playoffs as well in three seasons under Ken Hitchcock -- who is in limbo right now, not fired and not re-signed. But the Blues are a franchise that has to struggle to break even, and Babcock may be too rich for their blood, too.
So increasingly it feels like Detroit may wind up being Babcock's best option -- if the Red Wings are willing to pay what Babcock is commanding in the market these days.
But that's no slam-dunk, either.
