Is Mike Babcock Head Coach for the Detroit Red Wings Next Season?
Feb 21, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock watches his team warm up prior to the game between the Dallas Stars and the Red Wings during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Probably the biggest question for the Detroit Red Wings this off-season will be if Mike Babcock will be the head coach next season. This season ended again early into the playoffs for the Red Wings as they went seven games with the Tampa Bay Lightning before losing the series 4-3. One of the first questions asked by media and fans alike was: is Mike Babcock going to be the head coach next season?
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It is a situation that not only affects the Red Wings as a team, but can potentially affect a good amount of teams in the NHL. Babcock is a highly touted coach who really any team would love to have. His resume is spectacular to say the least. He coached the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup in the 07-08 season. He has won two gold medals with the Canadian National hockey team. Since 2001 Babcock has only missed making the playoffs once as a head coach. He has 527 wins and 458 of those are with the Red Wings, he may not be the greatest all time, but he is good.
So, does he come back next season? Honestly I don’t think anyone knows; I don’t think Babcock knows. He has spent 10 seasons in Detroit and while only winning one cup, he has kept this team at the top of the conference and continued their playoff streak to 24 years this season. Way back when the season was still a young one I wrote about why maybe not re-signing Babcock was a good idea. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but no matter what this will be one of the biggest stories that will be continuing throughout the post season and off-season.
Detroit Red Wings
Where would he go if he didn’t come back to the Red Wings? Well there is the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabers and San Jose Sharks are all in search of a new coach. Toronto has been one team that has shown a considerable amount of interest in Babcock. The Maple Leafs season started off well, but then a mid-season collapse caused the team to “tank” to get a better chance at the number one pick in the NHL Draft. They got the 4th pick.
If any team was going to get Babcock that wasn’t the Red Wings, it would be Toronto. It gives Babcock the ability to go coach in Canada where he is from. It allows him to try to do something different with another team. It is in all honesty a new place to try to conquer for Babcock.
Then again there is the Edmonton Oilers who have a team of first round picks and have the first round pick this year. They will more than likely get Connor McDavid in this years draft and the team could easily be a very good team with the right head coach. Mike Babcock, could be that coach that the Oilers need to be a good team again.
In the end, it is totally up to Mike Babcock about where he goes. He could stay with the Red Wings, or he could decide to take his coaching talent somewhere else. It becomes a waiting game for Red Wings fans, and fans of teams who don’t have head coaches. His choice affects so many teams it is a little scary, but an interesting thing as well.
Will he stay, or will he go? Let us know what you think below and don’t forget to stay connected to Detroit Jock City for all your Detroit Red Wings off-season news.