- Ansar Khan of MLive: Red Wings coach Mike Babcock will make a decision on his future next week, before the deadline that GM Ken Holland set.
“Mike said he expected a decision way before May 25,” Holland said.
“Nothing has changed from my part. I’m waiting for Mike to talk to some teams and make a decision. He met with a couple of teams prior to coming to Prague. I had teams sign the compensation letter. I’m in a holding pattern.”
Babcock in an interview with Darren Dreger of TSN.
“I bet you by the 20th I’m going to know what I’m doing. This has been an interesting process. I brought this on myself.”
Babcock spoke with the Maple Leafs and Sabres before he left for the World Championships. Holland won’t say which other teams have asked permission to speak with Babcock.
“I’m happy to hear Mike will make a decision by May 25,” Holland said. “From our perspective, the sooner the better. If he stays we can get on with other things. If he leaves we can start the process to finding a replacement.”
Babcock in the Dreger interview.
“The Red Wings are an Original Six franchise, a special, special thing. I think about the opportunity to win. I think about my family and my time in Detroit. Is change important to invigorate you? I think about lots of things.”
He added, “I’ve done enough thinking. It’s time to make a decision here pretty quick. I’m a big picture guy, but I’m also an immediate gratification guy, too, because I like winning.”
- CSN Philly: Babcock said that he’s received multiple offers, but wouldn’t name the teams. In his TSN interview:
“When your situation is as good as it is in Detroit for me — I’ve said this before, there’s not a better job, there’s a different job,” Babcock said. “So, you’ve got to be careful.”
“I’m leaning to make a good decision.”
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquire: Sources say that Babcock will have a hard time convincing his wife to leave their suburban Detroit home. The Flyers, Leafs and Sabres are among the teams that are interested in Babcock. Flyers GM Ron Hextall wouldn’t say whether he’ll meet with Babcock early next week. It’s believed that Hextall and Babcock has spoke over the phone.