Trent Yawney was hired as coach of the Blackhawks, not a bad fit, especially with only 10 players under contract, he and Dave Tallon can fit a team to their styles.LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have new owners and a new general manager. Now, they're looking for a new coach.
Mike Babcock rejected an offer to remain with the Mighty Ducks, and could be headed to Detroit to coach the Red Wings.
``I received a call from Mike Babcock last night, and he told me he was not going to accept the offer of a one-year extension that I had tendered to him and that he was taking another opportunity,'' Ducks general manager Brian Burke said Thursday on a conference call.
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Babcock's original deal with the Ducks, a two-year contract with a one-year extension, expired June 30.
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland planned a news conference for Friday morning to talk about Detroit's coaching vacancy but declined to discuss specifics when contacted Thursday night.
``I'll talk to you tomorrow,'' he said.
Burke, hired by new owners Henry and Susan Samueli last month, met with Babcock shortly after taking the job, and made the one-year offer last week, giving Babcock a week to decide.
Burke said the team was asked if they could ``sweeten the pot'' or extend the deadline, and firmly declined.
``I said, `No.' I was not going to add a penny, extend the deadline a day,'' Burke said. ``There was no negotiation here.''
The 42-year-old Babcock led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago during his first season in Anaheim. They didn't make the playoffs in 2003-04, and last season was canceled because of the NHL lockout.
The Ducks were 69-76-19 in two years under Babcock.
Babcock, speaking at a charity golf tournament in Saskatchewan, told The Canadian Press that Bobby Brett, his adviser, has assured him he will coach in the NHL.
Red Wings coach Dave Lewis' contract also expired June 30.
Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with Lewis.
The Red Wings won three Stanley Cups in six seasons under Scotty Bowman before Lewis took over. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Ducks in 2003 and in the second round the following year.
Burke said the coaching search has already started, and there is no timeline for a decision.
``We'll take our time and do a thorough job,'' he said. ``We're putting together a short list (of candidates). We have requested permission to interview a couple candidates who are employed by other teams.''
Burke said previous head coaching experience wasn't a requirement.
``I don't think you should start a search by excluding anybody,'' he said.
What is required is someone committed to up-tempo hockey and contributing to the community.
``In my system, you are either moving the puck north and south or you are in aggressive pursuit of the puck,'' Burke said. ``I am in the entertainment business, I make no bones about it.''
Burke also said he didn't believe making an offer of more than one year to Babcock would have been the right thing to do.
``I respect Mike. I've met him,'' Burke said. ``There's got to be a philosophical and psychological fit. For me to commit to more than a year would be to propose to a girl on the first date.''
Burke said he hasn't been contacted by Detroit, and although Babcock's contract had expired, he would regard Babcock's hiring by the Red Wings as a ``shocking breach of etiquette.''
Coaching carousel
Moderator: Shoalzie
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Cross Traffic
- Eternal Scobode
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Coaching carousel
Lets see, the Wings are going from Dave Lewis to Mike Babcock, what in the hell is Ken Holland smoking? Wings fans will just LOVE his boring style.
Re: Coaching carousel
Well, if Babcock is a good coach, he'll arrange his style to suit the types of players he has. He won't necessarily play this "boring" style you speak of. Besides, last I checked, Wingfans like winning, just like most other fans in the league.Cross Traffic wrote:Lets see, the Wings are going from Dave Lewis to Mike Babcock, what in the hell is Ken Holland smoking? Wings fans will just LOVE his boring style.
Is it actually a requirement of yours to be completely against anything Ducks, no matter how myopic it seems?
Still a FlameFan
Another example of why the Wings are such a great organization.
Rather than bitter about getting out-coached in 2003, they go and pick up the guy that out-coached them.
Dave Lewis was just a pale imitation of the greatest coach ever. It's not his fault, but trying to get guys to respond like you're Scotty Bowman when you aren't Scotty Bowman was a bad idea (see early playoff exits 2 years in a row....severely outcoached both years.) That's why Smith won't be effective as a head coach for this team. Same message, different peice of paper.
A good move for Detroit to keep some of their stars motivated as others retire. It will be a good fit.
If you can't beat 'em....buy 'em. :wink:
Rather than bitter about getting out-coached in 2003, they go and pick up the guy that out-coached them.
Dave Lewis was just a pale imitation of the greatest coach ever. It's not his fault, but trying to get guys to respond like you're Scotty Bowman when you aren't Scotty Bowman was a bad idea (see early playoff exits 2 years in a row....severely outcoached both years.) That's why Smith won't be effective as a head coach for this team. Same message, different peice of paper.
A good move for Detroit to keep some of their stars motivated as others retire. It will be a good fit.
If you can't beat 'em....buy 'em. :wink:
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Captain Haddock
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Burke: Babcock, I should run you out of town. That's just the way it is. I will, however, offer you a one year token deal.
Babcock: Fuck you, that's slap in the face. I'm a contenda! The Wings are offering me a 3 year feeler deal.
Holland: Babcock, shut the hell up! Dave, you still have a job. But if you were to field offers we wouldn't be angry. *wink-nudge*
Lewis: Brian, are you looking?
Burke: Fuck off
Babcock: Fuck you, that's slap in the face. I'm a contenda! The Wings are offering me a 3 year feeler deal.
Holland: Babcock, shut the hell up! Dave, you still have a job. But if you were to field offers we wouldn't be angry. *wink-nudge*
Lewis: Brian, are you looking?
Burke: Fuck off
Lily-livered bandicoots!
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Cross Traffic
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al? wrote:Another example of why the Wings are such a great organization.
Rather than bitter about getting out-coached in 2003, they go and pick up the guy that out-coached them.
Dave Lewis was just a pale imitation of the greatest coach ever. It's not his fault, but trying to get guys to respond like you're Scotty Bowman when you aren't Scotty Bowman was a bad idea (see early playoff exits 2 years in a row....severely outcoached both years.) That's why Smith won't be effective as a head coach for this team. Same message, different peice of paper.
A good move for Detroit to keep some of their stars motivated as others retire. It will be a good fit.
If you can't beat 'em....buy 'em. :wink:
Lewis was behind the bench for the Wings for a long time...most feel the players just got tired of hearing him and Holland figures it's better to find a fresh, new voice. Babcock is a fiery guy, which is the exact opposite of the mild-mannered Lewis. Considering how much a facelift the Wings are going to need to get under the cap, I guess it only makes sense that they finally go out of the organization to get a new coach. Yzerman probably will play another year so you've got his leadership in the dressing room. A change wouldn't hurt...just find it curious that it took this long to make a decision. I would've given Lewis another year but since the team is going to look drastically different...hiring a new coach seems like a natural thing to do.
It's official, Babcock becomes the Wings' new coach...
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID ... ubName=nhl
The Wings need to trim a lot of fat from their payroll to make it under the cap. I'm betting 3 or 4 out of Joseph, Chelios, Hatcher, Whitney, and Lang will be bought out and not re-signed and I'm sure they'd love to re-do Lidstrom's huge contract. Yzerman and Shanahan are probably coming back at the same price. You'll see a lot of Niklas Kronwall for sure...the top defenseman from the AHL last season. Igor Grigorenko's status is up in the air...I'm thinking he's still going to be in Europe for one more year. A huge rumor out there already is Khabibulin somehow ending up in Detroit but I'm betting on Legace being the starting goalie going into camp with Joey MacDonald as the backup. Should be an interesting offseason for the Wings for sure.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID ... ubName=nhl
The Wings need to trim a lot of fat from their payroll to make it under the cap. I'm betting 3 or 4 out of Joseph, Chelios, Hatcher, Whitney, and Lang will be bought out and not re-signed and I'm sure they'd love to re-do Lidstrom's huge contract. Yzerman and Shanahan are probably coming back at the same price. You'll see a lot of Niklas Kronwall for sure...the top defenseman from the AHL last season. Igor Grigorenko's status is up in the air...I'm thinking he's still going to be in Europe for one more year. A huge rumor out there already is Khabibulin somehow ending up in Detroit but I'm betting on Legace being the starting goalie going into camp with Joey MacDonald as the backup. Should be an interesting offseason for the Wings for sure.
Khabibulin just finished building a house down in Phoenix.Shoalzie wrote:It's official, Babcock becomes the Wings' new coach...
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID ... ubName=nhl
The Wings need to trim a lot of fat from their payroll to make it under the cap. I'm betting 3 or 4 out of Joseph, Chelios, Hatcher, Whitney, and Lang will be bought out and not re-signed and I'm sure they'd love to re-do Lidstrom's huge contract. Yzerman and Shanahan are probably coming back at the same price. You'll see a lot of Niklas Kronwall for sure...the top defenseman from the AHL last season. Igor Grigorenko's status is up in the air...I'm thinking he's still going to be in Europe for one more year. A huge rumor out there already is Khabibulin somehow ending up in Detroit but I'm betting on Legace being the starting goalie going into camp with Joey MacDonald as the backup. Should be an interesting offseason for the Wings for sure.
He'll end up there.
Cujo's been rumoured to be heading back to the Leafs after they buy out Belfour.
Owen Nolan's a sure buyout...
Lindros rumours about signing for the bare minimum to play in Toronto are already out there...
In other words.... unless a lot of players are willing to accept the bare minimum to come play in hockey's shrine, this season will look much like this:
