With an aging core and a group of young players expected to be counted on in a way not commensurate to past NHL production, it sounded like Mike Babcock was destined for a new hockey home after this year. Then, as the season kicked off in unexpectedly positive fashion, it sounded like he was maybe, possibly, potentially thinking about sticking around.
Then, it became, not a certainty, but very likely that the continued development of the team's younger players and the quality play coming from some of Detroit's longer-in-the-tooth guys would convince Babcock that staying in Detroit and becoming the highest paid coach in the league was his best course of action.
Now, it sounds like Babs is not only planning on staying in Detroit, but that his extension may in fact come during the season, and not after, as some had predicted.
"I don't think waiting until after the season will change the team's outlook," Ansar Khan of Mlive.com wrote. "It's just my opinion, but I think he'll sign during the season."
The general structure of the deal, in terms of both money and years, could already have been put in place.
"He wants a long-term deal, and the Red Wings are willing to make him the highest-paid coach in the NHL with a four or five-year extension worth around $3 million per season."
Babcock, though, isn't making his decision based solely on money (emphasis on solely). He's interested in being part of an organization that can and will continue to contend for the Stanley Cup.
Before the season, it appeared as though Detroit was on the verge of a potential retooling. Now, thanks to a deep pool of talent at the AHL level and the performance of the youngsters already with the big club, Babcock's concerns over the aging of several of the team's best players may have been assuaged. His decision to continue on in Detroit may already be made.
