It's not quite time to rejoice Red Wings fans - but it is close.
According to reports, Detroit and head coach Mike Babcock are on the verge of agreeing to a contract extension that will keep him in the Motor City for the foreseeable future - not to mention make him the highest paid coach in the league.
"According to multiple NHL sources familiar with the negotiations, the announcement could be imminent, perhaps even a holiday gift for the man who's guided Canada to the last two Olympic gold medals," writes Bob Duff of The Windsor Star.
TSN's Hockey Insider Darren Dreger tweeted that he believes a deal would be in the 4-5 year range with an annual value of just over $3 million.
That'll sure take the sting out of last night's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Detroit general manager Ken Holland's decision last season not to panic and ship off a few key pieces in the face of a possible ending to the Red Wings monumental 22-year playoff streak continues to look like a brilliant master stroke.
Not only has the team - almost the exact same team from last season - improved immeasurably thanks to the continued development of some younger players and the continued success of some older players - not to mention a pretty stocked AHL cupboard - but the positive future outlook has also clearly convinced Babcock, who not only wants to be the highest paid coach in the league, but also wants to be part of a perennial winner, to stick around.
"I'm real happy in Detroit and doing everything I can to do a good job so I can stay where I'm at as long as I can," he said.
Tuesday, Babcock, who recently recorded his 500th victory as an NHL head coach, called this current Red Wings team the best since the 2008-09 iteration - a group that reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
"I still think we have lots of growth and potential in this group," Babcock said. "That's our job, to turn these young kids into good pros. That's what we're trying to do.
"It's not just younger guys it's the veterans as well. They've been here through the good times and the slower times and now they see our team on the climb again."
If reports are accurate, Babcock and the Wings will continue to grow together for, at the very least, several more seasons.
