Detroit Red Wings Clips May 12, 2015

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips May 12, 2015 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Babcock coaching tour starting to heat up PAGE 3 Babcock declines comment after meeting with Sabres PAGE 5 WJR wants back in game to broadcast Tigers, Red Wings PAGE 8 Meetings are likely for Babcock at world championships PAGE 9 Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist moves on to third round of Play of the Year Showdown PAGE 10 Vote postponed: $650M Red Wings site developer delays vote on historic Detroit hotel PAGE 12 Decision on vacant Detroit hotel could delay $650M Red Wings district plan PAGE 14 Detroit Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist in second round of TSN.ca Play of the Year Showdown PAGE 15 Mike Babcock sweepstakes begin as Red Wings coach meets with Buffalo Sabres owner PAGE 16 Who was the Red Wings' MVP this season? PAGE 18 Gave: Wings wait while free-agent Babcock makes headlines around NHL

2 Babcock coaching tour starting to heat up By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 6:32 p.m. EDT May 11, 2015 Mike Babcock is in the midst of a busy week. Reports indicate that he already has talked to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres about their head coaching jobs. And he is still planning to go to Prague for the world championships, with a scheduled arrival of Tuesday morning. Weekend reports out of Toronto had him talking with Leafs president and former Wings star Brendan Shanahan about the coaching vacancy there, and reports out of Buffalo say that he met with the Sabres ownership Sunday. The Edmonton Oilers are also believed to be highly interested in Babcock. The Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils also are conducting coaching searches. Last Friday, the Detroit Red Wings gave Babcock permission to talk to other teams, at his request. General manager Ken Holland said he wants Babcock to stay, but only if Babcock decides that Detroit is his best option. Babcock told the Free Press that it would be "100% easier for my family" if he stays. Holland and Babcock both declined to comment further on the matter. Babcock's contract with the Wings runs through June 30, which is why teams have to sign a letter stating that they will compensate the Wings with one third-round draft pick within the next three seasons if they hire Babcock. The date on the letter gives teams until May 25 to work out a deal. Babcock, 52, is seeking at least $4 million annually, double his current salary, and an amount that would make him the highest-paid coach in the NHL. Holland has said that "money is not an issue" in keeping Babcock, and the Wings are believed to have made an offer close to the $4-million mark. If Babcock leaves, Holland already has said Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill would be a candidate for the Detroit job. Veteran NHL coaches who are available include Todd McLellan, a former assistant in Detroit, and Dan Bylsma, a Grand Haven native who coached Pittsburgh to the 2009 Stanley Cup. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Babcock declines comment after meeting with Sabres JOHN WAWROW, AP Hockey Writer 11:04 a.m. EDT May 11, 2015 BUFFALO, N.Y. Mike Babcock's coaching interview tour took him to Buffalo on Sunday, for a meeting with Sabres owner Terry Pegula. The Detroit Red Wings' coach declined comment to the Associated Press, and referred questions to Pegula when the two got out of an SUV at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Pegula said, "Hello," before making a remark on how much rain had fallen. The two then walked away and boarded a private jet. There also were reports out of Toronto that Babcock met with Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan on Saturday in Detroit, a day after the Red Wings said that they would give other teams permission to talk with the coach before his contract expires June 30. Babcock flew to Buffalo on Sunday and spent the afternoon meeting with Pegula and general manager Tim Murray at the Sabres' downtown arena. The Sabres have a vacancy after Ted Nolan was fired last month. Numerous other teams are expected to court Babcock, who spent the past 10 seasons coaching in Detroit. The San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils also are conducting coaching searches. The Edmonton Oilers haven't determined whether to keep Todd Nelson. And there could be potential vacancies in both St. Louis and Boston. Babcock, 52, coached the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup title in His 458 regularseason wins in Detroit rank first among NHL coaches since the start of the season, according to STATS. In granting Babcock permission to speak to other teams, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he hoped to have his coach make a decision by the end of the month. Holland, on Sunday, declined to reveal which teams have requested permission to meet with Babcock and agreed to give up a third-round draft pick within the next three years as compensation to the Red Wings if they hire the coach. But Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox, also an analyst with sportsnet.ca, tweeted that the Leafs had acquired permission to talk with Babcock. The paper also reported that the meeting with Shanahan took place Saturday, and now, both are headed to the world championships in the Czech Republic. A person familiar with discussions told the AP that the Sabres expect that it'll take Babcock more than a week to make a decision on his future. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. 3

4 A person familiar with the Sabres' coaching search previously told the AP that former San Jose Sharks coach and Wings assistant Todd McLellan and minor league coach Luke Richardson also are candidates for the Buffalo job. The Sabres are in the midst of a top-to-bottom overhaul after finishing last in each of the past two seasons. In that time, Buffalo has begun stockpiling young prospects and draft picks in order to build through youth. Center Sam Reinhart, who was selected second in last year's NHL draft, is expected to compete for a job in Buffalo next season. The Sabres have the No. 2 pick again in the draft next month, when they are expected to select highly regarded Boston University center Jack Eichel. Last season, Eichel became only the second freshman to win college hockey's top honor, the Hobey Baker Award. Babcock hasn't ruled out staying Detroit, where he and his family enjoy living. However, he did express concern over the Red Wings' aging roster after Detroit was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Tampa Bay. In Buffalo, Babcock has a previous connection with Murray. The two worked together in Anaheim, when Babcock served as Ducks coach in Babcock is expected to command a large salary, something that shouldn't scare off the small-market Sabres. Pegula has deep pockets. He and wife Kim also own the NFL's Buffalo Bills and made a big splash in January, when they hired Rex Ryan to take over as coach. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

5 WJR wants back in game to broadcast Tigers, Red Wings Lynn Henning, The Detroit News 5:10 a.m. EDT May 12, 2015 The former flagship station for Tigers and Red Wings radio broadcasts has re-emerged as a player in contract negotiations for 2016 and beyond. Officials from WJR-AM (760), which carried Tigers and Red Wings broadcasts for decades ahead of their move to a statewide network of affiliates, are beginning conversations with Ilitch Holdings on a new relationship. Also making a full-throttle bid to retain Tigers and Red Wings broadcasts will be CBS Radio, which owns current base stations WXYT-AM (1270) and The Ticket FM (97.1), the Metro Detroit powerhouses for a 39-affiliate, three-state network that won Tigers- Red Wings radio rights in A third bidder also will be involved, sources say, and could raise the stakes on any new deal: Greater Media Inc., which owns three FM stations WCSX, WRIF, and WMGC (which also carries Pistons broadcasts). No officials at WJR would comment, nor would executives at Atlanta-based Cumulus Media, which owns WJR. But industry and team sources have verified WJR, which carried the Tigers from , is making its pitch during discussions that have formally begun. In addition to Greater Media's push, CBS Radio will be involved in potential renewal talks and is considered a favorite to retain those rights. "The Tigers have been great partners and we look forward to continuing our broadcast agreement in the years to come," Debbie Kenyon, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio Detroit, said in an . Kenyon would not comment further on CBS Radio's plans, nor on any WJR bid to reunite with the Tigers and Wings. While it is possible the two Mike Ilitch-owned teams could negotiate separate deals with separate networks, local and industry sources expect the Tigers and Red Wings to remain with one carrier. The deals are distanced from another matter of media and business speculation: the Tigers' local television contract with FSD. Tigers sources, speaking on background, say nothing has changed with an arrangement that extends into "the early 2020s." There had been local speculation the Tigers were preparing to negotiate a new local TV contract within the next two years. At issue for the Tigers and any potential radio partner are raw rights fees, which are affected by ratings that have soared dramatically during the past decade. With a string of four consecutive division championships, and two World Series appearances in the past nine years, Tigers broadcast ratings television and radio have rocketed. The Tigers own the second-highest ratings, per capita, of any market in the major leagues. 5

6 WJR's re-entry into Tigers radio discussions indicates the station is serious about returning to a sports landscape it once dominated. The Tigers were a WJR staple from , when a 50,000-watt station, with its clear channel (no other stations enjoy a frequency of 760) could be heard in 35 states and half of Canada. The Red Wings became part of WJR's portfolio in the 1960s and remained there until they joined the Tigers in a defection to WXYT and its partners in WJR's lone sports partnership is with Michigan State and its football and basketball broadcasts. In the event of any new relationship with the Tigers and/or Red Wings, an alternate station would provide coverage for one of the overlapping broadcasts. When the 2001 Tigers-Wings union began, WXYT initially had problems extending its broadcasts evenly through Metro Detroit. A transmitter-signal problem was eliminated when 97.1 was added as a partner. But saturating the remainder of Michigan, and pushing game broadcasts into other longtime Tigers fan pockets such as Toledo, became dependent upon adding a multi-state network of affiliates. Those partners now number 39. WJR is believed to be discussing a single-station deal akin to its earlier agreements. Sources say WJR would benefit not only by the advertising revenue a return to the Tigers and Wings games would promise, but by a relationship natural to many listeners who regularly listen to play-by-play broadcasts. The dial becomes more habitually set to an originating station. That, in turn, means more listeners during non-game hours, which can elevate ad rates and overall revenue. CBS Radio is aware of the relationship, as well, and is said by multiple sources to be planning a furious appeal to extend its 15-year alliance. CBS has a pair of pluses working for it: It owns four Metro Detroit stations in addition to WXYT and 97.1: WDZH-FM (top 40 format), WOMC-FM (rock oldies), WWJ-AM (News), and WYCD-FM (country). The collective demographics from its FM holdings are considered to be heavy in the age age group, which is appealing to advertisers who see it as a heavy-spending consumer bloc. There is also an ability to cross-market teams such as the Tigers and Red Wings, with regular referrals to game coverage, ticket giveaways, etc. WJR bills itself as the leader in "news-talk" and skews to an older crowd. WJR has station partners in WDRQ and WDVD, but they typically finish significantly behind the CBS stations, which can have four of the top five-rated stations during any particular ratings period. The Tigers, though, are known to want more than ratings or, perhaps, raw dollars as their deal-maker. They ideally want more involvement from their players, manager, and front office during daily programming. 6

7 The news-talk format allows more easily for such interviews, which WXYT and 97.1 tend to steer away from as they concentrate on listener calls and discussion from their talk-show hosts. WJR's interest, a motivation shared by CBS and Greater Media, is fueled by benefits industry analysts say extend beyond time allotted for game broadcasts. The radio dial more easily remains on a station that carries games, particularly when the team has 162 regular-season games. Detroit News LOADED:

8 Meetings are likely for Babcock at world championships Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 8:39 p.m. EDT May 11, 2015 Detroit The recruitment of Mike Babcock has begun. Last weekend, Babcock met with Maple Leafs and Sabres executives, who hope to sway the coach away from the Red Wings. Babcock was heading to the Czech Republic on Monday to watch the World Championships to scout Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin as well as meet with any number of NHL front office representatives, including Red Wings general manager Ken Holland. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan is expected to continue his discussion with Babcock in Prague. The Red Wings gave Babcock permission to meet with other teams last week, with the window to seek out information from other organizations open until May 25. Babcock is expected to secure the largest salary given to an NHL coach, possibly approaching $5 million per season. Holland understands there are risks involved in Babcock talking to other organizations, but believes the coach has earned the opportunity. "If Mike finds a better situation out there, I'm gonna shake his hand and thank him for 10 fabulous years," Holland said last week. "I'm hoping that Mike comes to the conclusion that we are the best fit for him." Babcock was in Buffalo last weekend, meeting with Sabres owner Terry Pegula and general manager Tim Murray. They toured the development around Buffalo's downtown arena, then spent the afternoon talking about the organization. Babcock declined to comment to the Associated Press about the meeting. Other teams showing interest in Babcock include: Edmonton: Owners of the top pick in next month's draft (expected to be Connor McDavid), the Oilers have a deep well of young talent and front office personnel who have worked with Babcock. Philadelphia: They have a deep-pocket owner in Ed Snider and a roster that isn't far from competing for an extended period. Babcock has won a Stanley Cup and taken the Red Wings to the playoffs each of his 10 seasons in Detroit. He also has won two gold medals coaching Canada at the Olympics, and one apiece at Junior World Championships and World Championships. Detroit News LOADED:

9 Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist moves on to third round of Play of the Year Showdown Brendan Savage on May 12, 2015 at 5:05 AM Gustav Nyquist has joined Detroit Red Wings teammate Henrik Zetterberg in the third round of TSN.ca's Play of the Year Showdown. Nyquist's spectacular goal that gave the Red Wings a 3-2 overtime victory Dec. 27 in Ottawa garnered more than 71 percent of the 128,1287 votes cast in his second-round matchup with Nashville Predators goaltender Carter Hutton. Nyquist will face the winner of the second-round matchup between Edmonton's Jordan Eberle and Calgary's David Schlemko that begins Thursday. Zetterberg will face off in the third round beginning May 25 against either Buffalo's Tyler Ennis or Montreal's Carey Price. If Nyquist and Zetterberg both win in the third round, they'd face each other in the semifinals beginning June 1. Nyquist reached the finals last year before losing to teammate Tomas Tatar. Michigan Live LOADED:

10 Vote postponed: $650M Red Wings site developer delays vote on historic Detroit hotel Ian Thibodeau on May 11, 2015 at 7:59 PM DETROIT, MI - This time it's the developer -- not the city of Detroit -- pushing back a vote in relation to the $650 million Red Wings arena and entertainment district project. Jennifer Ross, architectural historian with the Detroit Historic District Commission, confirmed Monday evening that Olympia Development of Michigan asked for more time before making its case for razing the 13-story Hotel Park Avenue to the seven-member panel. "The applicant for the Red Wings stadium has requested that we postpone, so the meeting will not be held tomorrow," Ross said in a voic she left MLive at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Olympia and the HDC were supposed to meet in a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The developer's spokesman has not responded to MLive's requests for comment on the postponement. Most recently, Olympia and the City of Detroit hashed out a deal that implemented zoning changes to the 12-acre plot of land in Detroit's Cass Corridor neighborhood that allowed Olympia to begin vertical construction on the site. Conditions surrounding the Hotel Park Avenue and Hotel Eddystone needed further approval from the Downtown Development Authority, which approved the plans, and now the HDC. Olympia has agreed to redevelop the Eddystone within one year of completing the $450 million arena -- they want to have the rink ready for the 2017 NHL season. But the Park Avenue needs to come down, Olympia has said. Tearing down the abandoned historic structure will make way for a piazza park area and a underground loading dock. Tuesday's vote would have ultimately decided whether Olympia can demolish the building or not. The seven-member council will be whittled down to five, though, as two members have opted out of voting because of a conflict of interests. So, three votes are needed to pass the demolition. Olympia has already started digging around the base of the building, though it's unclear if the work is related to the developer's hoped-for demolition. If the HDC doesn't approve the demolition, Olympia can still appeal to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan or the State of Michigan to get permission to knock down the historic building. 10

11 Olympia has said they can't save the 13-story Park Avenue due to Homeland Security requirements that would arise if the building remains standing. In return for the demolition, the Hotel Eddystone will be flipped into an 80- to 100-unit apartment complex next door. Twenty percent of the housing created by Olympia for the entire project, which will extend beyond the current roads it's bordered by, will qualify as affordable housing, Olympia has said. For the entire project, $450 million will go to the new arena and $200 million to bring retail, housing and parking to the handful of "districts" Olympia plans to build. The timeline for the 785,000-square-foot, 20,000-seat arena has been getting tighter. It's unclear whether the Park Avenue status would hinder construction on the actual arena, though. The project will redevelop a big portion of land that's been owned by the Ilitch family, who own Olympia, for years. The HDC will hold their regular meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The Park Avenue decision has been pushed to a later date. Michigan Live LOADED:

12 Decision on vacant Detroit hotel could delay $650M Red Wings district plan Ian Thibodeau on May 11, 2015 at 2:36 PM, updated May 11, 2015 at 6:07 PM DETROIT, MI - A special Detroit Historic District Commission meeting scheduled to discuss the proposed demolition of the Hotel Park Avenue on Tuesday might not happen. City officials Monday said there's been no confirmation as of Monday afternoon the scheduled 5:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting will take place. Olympia Development of Michigan, the developers behind the $650 million plan for a 45-block plot of land in Detroit's Cass Corridor neighborhood, is supposed to present their argument for tearing down the historic hotel to the panel. The Detroit City Council and Downtown Development Authority in April separately approved zoning changes and plans that would demolish the Park Avenue and, within one year of completing the $450 million Detroit Red Wings Arena, redevelop the Hotel Eddystone next door. Although the Park Avenue now falls in the arena and entertainment district's planned development zone, the Historic District Commission still has to sign off on the demolition. But as of Monday afternoon, city officials said Olympia isn't ready to make their case, though the Detroit Historic District Commission is ready to hear it. There wasn't a specific reason given as to why Olympia might delay the meeting. Olympia's spokesman on the project didn't respond to a phone call Monday afternoon. Jennifer Ross, who handles the agendas for the panel's meetings, did not respond to multiple phone calls or an regarding the special meeting. Olympia's plans for the west side of the initial site hang on the fate of the blighted historic hotel. They want to raze the Park Avenue to make way for an underground loading bay and piazza park area. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan recently appointed a new member to the board, according to the Detroit Free Press. The mayor's office said the replacement was unrelated to the Park Avenue vote. Two members of the seven-member volunteer commission will refrain from voting on the demolition whenever the vote comes because of conflicts of interests. Three votes of approval are then needed for Olympia to move forward with the demolition. Workers at the initial 12-acre site between Cass Avenue and Woodward Avenue already have started excavation and demolition around the site. Crews reportedly have dug a hole around the Park Avenue already. But, even if the Historic District Commission votes down the demolition (they tend to favor saving historic buildings), Olympia still could ask Duggan to approve an 12

13 emergency demolition order on the building, or they could appeal to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Review Board. Olympia has said they can't save the 13-story Park Avenue due to Homeland Security requirements that would arise if the building remains standing. In return, the Hotel Eddystone will be flipped into an 80- to 100-unit apartment complex next door. Twenty percent of the housing created by Olympia for the entire project, which will extend beyond the current roads it's bordered by, will qualify as affordable housing, Olympia has said. For the entire project, $450 million will go to the new arena and $200 million to bring retail, housing and parking to the handful of "districts" Olympia plans to build. The 785,000-square-foot, 20,000-seat arena is supposed to be ready to go by the 2017 hockey season. The $650 million development is to be funded with a mix of $365.5 million in private investment and an estimated public investment of $284.5 million. The project will redevelop a big portion of land that's been owned by the Ilitch family, who own Olympia, for years. Tuesday's special meeting will supplement the regular 5:30 p.m. Wednesday meeting of the Historic District Commission. Michigan Live LOADED:

14 Detroit Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist in second round of TSN.ca Play of the Year Showdown Brendan Savage on May 11, 2015 at 2:30 PM, updated May 11, 2015 at 2:34 PM Gustav Nyquist was a finalist in TSN.ca's Play of the Year Showdown last year before losing to Detroit Red Wings teammate Tomas Tatar. Can Nyquist go all the way this year? We won't know for another month but the Red Wings forward is off to a good start after posting a first-round victory over Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos. Nyquist drew almost 81 percent of the 9,387 votes cast in his battle with Stamkos. That moved Nyquist into the second round against Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton, who won his first-round matchup with Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec. If you want to vote for either Nyquist or Hutton, you'd better hurry. Voting closes at 4 p.m. today. Nyquist's entry in the contest came during a 3-2 overtime victory Dec. 27 in Ottawa, where he circled the Senators zone and kept the puck for 28 seconds before firing the a shot past goalie Craig Anderson. Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg is already through to the third round after beating Vancouver's Radim Vrbata and St. Louis' Vladimir Tarasenko. Zetterberg will face the winner of the matchup between Buffalo's Tyler Ennis and Montreal's Carey Price beginning May 25. Michigan Live LOADED:

15 Mike Babcock sweepstakes begin as Red Wings coach meets with Buffalo Sabres owner Brendan Savage on May 11, 2015 at 11:07 AM, updated May 11, 2015 at 11:14 AM DETROIT The Mike Babcock sweepstakes began Sunday, when the Detroit Red Wings coach met with the Buffalo Sabres, according to a report by The Associated Press. Babcock's contract with the Red Wings expires June 30 and the Sabres are in need of a coach after firing Ted Nolan last month. The Red Wings have granted Babcock permission to speak with other teams but have said they'd like him back behind the bench in Detroit. AP hockey writer John Lawrow reported Babcock met with Sabres owner Terry Pegula Sunday, when they were spotted boarding a private jet at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Lawrow said Babcock declined comment, instead referring questions to Pegula. Buffalo is among several teams that are expected to court Babcock beginning this week at the World Championship in the Czech Republic. "A person familiar with discussions told the AP that the Sabres anticipate it'll take Babcock more than a week to make a decision on his future," Wawrow wrote. "The person added, Babcock informed the Sabres that he still intends to travel to the World Hockey championships currently taking place in the Czech Republic. The tournament runs through May 17. "The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. A person familiar with the Sabres coaching search previously told the AP that former San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan and minor-league coach Luke Richardson are also candidates for the Buffalo job." McLellan is a former Red Wings' assistant coach under Babcock. The Sabres have the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft behind the Edmonton Oilers, who are among the other teams that could be interested in Babcock. That said, interim coach Todd Nelson is still under contract in Edmonton. Buffalo could use its first-round pick on Boston University forward Jack Eichel, who is in the Czech Republic playing for the United States in the World Championship. Babcock said he hasn't ruled out returning the Red Wings after spending the last 10 seasons in Detroit. Buffalo finished last in the NHL's overall standings last season with a record. Michigan Live LOADED:

16 Who was the Red Wings' MVP this season? Brendan Savage on May 11, 2015 at 6:06 AM DETROIT The Detroit Red Wings recorded 100 points during the regular season and took the Tampa Bay Lightning to Game 7 in the opening round of the playoffs before their season ended. Several players enjoyed the best seasons of their career. Tomas Tatar led the Red Wings with a career-high 29 goals; Justin Abdelkader (23), Darren Helm (15) and Riley Sheahan (13) also scored more goals than they previously had in an NHL season. Petr Mrazek played well when No. 1 goaltender Jimmy Howard was sidelined by a groin injury before replacing Howard between the pipes for the series against Tampa Bay. And Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk finished 1-2 on the Red Wings' scoring chart. With the season complete, it's time to select the Red Wings Most Valuable Player for This season, we're doing it a little bit differently. The MVP award this time around isn't based just on the regular season. We want you to include the playoffs as well. (Hey, that's the most important part of the season, right?) So with that in mind, here's a quick look at what our seven candidates did this season. We've listed them in alphabetical order and have also given you the option of selecting "other" in case your MVP isn't on our ballot. If you pick the "other" option, explain it in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe MLive's MVP will be somebody who isn't on the ballot. Justin Abdelkader: Recorded career-highs in goals (23), assists (21) and points (44) while playing in 71 games. Had two assists in five playoff games despite playing with a broken finger. Pavel Datsyuk: Scored 26 goals and had 65 points despite playing in just 63 games because of injuries. Had three goals and five points in the playoffs while battling a bad bone bruise on his ankle. Niklas Kronwall: Led the team in ice time while playing in all situations. He had nine goals and 35 assists in 80 regular season games and added two assists in six playoff games before being suspended for Game 7 vs. the Lightning. Petr Mrazek: Had a record, 2.38 goals-against average and.918 save percentage with three shutouts in the regular season before assuming the No. 1 job in the net for the playoffs, when he had two shutouts against the NHL's highest-scoring team. 16

17 Gustav Nyquist: Led the Red Wings in power-play goals (14) while scoring 27 to fall one short of matching his career high. Also had a career-high 27 assists and 54 points. Had one goal and one assist in seven playoff games. Tomas Tatar: Led the Red Wings with a career-high 29 goals while also recording career-highs in assists (27) and points (56). Shared the team lead in playoff goals (3) with Datsyuk. Henrik Zetterberg: Led the Red Wings in scoring for the fourth time in six years with 66 points but slumped at the end of the season, scoring just two goals in his final 29 games. Had three assists in the playoffs, when he failed to score a goal in a postseason series for the first time in his career. There you go. Is the Red Wings' MVP among those seven players or was it somebody else? Michigan Live LOADED:

18 Gave: Wings wait while free-agent Babcock makes headlines around NHL KEITH GAVE MAY 11, :29p ET Mike Babcock was only certain that he owed it to himself and his family to go through this process as the league's most-prized free agent. Brace yourself for a barrage of rumors and gossip -- some of them even laced with a few facts -- about Mike Babcock's imminent departure from Detroit. Less than 48 hours into the trial separation between the Red Wings and their coach, there were reports of meetings with potential suitors in Toronto and Buffalo. And more are certain with Babcock scheduled to arrive today in Prague, where the sport's royalty are gathering for the annual World Hockey Championships. Every handshake and conversation Babcock has with anyone associated with another NHL club will be interpreted -- and more likely misinterpreted -- as a clue to his next coaching destination. Babcock insists he doesn't know himself how this will all end; he was only certain that he owed it to himself and his family to go through this process as the league's mostprized free agent. The Wings agreed, however reluctantly, to allow him to court other teams. What choice do they have, after all? His contract expires on June 30, and the best they can hope for is that he gives them a chance to match the best offer he gets. But if this is about more than money, and Babcock has insisted all along that it is, then it is unlikely that he and the Wings will renew their vows with another long-term contract. More and more, it feels like their 10-year relationship is over. There is no shortage of opportunities -- or opportunists. Vacancies include Buffalo, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Jose and Toronto. Edmonton is interviewing candidates, though it still retains Todd Nelson as its interim coach. Claude Julien is a lame duck in Boston, where the new GM will decide his fate. And Ken Hitchcock could be out in St. Louis, which has given him time to consider his future there. Babcock heads a strong list of coaching candidates, and it's likely the dominoes won't start falling into place until he makes a decision on where he intends to coach. While he has been strongly linked to Edmonton -- which makes sense for a lot of reasons -- so has Todd McLellan, his former assistant in Detroit. Other coaching candidates include Dan Bylsma, who won a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh in 2009, John Torterella, who won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2003, Randy Carlyle, Peter DeBoer, Paul McLean, Dallas Eakins and Guy Boucher. And if Hitchcock and Julien wind up on the outs with their teams, that would put two more Cup-winning coaches in the job market. Hitchcock won with Dallas in 1999, Julien with the Bruins in

19 All of which makes it improbable that the NHL's version of speed dating will drag on for very long -- at least as far as Detroit is concerned. The Wings have given Babcock a soft deadline of May two weeks from today -- and clearly he is wasting little time. He was in Buffalo on Sunday, apparently meeting with Sabres owners and management, according to reports by The Associated Press. And when the AP chases you down at an airport for comment, it's big news. The world's largest news-gathering organization doesn't waste time on small stories. Reports out of Toronto were conflicting -- naturally. One talking head said Babcock and the Leafs would soon meet for serious talks; another said they'd already met. It's more likely those talks will be held in Prague this week, when he doubtless with have more discussions with other clubs. Notable among them is Edmonton -- and this one makes the most sense for a variety of reasons. Interestingly, the Oilers also appear seriously interested in McLellan, whom they've already interviewed. McLellan is coaching Team Canada this week in the world tournament. It also could be that all the talk of the imminent hiring of McLellan is more designed to create a sense of urgency in Babcock, widely thought to be Edmonton's first choice. Babcock, 52, is widely perceived as one of the best coaches in hockey, who won a Stanley Cup ring with Detroit in 2008 and two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and But not everyone is drinking that Kool-Aid. Rumors persistently linked Babcock to Pittsburgh, despite a season under first-year coach Mike Johnston. GM Jim Rutherford said over the weekend that he remains committed to Johnston and his coaching staff. The reasoning? The Penguins see Babcock as a coach who's just 3-6 in playoff series since winning the Cup in And as much as Babcock laments the aging of his three stars, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall, Penguins watchers point out that in 2005, when Datsyuk was 27 and Zetterberg was 24, the Wings finished with a whopping 124 points, only to fall in the first round to the Edmonton Oilers. Here's a list of teams with coaching vacancies and what we think are reasonable odds for them to win the Babcock sweepstakes: Edmonton: Having an opportunity to coach a premier prospect like Connor McDavid would be reason enough, but Babcock's preference for the Oilers could go far beyond that. He has close ties to Bob Nicholson the former president and CEO of Hockey Canada who hired Babcock to win those two Olympic gold medals. Babcock is sure the Oilers are in good hands. Moreover, owner Daryl Katz has the checkbook to match any offer from the big market clubs competing for Babcock's services. Finally, Babcock grew up in Western Canada, began his coaching career there and has roots, including a summer home, in neighboring Saskatchewan. Buffalo: Buffalo, too, is likely to draft a generational player in Jack Eichel with the second overall pick, and owners Terry and Kim Pegula -- who also own the NFL's Buffalo Bills -- don't mind making a splash, like they did when they hired Rex Ryan to coach their football team. The club said in a news release on Friday that it would have 19

20 no comment on its search until a new coach is hired. True to that word, when an AP reporter caught up with Babcock at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport on Sunday, the coach deferred questions to Terry Pegula, who said "hello," commented on the weather and walked away to board a private jet. Philadelphia: Flyers owner Ed Snider is more than impatient for a Stanley Cup title on his watch. He has deep pockets and usually gets what he wants -- if he can buy it. But the Flyers aren't nearly as close to winning as they think they are, and Babcock knows it. Toronto: Money aside -- and the Leafs are among the "stupid rich" in hockey -- the only way Babcock takes this job is if he lets his ego win out over his brain. And that will be some wrestling match. The Leafs, even by President Brendan Shanahan's most optimistic prognosis, are years away from being a serious Cup contender, and Babcock really likes winning. Isn't that what he's always saying? New Jersey: The front office is in good hands, with newly installed GM Ray Shero replacing Lou Lamoriello, who kicked himself upstairs. But like Philadelphia and Toronto, the Devils need more on the ice to make a run at the Cup. San Jose: This is where Babcock should go coach if he's serious about working with a team ready to contend, says Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry. But Babcock knows better. He and McLellan, who walked away from that mess, remain close, and surely McLellan has given Babcock an earful about how the Sharks are, to put it politely, unstable in the front office of GM Doug Wilson. Detroit: Until recently, the Wings' front office figured it was about that Babcock would stay. They also know that once anyone -- player, coach or GM -- hits the free-agent market, he's more than likely to go. So these odds are probably optimistic. foxsports.com LOADED: