Luke Richardson and Todd McLellan have company as the Buffalo Sabres continue the search to who will be the Sabres head coach moving forward.
Just a few days following the Detroit Red Wings exit from the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs and receiving permission to open talks with other teams, Mike Babcock has come and gone.
The Buffalo Sabres may not be the front runner that Babcock may have in mind, but it’s definitely an interesting sign that he had chosen to speak with former co-worker, now General Manager Tim Murray and owners Terry and Kim Pegula, landing in Buffalo earlier Sunday and meeting with them yesterday afternoon.
Mike Babcock meets with #Sabres. #RedWings coach seen leaving First Niagara Center with Pegulas and GM Tim Murray. http://t.co/DN73dH0gzR
— Shawn Stepner (@StepnerWMAR) May 11, 2015
Murray and Babcock worked with each other in Anaheim from 2002-2004, Murray stayed with Anaheim until 2005.
While this wasn’t his first stop, and most certainly not his last, Babcock has also reportedly had “serious” talks with Toronto Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan before flying down to Buffalo. Of course, all is hearsay at this point, as he isn’t considered a free agent until June 30th, but it is nonetheless exciting as he could be signed before then.
Babcock, 52, has been behind the Detroit bench for the past decade, coaching the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup in the 2008 postseason. He was also the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, then the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from 2002-2004, where he and Murray worked together.
The idea seems fit, a top-tier coach visits Buffalo, finds a decent fit somewhere and chooses to come and give this city a try. But, chances are, we might not land him.
Buffalo has some gems to work with, but don’t have a promising team as of right now, but with the likely pick of Jack Eichel and hopefully a coach by then, Buffalo could going into a big free agency and lock down some talented players. Think of last years free agency, but bigger.
Nothing is set in stone yet, giving that we still have well over a month to go, other teams are vying for him. Along with Buffalo, the San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers and the Maple Leafs are currently vacant and will throw him an offer in due time.
Add in the toss up of Todd Nelson with the Edmonton Oilers, who may have an attractive set of offensive talent soon, and this race is getting a bit gritty. Although new reports say that Edmonton could take McLellan off the table in a new deal.
Of course, there are a ton of prime candidates that rival Babcock, all with tenures with decent teams, who could be in the mix of things.
As the June 30th free agency window looms, only time will tell and how much the Pegula’s are willing to open their wallet. Detroit will receive a third round pick in any of the next three years if a deal is made before the June 30th, but the odds of him not knowing where he will be at that point are very little. If they ink a deal before Buffalo holds three picks in the third round alone in 2016 to work with.
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