Mike Babcock is Not on the Pittsburgh Penguins Radar: 5 Other Possible Destinations

And so it begins. The race for Mike Babcock is underway and NHL franchises will be throwing a lot of money around in order to obtain his services. The Pittsburgh Penguins have made it clear that they don’t plan on pursuing Babcock this summer. And, I believe it’s the right choice.

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According to reports, Babcock has turned down a multi-year deal from the Detroit Red Wings that would make him the highest paid coach in the league. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently have permission from Detroit to speak with Babcock about their coaching vacancy and are said to be a front-runner considering the cash they’d be willing to spend.  And, you can’t fault him for wanting to cash in on this opportunity. Even if he ends up back in Detroit, he has to see what options are available first.

While I’ll admit that Mike Babcock is one of the best coaches in the league, I don’t believe he’s worth quite as much hype as he currently has surrounding him. Has his accomplishments in the NHL warranted this kind of attention?

Mike Babcock’s Detroit Red Wings haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since 2009 when they lost to the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals.  He has one Stanley Cup and two other appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals during his twelve-year tenure.

To put things into perspective, he has the same amount of championships, and only one more appearance in the finals than former Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Dan Bylsma.  The gentleman that everyone couldn’t wait to see ousted in Pittsburgh.

Mike Babcock offers an old school brand of hockey, which I believe is part of the fascination.  He’s an old-fashioned Canadian hockey coach, and the NHL loves that about him.

One thing is for sure, Mike Babcock is going to see a big payday, and will surely make one franchise much better this offseason.  Let’s take a look at who I believe will be the top five suiters.

Apr 4, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward

(4) carries the puck around Calgary Flames defensemen

(29) during the third period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Edmonton Oilers

Mike Babcock has two options when picking his next team.  He needs to decide whether he wants to walk into a franchise that is already built for success, or a team that he can help rebuild into a contender.

With the Edmonton Oilers, he’ll obviously have a lot of work ahead of him.  The struggling franchise can’t seem to put it all together despite having multiple first-overall picks in their lineup.  The team seems to win the draft lottery every season, but hasn’t been able to build a solid coaching staff or supporting cast for players like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

This season could be different, though.  The Edmonton Oilers won the lottery once again and will draft generational talent Connor McDavid.

Will the idea of reinvigorating a struggling franchise with a young superstar interest Mike Babcock?  It just might.

Apr 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Jose Sharks head coach

looks on during the second period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are a team that haven’t been discussed often enough in this race.

Let’s consider their veteran’s like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski.  Also, their young talent such as Logan Couture and Tommy Wingels.  This is a team that wouldn’t take a complete overhaul to build a contender.

San Jose didn’t exactly have a slouch of a coach in Todd Mclellan.  He is an outstanding coach and will find work quickly this offseason.  But, sometimes a message grows stale.  Bringing in another veteran coach with the respect that Babcock brings to the table could do wonders for this franchise.

Hiring Mike Babcock could finally put the Sharks over the playoff hump they’ve struggled with for years.  I’d imagine they’ll certainly kick the tires on the idea.

Apr 9, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins left wing

(21) center

(51) center

(37) and center

(46) skate off the ice after a 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins

The Bruins, similar to the San Jose Sharks, are a team that could be a contender again with very little work.  Having missed the playoffs this season and struggling the way they did, changes were needed.  Mike Babcock could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

One large strength of Babcock’s is his player usage.  He puts guys in a position to succeed.  Consider his usage of a defensive forward like Pavel Datsyuk, and you can see the type of impact he could have on a team with Patrice Bergeron.  In their current state, the Bruins are possibly the best-built team for Mike Babcock’s coaching style and systems.

During Detroit’s dominating seasons and cup runs, he built around a veteran defenseman with immense leadership abilities, a defensive forward in the aforementioned Datsyuk, and a playmaker in Henrik Zetterberg.  With Zdeno Chara, Bergeron, and David Krejci, Boston may be a perfect fit.

Apr 11, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo on the offices of the Air Canada Centre before the final game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are said to be a top contender for Mike Babcock’s service.  And, with the amount of money they are able to spend, it’s hard not to see a fit here.

Toronto is a fairly short drive from Detroit, and after expressing how much his family loves Detroit, that may be a factor.  The question is whether he wants to step into a complete rebuild type of situation, or if he wants a chance at winning quickly. Considering that he only has one cup thus far, I imagine a team that is close to being a contender would peak his interest more than the Leafs.

Of course, there is a lot of prestige that comes with the Leafs organization.  And, how would you like to be the guy that turned it all around after all these years of disappointment?

This one will be a tough decision.  Toronto’s Management will make it extremely hard to say no.