Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Report: Babcock granted permission to speak to other teams

Florida Panthers v Detroit Red Wings

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 26: Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock watches the warms ups prior to the start of the game against the Florida Panthers at Joe Louis Arena on January 26, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Panthers defeated the Wings 5-4 in a shootout. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Getty Images

And we’re off!

In case it wasn’t clear that Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was at least considering a move, there’s the proof.

There are four official head-coaching vacancies in the NHL -- Buffalo, Philadelphia, Toronto, and San Jose. You can count Edmonton as well, given interim coach Todd Nelson will reportedly interview for the full-time position. Meanwhile, questions remain about Ken Hitchcock’s future in St. Louis, Claude Julien’s in Boston, and the Devils probably won’t be going with co-coaches again next season.

Speculation has linked Babcock to the jobs in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Edmonton. We’ll see if any of those clubs can sell him convincingly enough to leave a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since Steve Yzerman was a youngster.

Related: Babcock to meet with Holland, expects to make Red Wings decision in 10 days