According to USA Today, Mike Babcock will not return as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, he will not be signing with the Buffalo Sabres.
According to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, he will not be signing with the San Jose Sharks.
Aaaaaand according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, he will not be signing with the St. Louis Blues
And that leaves -- yep -- the Toronto Maple Leafs as the favorites to land the free-agent coach.
Nothing is official yet, but we all know how much money the Leafs have to spend, and we all know Babcock has an extreme amount of confidence in his abilities.
Enough confidence to take a job that many feel is the biggest challenge out there?
If it actually happens, just don’t say you weren’t warned.