2015 NHL Offseason

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:25 pm

Well, for some of us, there's no reason to wait until the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs to start discussing the offseason.

In case you missed the news, the Sharks and long-time coach Todd McLellan have "mutually" parted ways. Some wags have scoffed at the "mutual" part and called it a firing. But, I'm not so sure that McLellan wasn't ready to get out, himself. Sometimes things get stale.

It already appears that he will have his choice of jobs. If Mike Babcock opts out and leaves the Red Wings, I could see McLellan going to Detroit (he was previously in that organization). And, Babcock and McLellan (and maybe Dan Bylsma) clearly would be the top choices for Toronto, Edmonton, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Buffalo, and whatever playoff teams end up looking for a new coach.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:31 pm

If you want to have some fun, ask a Flyers fan which coach they want then laugh at them when they say Babcock.

(Also, I'd have Bylsma as my clear number 2 option over McLellan.)

travzilla · Post by **travzilla** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:27 pm

mister d wrote:If you want to have some fun, ask a Flyers fan which coach they want then laugh at them when they say Babcock.

(Also, I'd have Bylsma as my clear number 2 option over McLellan.)

It's been kinda odd how little Bylsma's name is mentioned, especially now that it looks more and more like he wasn't the problem in Pittsburgh. I would have him and McLellan as 2a and 2b.

Speculation was that Babcock might chase after McDavid, but I don't see him wanting to go to Edmonton, unless they want to go over 5 million per for him. Weird situation, you hardly ever see coaches in this "Free Agent" mode. The way he's kinda stringing the Red Wings along, either to leverage the most money or because he really wants out, must be super infuriating for them.

My prediction: McLellan to Oilers, Bylsma to Leafs, Babcock stays in Detroit. Everyone else hires a young AHL guy or hot shot assistant from somewhere. Also think Hitchcock and Blues have a similar "mutual parting" if (when) they lose to the Wild.

Most entertaining scenerio: Someone hires Carlyle, Tortorella, Mike Milbury or Pierre McGuire.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:37 pm

Torts would be a really great fit in Philadelphia.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:39 pm

travzilla wrote:Most entertaining scenerio: Someone hires Carlyle, Tortorella, Mike Milbury or Pierre McGuire.

Please let none of those guys end up in San Jose! (None of them seem like Doug Wilson-type guys, but then, John Scott didn't seem like a Doug Wilson-type hire, either.)

Funny how the Milbury to Boston chatter has picked up...

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:49 pm

Regarding Babcock, I've seen that he wants to take the biggest offer as a move to help raise salaries for NHL coaches as a whole. That makes me fear Toronto. I don't think that Shanahan's presence moves the meter one way or the other - Babcock only coached him for one season.

Every time it has come up, Babcock has said he loves the franchise, so I think he would be willing to stay as long as the money is competitive (say, 80%+ of the biggest offer he gets).

If Babcock does leave, I think the Wings stay internal and promote Jeff Blashill. He was an assistant for a season with the Wings for a season and is in his third season with their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, which included a Calder Cup in his first season. He has coached a bunch of the younger guys on the roster, so it seems he would be a good fit as the young players develop.

travzilla · Post by **travzilla** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:51 pm

sancarlos wrote: Funny how the Milbury to Boston chatter has picked up...

Yeah, so strange. Just no way anyone can actually take him seriously. I had a dream a few weeks ago the Jets hired him as coach and I realized it was one of the only possible scenarios where I would give up my season tickets in disgust.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:54 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:Regarding Babcock, I've seen that he wants to take the biggest offer as a move to help raise salaries for NHL coaches as a whole. That makes me fear Toronto. I don't think that Shanahan's presence moves the meter one way or the other - Babcock only coached him for one season.

Every time it has come up, Babcock has said he loves the franchise, so I think he would be willing to stay as long as the money is competitive (say, 80%+ of the biggest offer he gets).

If Babcock does leave, I think the Wings stay internal and promote Jeff Blashill. He was an assistant for a season with the Wings for a season and is in his third season with their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, which included a Calder Cup in his first season. He has coached a bunch of the younger guys on the roster, so it seems he would be a good fit as the young players develop.

Four seasons.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:55 pm

sancarlos wrote:
travzilla wrote:Most entertaining scenerio: Someone hires Carlyle, Tortorella, Mike Milbury or Pierre McGuire.
Please let none of those guys end up in San Jose! (None of them seem like Doug Wilson-type guys, but then, John Scott didn't seem like a Doug Wilson-type hire, either.)

Funny how the Milbury to Boston chatter has picked up...

Not sure Doug Wilson will be there.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:17 am

rass wrote:
DSafetyGuy wrote:Regarding Babcock, I've seen that he wants to take the biggest offer as a move to help raise salaries for NHL coaches as a whole. That makes me fear Toronto. I don't think that Shanahan's presence moves the meter one way or the other - Babcock only coached him for one season.

Every time it has come up, Babcock has said he loves the franchise, so I think he would be willing to stay as long as the money is competitive (say, 80%+ of the biggest offer he gets).

If Babcock does leave, I think the Wings stay internal and promote Jeff Blashill. He was an assistant for a season with the Wings for a season and is in his third season with their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, which included a Calder Cup in his first season. He has coached a bunch of the younger guys on the roster, so it seems he would be a good fit as the young players develop.
Four seasons.

My source (hockeydb.com) has this as Blashill's third season. (I assume that is where the disconnect is.)

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:23 am

Sorry man. I was just attempting to make light of the fact that you managed to use the word "season" four times in one sentence. God forbid I actually add a relevant point to a discussion.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:30 am

rass wrote:Sorry man. I was just attempting to make light of the fact that you managed to use the word "season" four times in one sentence. God forbid I actually add a relevant point to a discussion.

Totally missed that.

Season.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon May 04, 2015 3:10 pm

Lamoriello steps down as Devils GM, names former Pens GM Ray Shero as his successor.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 04, 2015 3:14 pm

Step 1: Ask Pittsburgh if you can re-inherit Crosby and Malkin.

Step 2: Draft Jordan Staal over Toews and Backstrom and Kessel.

Step 3: Win anyway.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon May 04, 2015 3:15 pm

rass wrote:Lamoriello steps down as Devils GM, names former Pens GM Ray Shero as his successor.

And, Lamoriello's history would suggest that within 18 months, he'll fire Shero and take back the GM duties, himself.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri May 08, 2015 2:46 pm

So, Mike Babcock is officially a free agent coach, now. I always figured the overwhelming odds were that he'd stay in Detroit. But, just like a free agent player, the odds for staying go down, if they actually get to free agency.

I'd still be shocked (and thrilled!) if this happens, but I'm pleased to see that Don Cherry suggests to Babcock that San Jose is the best destination for him. That'd be awesome.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri May 08, 2015 9:38 pm

And he's from Ontario ...

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Mon May 11, 2015 4:26 pm

which borders Buffalo...

mister d wrote:And he's from Ontario ...

Post by **brian** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:02 pm

Reports in Detroit are Buffalo is going to break the bank but no offense I don't see him going somewhere like Buffalo or Toronto where you're looking at a multi-year slog to contention. I could actually buy him going to the Sharks though they shot themselves in the foot last offseason.

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:14 pm

no, those are valid points. all speculation of course since counterargument could be made that if he were to bring a title to Buffalo he'd be such a legend they'd name the Falls after him. and he almost would be bulletproof for a few years at least...Buffalo could also probably bring a bit more guarantee of security since there probably wouldn't be any expectation of contention in those first ~2 years.

travzilla · Post by **travzilla** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:14 pm

brian wrote:Reports in Detroit are Buffalo is going to break the bank but no offense I don't see him going somewhere like Buffalo or Toronto where you're looking at a multi-year slog to contention. I could actually buy him going to the Sharks though they shot themselves in the foot last offseason.

You wouldn't think he would want to start at the bottom, but there was a lot of smoke about him wanting to follow McDavid to Buffalo, and even still to Edmonton. Even with Eichel instead of McDavid, I think Buffalo is not gonna be like an Edmonton rebuild, I think they do things much much smarter, and it turns around faster. In that division I think they're a playoff contender within 3 years. Babcock is still relatively young, wouldn't surprise me if he still had the drive to take on a job like that.

Also, something to be said about getting on board at a team's lowest point. Assuming there's no where to go but up, makes for good optics to see a team rapidly improving coinciding with your arrival.

I think there's already too many cooks in Edmonton, and Toronto is all in analytics and blazing their own trail.

Post by **brian** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:20 pm

There's really not that many openings so it basically comes down (probably) to what he wants this point in his career. I don't think Babcock's worried about job security though your point about being able to build in Buffalo is well-taken and understood. Short of a catastrophe in Detroit he's not going to be fired and even if he were he'd have x number of job offers anyway. So it probably mostly comes down to what he wants. Being able to build a winner in a place like Buffalo might be it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 11, 2015 6:17 pm

He's sooooooo going to Toronto. Its his Theo Epstein "you'd be a god" opportunity.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed May 13, 2015 3:24 pm

So, Elliotte Friedman of Canadian network Sportsnet said today that it's essentially a done deal that Todd McLellan is going to be the new coach of the Edmonton McDavids.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed May 13, 2015 3:56 pm

"Fat Jeremy Renner"

howard · Post by **howard** » Wed May 13, 2015 7:10 pm

That's not what you'd hope for.

(not a big hockey man, but Game Seven)

Post by **Sabo** » Fri May 15, 2015 10:43 am

The Discovery Channel just dropped a bomb on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri May 15, 2015 11:07 am

Why would the Penguins twitter weigh in on that, such an easy target!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri May 15, 2015 12:24 pm

The latest chapter in the ongoing saga of the Coyotes' existence in Arizona.

Top politicians in Glendale want out of their part of the arena lease, which would expedite a move.

Glendale Vice Mayor Ian Hugh says using taxpayer dollars to pay down the team's debt rather than for direct arena management expenses amounts to a breach of contract. Hughes says he hopes in coming weeks to rally support on Glendale's seven-member city council to direct the city's attorney to explore whether the Phoenix suburb can get out of its contract with the Coyotes, a potential legal battle that could finally herald the Coyotes' exodus from the desert.

"The taxpayer got the short end of the stick," Hughes said in an interview. "If they call this an investment, you'd think there would be a possible return. I'm hard pressed to see the benefits to the city of Glendale."...

"I asked our finance director...if the hockey team packed up and left the next day, what would be the impact, and the answer was an $8.5 million windfall profit for us," Hughes said. "We increased sales tax to the citizens to cover this (arena management deal). We have needs in law enforcement and our fire department that we can't fund. We had to put off purchasing of new pumpers for the fire department. We have three libraries in Glendale and all of their hours have been cut way back."

Hughes also said three new city councillors were voted in in December and views on council about the Coyotes deal may have changed.

When Glendale's city council approved the arena management deal on July 3, 2013, the vote was 4-3. But since then, two councillors who voted in favour of the contract have left council, while Hughes and Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, two of the three who voted against the contract, remain.

Post by **brian** » Fri May 15, 2015 1:29 pm

RamsFanny and I were talking about this and wouldn't be surprised at all to just see them sell to the Las Vegas ownership group and move them to Las Vegas for the 16-17 season instead of an expansion team. Could be a win-win. I'd probably rather have the Coyotes than an expansion team anyway (not that they're much better, but there's at least an infrastructure in place).

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri May 15, 2015 3:52 pm

Babcock stays in Detroit according to the talking heads on Sportsnet.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri May 15, 2015 3:59 pm

Situational refereeing at it's worse in the NHL

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hoc ... other-guy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is why nobody really watches hockey.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 18, 2015 8:50 am

Sooo ... that's not quite Mike Babcock, huh Flyers fans?

Post by **brian** » Mon May 18, 2015 10:50 am

Though it's kinda creepy how much Hakstol looks like Babcock. It's almost as if Philly was like "well, if we can't get Babcock let's at least get someone who LOOKS like him."

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon May 18, 2015 12:59 pm

My theory is that Philly GM Ron Hextall thinks they are related.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon May 18, 2015 1:05 pm

Babcock in San Jose to interview. Good news: apparently Babcock initiated this meeting. Bad news: San Jose probably can't afford him, and the team's situation (aging core players, in semi-rebuild mode) is much like (and possibly worse than) the current Red Wing situation he is said not to like. Plus, Todd McLellan is his good friend, and I doubt Todd is telling him he oughta go there.

So... unlikely. But, I can still hope.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon May 18, 2015 3:27 pm

Funny, one of the terrible columnists in Detroit wrote a column today stating that, apparently, there isn't much interest in Babcock. Buffalo, Toronto, Edmonton (who brought in McClellan), Philly, San Jose, staying in Detroit... Nah, not that much interest.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 18, 2015 3:31 pm

"If he's so great, why are none of the best teams in the NHL chasing him?"

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon May 18, 2015 3:39 pm

Why isn't he getting more shit for this? Isn't he under contract with the Wings? I understand the Wings being ok with letting him go, assuming they get compensation, but I'm not used to a coach who has a job interviewing for jobs with other teams, some of whom have coaches as well.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 18, 2015 3:51 pm

Pretty sure his deal is up. Might be in the summer or something and that's why teams are agreeing to compensation?