Mike Babcock Watch 2015 officially began Friday, as Detroit GM Ken Holland granted the coach the opportunity to speak with other teams in pursuit of a new opportunity.
DET has granted Mike Babcock permission to talk to other NHL teams. Window open til late May. Doesn't mean Babcock leaving DET, window open.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 8, 2015
Babcock, 52, will be visiting Prague next week for the IIHF World Championships, and will certainly be meeting with executives from other teams there. The Flyers, along with Buffalo, Edmonton and Toronto, have been speculated to have interest in Babcock.
The window for teams interested in Babcock's services is not open for long, as teams will be able to speak with him until the end of the month. His contact with the Red Wings expires on June 30.
Babcock's served behind the Wings' bench since the 2005-06 season, and is currently the NHL's longest-tenured coach. If he leaves, Boston's Claude Julien would assume that role.
It's also speculated that Babcock wants to be the league's highest-paid coach — a distinction that currently belongs to Chicago's Joel Quenneville, at $2.75 million.
Holland and Babcock's decision doesn't signify the end of Babcock's run in the Motor City. It also doesn't guarantee his spot behind the Flyers' bench for next season. But either way, all ears are open wide.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
