Detroit Red Wings Clips May 16-18,...

Detroit Red Wings Clips

May 16-18, 2015

Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Sharp: Seems Babcock isn't attracting that much interest PAGE 4 Red Wings' Dylan Larkin wins bronze at worlds; what next? PAGE 5 Is Mike Babcock willing to take less to stay with Detroit Red Wings? Four

other clubs in the mix PAGE 7 Team USA, with Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin, wins bronze medal at

World Championships PAGE 8 Should Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin turn pro or return to college for

another season? PAGE 9 Growing speculation surrounds possibility of Blues-Babcock talks PAGE 10 Gave: Will Red Wings match high-paying deal for Babcock? Don't bet on

it PAGE 12 Babcock's suitors now five, including Red Wings PAGE 14 The 'Stevies': Mike Babcock, Gordie Howe and more PAGE 15 Wings prospect Tyler Bertuzzi climbing up depth chart PAGE 17 A perfect tribute to extra-special star Gordie Howe PAGE 19 Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin, Team USA blanked 4-0 by Russia at

World Championship PAGE 20 Babcock, Red Wings expect decision next week PAGE 21 Red Wings name trophy after late CapGeek founder PAGE 22 Don Cherry wants Mike Babcock to stay with Red Wings PAGE 23 Mike Babcock could make decision by Wednesday PAGE 24 Don Cherry to Mike Babcock: Stay put PAGE 25 Red Wings' Ken Holland glad to hear Mike Babcock will make decision on

future next week PAGE 27 Don Cherry urges Mike Babcock to avoid lure of big bucks and return as

coach of Red Wings PAGE 28 Detroit Red Wings rename prospects tourney trophy Matthew Wuest

Memorial Cup PAGE 29 Pavel Datsyuk was Red Wings' Most Valuable Player in 2014-15,

according to MLive readers PAGE 31 Mike Babcock links: Is Detroit Red Wings' coach at the top of his

profession? Some question that PAGE 34 Mike Babcock will make coaching decision next week

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Sharp: Seems Babcock isn't attracting that much interest

By Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press Columnist 8:57 p.m. EDT May 17, 2015

Mike Babcock sought a hotter-looking girlfriend.

He already had a pretty attractive young lady on his arm the past 10 years. They were the perfect couple. But he wanted to see whether he could do better. Why? Because he could. He has a Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals as Canada's coach. And now the open flirtations of the past couple of weeks will result in an important decision in the next couple of days that could create a very awkward situation for Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings.

Both parties paved the path for an amicable separation. But by all reported accounts, it doesn't appear Babcock attracted the interest from as many supermodels as he might have thought. That might improve the odds of Babcock inking a new contract with the Wings this week, but how can it not publicly look as though he is settling for the lesser of several competitive ills?

That's not exactly a confession of true love and devotion.

Detroit is an extraordinarily sensitive sports town. It had lost the two biggest unrestricted free-agent stars in baseball and football within a span of six weeks this year when Max Scherzer broke the bank with the Washington Nationals and Ndamukong Suh chose to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history with the Miami Dolphins rather than earning the same distinction with the Lions.

But harder still on its often fragile psyche is the thought that stars could even hope to find it better elsewhere considering the fans' unbridled passion and — at least in the case of the Ilitch family — ownership not averse to investing whatever necessary to keep the best happy and appreciative of where they are.

Babcock insisted at the start of this courtship that there were no hidden agendas. He made it clear how much he enjoyed working for the Wings, but he would approach free agency with an open mind and a willingness to consider all options. His main priority was winning another Stanley Cup, wherever that quest took him. During an interview with TSN Canada this past weekend at the world hockey championships in the Czech Republic, Babcock sounded as though the experience humbled him.

"It's been an interesting process," Babcock said with Wings general manager Ken Holland sitting beside him. "I brought this on myself. I've learned a ton about myself and (his relationship with Holland) and the NHL. It's been great."

Babcock added in the TSN interview that there wasn't a "better job" than the Wings', but he was merely opening the door to consider a "different job."

Huh?

If there truly wasn't a better job than what he has, what is the point in dangling your gold medals out there to see what you can attract unless this coach fishing expedition was

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nothing more than an exercise in personal vanity? If there was absolute confidence that the Wings' next transformative star (à la Pavel Datsyuk) already was in the organization and perhaps a year or two away from blossoming, then wouldn't Babcock have agreed to the second generous contract extension in six months Holland offered in January if this were truly "the better job"?

It's believed that only Toronto and Buffalo submitted the necessary compensation paperwork to the league. The Wings demanded a third-round pick within the next three years for any team that signs Babcock. The Wings remain a better option than the Leafs and Sabres, but that doesn't mean they're any closer to seriously contending for a Stanley Cup in the immediate future.

And wasn't that Babcock's self-imposed bottom line in this process?

It's still stunning that Pittsburgh showed no interest in Babcock, considering Sidney Crosby's vast organizational influence and that the Penguins have the impactful stars Babcock seeks in Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who are under 30. Boston apparently balked as well after missing the playoffs.

And then Montreal didn't hesitate endorsing head coach Michel Therrien's return soon after Tampa Bay eliminated the Habs in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The hottest-looking girls weren't interested.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 05.18.2015

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Red Wings' Dylan Larkin wins bronze at worlds; what next?

By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 2:38 a.m. EDT May 18, 2015

Will top prospect turn pro and battle for a roster spot with Wings - or stay at Michigan for another year?

Detroit Red Wings blue-chip prospect Dylan Larkin has added a World Championships bronze medal to his nascent resume. Now he has to decide what step next to take in his blossoming hockey career.

The U.S. defeated the Czech Republic 3-0 Sunday in Prague in the tournament's consolation game. Larkin, from Waterford, had one assist in 10 games. The Wings selected Larkin 15th overall in last summer's NHL entry draft.

Larkin will turn 19 at the end of July. He has excelled everywhere he's been, including winning gold at the 2014 World Under-18 Championships. His outstanding first year at Michigan (15 goals and 32 assists in 35 games) earned him Freshman of the Year honors, and the invitation to be one of only two 18-year-olds to play for Team USA at Worlds (the other was Jack Eichel, expected to be the second overall pick in next month's NHL entry draft).

Larkin may decide to turn pro, and go to Traverse City in September to battle for a roster spot in Detroit, with the Grand Rapids Griffins as a safety net. The Wings don't usually encourage players to turn pro at so young an age, though - even Gustav Nyquist, who excelled at Maine, spent three years playing college hockey before turning pro. Larkin may also want to take a look at Anthony Mantha, Detroit's first-round pick (20th overall) from 2013, who turned pro last summer after a fantastic final season of junior hockey. Mantha, 20, has struggled mightily to establish his footing in his rookie season in the AHL.

The case for another year at Michigan is furthered by the fact the 2015-16 Wolverines are expected to be really, really good - as in NCAA title contender good. They are adding forward Kyle Connor, who is expected to be a top 15 pick in the upcoming NHL draft, among others. Larkin will have to decide what's best for his development - getting started in pro hockey, or possibly leading the Wolverines on a title run.

Griffins advance: The Grand Rapids Griffins are onto Round 3 of the AHL playoffs after defeating the Rockford IceHogs, 5-3, in Game 5 of the second round. Scorers included Teemu Pulkkinen and Tyler Bertuzzi.


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Is Mike Babcock willing to take less to stay with Detroit Red Wings? Four other clubs in the mix

Ansar Khan

on May 17, 2015 at 4:01 PM, updated May 17, 2015 at 4:16 PM

DETROIT – Is Mike Babcock prepared to take less money than he could get elsewhere to stay in Detroit, a place where he and his family are comfortable, with an organization that wants him back?

Or will the franchise's all-time winningest coach take the best offer he receives and move on?

Babcock's future will be determined this week. The Red Wings expect a decision by Friday at the latest. Babcock, in an interview with tsn.ca, suggested he could know by Wednesday.

Four clubs have sought permission to speak with Babcock, according to a source – Toronto, Buffalo, St. Louis and San Jose. He talked to the Maple Leafs and Sabres before leaving for the World Championships in the Czech Republic. Babcock, who was scheduled to return home on Sunday, is expected to speak with the Sharks on Monday or Tuesday. It is believed he spoke with the Blues during the World Championships, since their general manager, Doug Armstrong, was at the event.

The Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers, other teams who were expected to make a pitch for Babcock, have not asked for permission to talk to him. The Oilers reportedly are set to hire Todd McLellan, the former Sharks head coach and Red Wings assistant.

The Red Wings offered Babcock a four-year deal worth $3.25 million per season, a significant raise from his previous $2 million a year salary. It would make him the highest-paid coach in NHL history, slightly more than Chicago Blackhawks' Joel Quenneville, who will make $2.9 million next season and $3 million the year after and has two Stanley Cup championships on his resume, compared to one for Babcock.

But Babcock could get up to $5 million a season from Toronto or Buffalo. St. Louis and San Jose don't have the financial wherewithal to offer him that much.

The Red Wings believe they made a good offer (it was made in January). They have not asked ownership about increasing it. Even if they do, it won't come close to matching with the Maple Leafs and Sabres can offer.

Babcock stated after his team's first-round playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning that money and personnel control are not issues to him. His priorities are winning and family. He has said his family wants him to stay.

Toronto and Buffalo are in the midst of major rebuilds, so he's not likely to win anytime soon at either place. San Jose, which missed the playoffs this season, has a talented roster but its stars, Joe Thornton (turns 36 in July) and Patrick Marleau (turns 36 in September), are aging. Babcock, after the Game 7 loss to the Lightning, expressed

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concern about the age of the Red Wings' top players – Pavel Datsyuk (turns 37 in July), Henrik Zetterberg (turns 35 in October) and Niklas Kronwall (34).

The Blues, with a roster that is deep, young and talented, would provide Babcock the best chance of winning a Stanley Cup right away. But St. Louis, which hasn't fired coach Ken Hitchcock, won't offer the most money, maybe not even as much as Detroit.

The Red Wings have no Datsyuks or Zetterbergs waiting in the wings, but they have a good collection of young talent, on the roster and in the system. Babcock just watched two-way center Dylan Larkin of Michigan at the Worlds, their best prospect, who is contemplating whether to turn pro.

This is why some in the organization believe Babcock should stay.

If Babcock leaves, he'll be replaced by Jeff Blashill, who's done a tremendous job with the Grand Rapids Griffins, winning the AHL's Calder Cup championship in 2013 and having the team currently within one win of reaching the conference finals.

Three teams asked for permission to speak with Blashill last summer but were denied by the Red Wings, who gave him a significant raise, up to $400,000 a season, about twice the average salary for an AHL head coach. They told him to hang tight, that he'll be coaching in the NHL soon, if not for the Red Wings then somewhere else. Blashill continues to be a hot commodity and the Red Wings will grant him permission to speak to other clubs if Babcock re-signs.

The Red Wings have made it clear they want Babcock back, but they're only willing to go so far to placate him.

Owner Mike Ilitch has a reputation for being loyal and treating players and management well, but some in the organization believe the process is getting on his nerves and aren't sure if he will budge on his offer.

Many questions will be answered this week.

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.18.2015

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Team USA, with Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin, wins bronze medal at World Championships

Ansar Khan


The United States captured the bronze medal at the IIHF World Championships Sunday with a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic, the host nation, in Prague.

The U.S. medaled for the second time in three years, the first time that has happened since 1952.

Connor Hellebuyck, a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets, made 39 saves. Nick Bonino (7:25) and Trevor Lewis (18:13) scored goals in the first period. Charlie Coyle added to the lead at 19:10 of the second period.

"I'm very proud," U.S. captain Matt Hendricks said in a story posted on the IIHF Web site. "We had a quick turn-around. Obviously we wanted to be playing for the gold medal. But we were able to rally the troops and come out tonight and play a very, very strong game, backed by a great performance from our goaltender."

Hellebuyck leads all goaltenders in the tournament in goals against average and save percentage.

"Connor is our best player night in, night out," said Lewis. "He was there to stop pucks for us, and clear rebounds. We knew if we had a breakdown he was going to be there, he was a calming presence for us. I can't say enough about him."

Last year the Czechs eliminated the Americans in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 victory in Minsk, Belarus.

Was it Dylan Larkin's final game as an amateur? The Detroit Red Wings' top pick in the 2014 draft, arguably their best prospect, will decide shortly whether to turn pro or return to Michigan for his sophomore season.

Larkin, 18, appeared in all 10 games, scoring no goals and picking up one assist. He recorded 17 shots and a minus-2 rating.

After the game, Jaromir Jagr once again announced his retirement from international hockey, giving fans in his native country one final chance to watch him play.

"I'm glad I did it, even if we didn't win a medal," Jagr said of coming back to play in the 2015 World Championships. "It was something special."


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Should Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin turn pro or return to college for another season?

Brendan Savage on May 17, 2015 at 6:06 AM

Turn pro or return to college for at least one more year?

That's today's question regarding Dylan Larkin, one of the Detroit Red Wings' top prospects.

Larkin, the Red Wings first-round pick (15th overall) in last year's NHL draft, said he'll decide on his future after the United States completes its run in the World Championship, which ends today with the bronze-medal game against the host Czech Republic.

The 6-foot, 178-pound forward has been a regular for Team USA after also playing for the Americans at the World Junior Championship this year. That has him contemplating a pro career rather than return to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season.

At Michigan last season, Larkin had 15 goals, 32 assists and a plus-18 rating in 35 games last season.

Returning to Michigan would allow Larkin, 18, to continue pursuing his degree free of charge. But there's also the risk of injury. There's also a chance he could eventually skip the minor leagues and go straight to the NHL, the way Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser did two years ago.

Or, he could begin his pro career next season – likely in Grand Rapids of the AHL – and start cashing a paycheck.

HockeyFutures.com ranks Larkin as the NHL's fifth best prospect, ahead of Grand Rapids Griffins Anthony Mantha (No. 18) and Teemu Pulkkinen (26).

So with all that in mind, what should Larkin do, turn pro or go back to college for at least one more year?


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Growing speculation surrounds possibility of Blues-Babcock talks

Elisabeth Meinecke

MAY 17, 2015 10:03p ET

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have reportedly asked to speak with Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, according Ansar Khan of Mlive.com in an article published Sunday.

In fact, the conversation might have already taken place.

"It is believed he spoke with the Blues during the World Championships, since their general manager, Doug Armstrong, was at the event," Khan writes.

Khan also speculates that, while the Blues won't be able to offer Babcock the most money of the five competing clubs -- which, according to Khan's source, includes the Sharks, as well as the previously reported Maple Leafs and Sabres, along with Detroit -- they may be able to offer his best chance at winning, something he's expressed as one of two priorities, along with family.

"Toronto and Buffalo are in the midst of major rebuilds, so he's not likely to win anytime soon at either place," Khan writes. "San Jose, which missed the playoffs this season, has a talented roster but its stars, Joe Thornton (turns 36 in July) and Patrick Marleau (turns 36 in September), are aging. Babcock, after the Game 7 loss to the Lightning, expressed concern about the age of the Red Wings' top players -- Pavel Datsyuk (turns 37 in July), Henrik Zetterberg (turns 35 in October) and Niklas Kronwall (34)."

If Khan's source is correct, it represents a quick turnaround from a report filed just yesterday by Sportsnet, saying that it was "a three-team race" for Babcock as of Friday, with the Sabres and Maple Leafs as the competitors who've "formally filed for permission" to interview him. The report added, however, there remained "time" for other teams to do so -- something the Blues may have taken advantage of in the past 48 hours. Meanwhile, based on comments made in an interview with TSN and reported by Mlive.com, Babcock is likely to make a decision on where he'll go -- or stay -- before the end of this week.

foxsports.com LOADED: 05.18.2015

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Gave: Will Red Wings match high-paying deal for Babcock? Don't bet on it

KEITH GAVE

MAY 17, 2015 1:36p ET

The Red Wings are paying Mike Babcock $2 million in a contract that expires on June 30.

When the Red Wings were preparing for their first NHL Entry Draft in Mike Ilitch's tenure as owner -- an event that would lay the foundation for what the franchise remains today -- he was so intent on getting the player he wanted that he was willing to pay dearly for it.

His Wings were drafting fourth overall in 1983, the year Waterford Township phenom Pat Lafontaine was projected to be third overall by the New York Islanders. Ilitch wanted Lafontaine as the face of his franchise so badly that at the draft table in the Montreal Forum that day he instructed then-General Manager Jim Devellano to offer the Islanders $1 million for the privilege of moving up one spot in the draft order.

Devellano's response? He reached over and put his hand on Ilitch's forearm and said, "Mike, save your money. I think this is going to turn out all right for us."

Moments later, the Islanders called Pat Lafontaine's name and the Wings followed by selecting an undersized center named Steve Yzerman -- who would make a prophet of Devellano.

The point here? As the Wings ponder how much is fair to pay and how much is too much in the bidding to keep their coach, it may be GM Ken Holland's turn to tell his owner to save his money.

The Wings started the bidding last summer with an offer on a multi-year extension. They increased the offer to $3.25 million a year for four years, which would make Babcock the highest paid coach in the NHL by a half-million dollars over Chicago's Joel Quenneville. But after Babcock turned his nose up at those offers to pursue free-agency, those numbers are expected to grow.

With deep-pocket and desperate teams like Toronto and Buffalo involved, the bidding already stands at $5 million a year for six years, according to an NHL source. The Wings are comfortable at about $4 million for 4-5 years. So it's not just Babcock who has a difficult decision to make if the Wings even get an opportunity match his best offer.

The Wings are paying him $2 million in a contract that expires on June 30. Chicago's Joel Quenneville is the highest-paid coach in the NHL at $2.9 million.

Right or wrong -- and there is plenty of evidence on both sides of the debate -- Babcock is widely perceived to be the best coach in hockey, certainly the best of a cadre of accomplished coaches on the market today. Any team that decides to break the bank and sign him can argue that it's money well spent.

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Except, perhaps, for Detroit, which has not one but two of the most coveted coaches in North America.

San Jose and St. Louis have joined Buffalo and Toronto in asking permission to speak with Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who has said he expects to have a decision about his future by Wednesday.

For the second year in a row, other NHL teams are requesting permission to speak with Jeff Blashill, the Grand Rapids coach whose team could advance to the Calder Cup semifinals with a win Sunday evening.

And for the second year in a row, the Wings have been denying those teams that opportunity because Blashill is the obvious heir-apparent if Babcock leaves.

Last summer, after a 10-minute conversation, Holland agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Wings. The first thing he did was turn to Babcock and try to keep him in the fold with a new, four-year deal. When Babcock balked, it made the Wings a little nervous. They didn't want to be in a position where they might lose both Babcock and Blashill to other NHL teams.

So while they denied Blashill an opportunity to move up to the NHL, they also gave him an extension that made him the highest-paid coach in the American Hockey League -- by far -- at $400,000 a year. AHL coaches are typically paid $150,000-$250,000.

If Babcock stays, Blashill will be given permission to talk with other NHL teams. If Babcock leaves, Blashill will be the new coach in Detroit.

So there are a lot of moving parts to all this, especially with the Wings more comfortable paying Babcock something considerably less on a long-term deal.

Will Babcock give the Wings a hometown discount should he decide this is the best place for him? Or will Mike Ilitch ante up to match an exorbitant offer, thinking that Babcock gives his team a chance to continue making the playoffs and making a serious run -- especially with the Wings moving into a new building in a couple of years?

Stay tuned. This should all shake out in the next few days.


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Babcock's suitors now five, including Red Wings

KEITH GAVE

MAY 17, 2015 12:41p ET

Mike Babcock, 52, is the NHL's most sought-after free agent after spending 10 years with the Red Wings.

San Jose and St. Louis have joined Buffalo and Toronto in asking permission to speak with Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who has said he expects to have a decision about his future by Wednesday.

Babcock planned to return after today's gold medal game between Canada and Russia in the World Hockey Championships in Prague. An NHL source said he believes Babcock will meet with San Jose General Manager Doug Wilson on his return, probably on Monday. Babcock previously met with Toronto and Buffalo, and it's likely he met with St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong, who also attended the Worlds in the Czech Republic.

Neither Philadelphia nor Edmonton -- both widely speculated to be among the contenders for Babcock's services -- have sought permission from the Wings, the source said.

Detroit has asked for a third-round draft pick in the next three years from any club that signs Babcock away from Detroit.

Babcock, 52, is the NHL's most sought-after free agent after spending 10 years with the Red Wings and allowing his contract to expire despite two offers from Detroit that would have made him the highest-paid coach in the league. Chicago's Joel Quenneville, who's making a run at a third Stanley Cup, is tops now at $2.9 million.

In September, the Wings made an offer of $3.25 million for four years, but the bidding now is expected to hit at least $5 million a season.

Ownership in Toronto and Buffalo can easily pay that or more, and both franchises are desperate to make a move like this to rejuvenate a disenfranchised fan base. But both are long-term reclamation projects -- rebuilding teams that Babcock has said he's not interested in because he likes winning too much.

San Jose is widely perceived to be a strong team that has underachieved in the playoffs under Todd McLellan, who appears to be the front-runner for the Edmonton coaching job. But the Sharks, who have seen attendance fall dramatically, are losing money and may not be able to afford a big-ticket coach.

Moreover, Babcock would be walking into a situation he's been nervous about in Detroit, with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in the twilights of their careers. So, in San Jose, are Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

St. Louis is by far the best team of the four options Babcock has outside of Detroit, but the Blues have underachieved in the playoffs as well in three seasons under Ken Hitchcock -- who is in limbo right now, not fired and not re-signed. But the Blues are a

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franchise that has to struggle to break even, and Babcock may be too rich for their blood, too.

So increasingly it feels like Detroit may wind up being Babcock's best option -- if the Red Wings are willing to pay what Babcock is commanding in the market these days.

But that's no slam-dunk, either.


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The 'Stevies': Mike Babcock, Gordie Howe and more

By Steve Schrader,

10:13 p.m. EDT May 16, 2015

Each week, Steve Schrader hands out "Stevies" to the best, worst and weirdest from the week that was in sports. This week's Stevies:

The "First Scherzer, then Suh, Now ..." award

To Mike Babcock, who keeps talking about how much he loves coaching the Red Wings and how he could never find a better situation. Well, I'm glad we all agree it's an easy decision. So why are we still waiting? Does he have commitment issues?

The "Keep Your Head Up" award

To Red Wings great Gordie Howe, who's having the new Detroit-Windsor bridge named after him, a great idea that both the U.S. and Canada can get behind. Have they designed it yet? Because in honor of the legend of Gordie, they ought to put some corners in it.

The "Read Me If You Want to Live" award

To the Associated Press, which says it's experimenting with having computers — not people — write things like college baseball game stories. And this is how it starts. It's Skynet.

The "Roger That" award

To NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who will decide Tom Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension for being "at least generally aware" of what was going on in Deflategate. Do you think Goodell is at least generally aware of what's going to happen here? That either way he goes, he'll be criticized for rubber-stamping the penalty or caving to the Patriots. Goodell just loves those lose-lose situations.

The "Off-Pitch" award

To "Pitch Perfect 2," which is great news for ... oh, it's just another movie sequel? Sorry. I thought Justin Verlander was finally coming back.


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Wings prospect Tyler Bertuzzi climbing up depth chart

By Helene St. James,

9:21 p.m. EDT May 16, 2015

Tyler Bertuzzi joined the Grand Rapids Griffins after a transformative last season of junior hockey, came down with flu, and since only has made opponents nauseous.

Bertuzzi is climbing up the depth chart among Detroit Red Wings prospects given his head-turning 2014-15 season. His most recent accomplishment has the Griffins, Detroit's AHL club, up 3-1 in their second-round best-of-7 series against the Rockford IceHogs, which continues Sunday with Game 5. Bertuzzi followed up his regulation goal in Thursday's Game 4 by scoring 13 seconds into overtime on a rebound.

The Wings selected Bertuzzi, 20, in the second round, 58th overall, in the 2013 NHL entry draft. While Bertuzzi has a very famous uncle in former NHL power forward and ex-Wing Todd Bertuzzi, a more current NHL mold for Tyler Bertuzzi is found in Wings forward Justin Abdelkader.

"It's a small sample size I've seen so far," Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill told the Free Press, "but from what I've seen, Tyler is a guy who can bring an edge to a line, bring a hardness to a line, but who also has the good skills and good thought process to play with good players."

Red Wings name trophy after late CapGeek founder

Blashill cited Abdelkader, who worked his way up from grinder to serving as puck-retriever and net-front presence for Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. "That's what Tyler appears to me to be," Blashill said.

Bertuzzi only turned pro last month, joining the Griffins for two games at the end of the regular season. A case of flu sidelined him when the playoffs began, but he's since contributed five goals and three assists in seven games. His goal output is second on the team (behind Teemu Pulkkinen's 12 in nine games) and his points are third (and five points more than that of Anthony Mantha, Detroit's 2013 first-round selection).

It helped that Bertuzzi joined the Griffins after a scorching finale with the OHL's Guelph Storm, where he hit 43 goals and 55 assists for 98 points in 68 games.

"He came to us and made an immediate impact," Blashill said. "He came to our team with lots of confidence, and was able to bring that to our league. He's also had success because of the type of player he is - he's hard, he goes to the net hard, is strong on the puck. He's a playoff-type player."

At 6-1 and 190 pounds, Bertuzzi, like all young players, needs to gain strength and size. That should come next season, as he embarks on his first full year of pro.


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A perfect tribute to extra-special star Gordie Howe

The Detroit News

3:30 p.m. EDT May 16, 2015

This is the perfect fit. Who would have thought -- an international bridge named for Gordie Howe?

Nothing more appropriate, because Gordie has had his own bridge for decades and was the primary cause that so many former NHL players, now senior citizens, have bridges of their own.

There were no records kept for the total number of teeth Gordie knocked out of rivals during his quarter century with the Red Wings and 32 years in major hockey total.

But Gordie has to be the all-time record holder. Back then, he was the foremost practitioner in all of professional sports for the subtle use of elbows and butt ends of hockey sticks.

Most of the time, the targets were the other guys' mouths.

Congratulations to the politicos of two countries for coming together on this bridge deal. Rarely is there such a sharing of acute imagination. Seldom is there such a friendly pact between nations as was reached in the naming of the eventual Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Oh, I got it now. This bridge is going be built spanning the Detroit River – a new connection between Detroit and Windsor – and not as part of some unfortunate Russian hockey player's mouth.

Naming a bridge for Gordie is a great, great honor for a former professional athlete.

It is an honor that those of us of an octogenarian bent cheer.

There have been two sports guys in my lifetime who rank above special.

Joining Williams

Ted Williams and Gordie Howe played with exquisite skills before the beginning of my professional career in sports journalism.

And they waited around long enough so that I had the wonderful fortune to cover both for the Associated Press and then The Detroit News. Awe is the only word worthwhile to explain what it is like for a young sportswriter to sit down next to Williams or Howe and converse with them interview style.

The nouveau writers today – the bloggers who sit anchored in front of multiple TV sets, the ESPN dudes who invent clichés for our language, the Internet poseurs – they have no concept about old-fashioned digging and reporting.

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In Boston, where I was schooled in journalism more than 60 years ago, there has long been a tunnel commemorating the name of Ted Williams. A tunnel seemed to be the perfect fit for Williams, too. He preferred to be silent and deep, except for the occasional display of bravado.

And now Gordie is destined to join Williams, commemorated for perpetuity with an artery for vehicular traffic.

They were the best of what they did in their eras, contemporaries with radically different personas.

Williams was dour, sullen – and terribly unpopular with a segment of the baseball fans of proper Boston. Mid-20th Century Boston journalists detested him, most of them.

Howe, during his playing years, was quiet – and deadly. In Detroit, we the media enjoyed his banter, admired his wit beyond his immense playing skills, grinned at his tart comments and pranks.

Different approach

Gordie always seemed to get a joy out of playing his games, a joy that Williams seldom displayed.

Howe would see you in a hotel lobby and then take a circuitous route toward where you were standing. Just when you thought Gordie had vanished out into the street or the coffee shop, he'd greet you with an elbow hard into the ribs. Once he checked me into a wall.

Then he'd laugh.

I wonder if Ted Williams ever laughed.

Williams was devoted to his trade – which was hitting baseballs. Plain and simple.

He turned it into an art, and he was the connoisseur.

Williams was a young ball player who would hit .406 in his third Major League season in 1941.

"All I want out of life is that when I walk down the street folks will say, 'There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived,'" Williams famously proclaimed, and it was not youthful boasting.

And lots of folks said that. And no Major League batter has reached .400 in the 74 years since.

Gordie never issued such a braggart's proclamation. I'll say it now – in 2015 – there goes the greatest hockey player who ever lived.

"I was aggressive," Gordie said once in a post-career interview. "If somebody did something to me that wasn't fair, I'd retaliate. I guess I was a retaliator – someone you can't push around."

John Updike, the late literary giant and baseball devotee, captured Ted Williams best in his 1960 "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" in the New Yorker Magazine.

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"Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, he is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money. It may be that, compared to managers' dreams such as Joe DiMaggio, and the always helpful Stan Musial, Williams is an icy star. … It is an essentially lonely game."

There are teeth to that quality of writing.

Gordie Howe was hardly an icy star.

Funny, Williams was never quite respected in Boston until it was much too late. He responded with unfriendly, sometimes obscene, gestures. Howe retaliated in a more subtle fashion.

One Sunday afternoon in the Boston Garden, Howe was being taunted by loudmouth Bruins fan. This gibes were tossed at Gordie in the first period, more in the second period. The baiter by the third period was standing up and leaning above the boards.

The flow of the game went down to one of the corners. That was when Gordie lingered behind. The guy stood up to mouth some more at Gordie. Gordie neatly jabbed his hockey stick over the boards and tapped the guy on the forehead a couple of times. Drew blood. No penalty.

I could witness the entire scene from the pressbox above, across the ice.

Gordie and Ted – two guys from a personally cherished era of sports joy. Guys who traveled different roads – and now remembered, soon, with roadways bearing their names. A tunnel in Boston, a bridge for Detroit.

Approach the toll booths with reverent thoughts.

Detroit News LOADED: 05.17.2015

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Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin, Team USA blanked 4-0 by Russia at World Championship

Brendan Savage

on May 16, 2015 at 5:05 PM,

updated May 16, 2015 at 5:08 PM

Detroit Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin and the United States will play for the bronze medal at the World Championship after getting blanked by Russia in Saturday's semifinals.

Alex Ovechkin, whose Washington Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday, arrived at the World Championship just in time to help Russia beat Team USA 4-0.

Ovechkin had a goal and an assist as Russia avenged a 4-2 loss to the Americans in the preliminary round and earned a spot in Sunday's championship game against the host Czech Republic.

Defending champion Russia will play unbeaten Canada for the gold medal.

The Americans, who haven't won the tournament since 1933, will be seeking their second bronze medal in three years.

"I think we really want to play [for bronze]," U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a Winnipeg Jets prospect, said in a story on the IIHF website. "Any medal is a good medal. We want to make our country proud and get bronze."

Larkin, the Red Wings first-round pick (15th overall) in last year's draft who plays for the University of Michigan, had four shots on goal – all in the third period – and a minus-1 rating in 15:23 of ice time.

After two scoreless periods, the Russians scored the only goal they'd need 7:47 into the third when Sergei Mozaykin triggered a four-goal explosion in a span of 11:18.

Ovechkin made it 2-0 just 3:02 after Mozaykin scored and the Russians also got goals from Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final five minutes.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovski made 31 saves for his first shutout of the tournament.

"It's clear that Seryozha [Bobrovski] is one of the best goalies at the moment," said Ovechkin. "It's almost impossible to score on him and today he showed his mastery and his class. He's one of the best goalies in the world."

Canada beat the Czechs 2-0 to earn a spot in the championship game.


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Babcock, Red Wings expect decision next week

By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 7:05 p.m. EDT May 15, 2015

By the end of next week, the #Babswatch should be over.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland shot down rumors out of Canada that Mike Babcock had agreed to an extension Friday afternoon, telling the Free Press that Babcock "has not made a decision," on his coaching future, adding that, "he expects to make a decision by the end of next week."

Babcock indicated Friday in an interview with TSN's Darren Dreger, alongside Holland, that he'd have a decision by Wednesday.

Babcock, 52, is in the last year of a contract that expires June 30. On May 8, the Wings granted interested teams permission to talk to Babcock through May 25. If a team signs Babcock, the Wings would be compensated a third-round draft pick once within the next three seasons.

The Buffalo Sabres made a pitch to Babcock before he joined Holland earlier this week in Prague to watch the World Championships. The Toronto Maple Leafs are also believed to have talked to Babcock. The Philadelphia Flyers are interested. The Edmonton Oilers have not requested permission.


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Red Wings name trophy after late CapGeek founder

By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 10:10 p.m. EDT May 15, 2015

A man passionate about hockey, supremely knowledgeable about the salary cap and with a penchant for the Detroit Red Wings will be honored at the annual NHL Prospect Tournament.

The Red Wings and training camp event organizers in Traverse City announced today that the trophy awarded to the tournament champion has been renamed the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup. Wuest was the developer of the immensely popular CapGeek website and, before that, developed and maintained Red Wings Central, a website focused on Wings prospects.

Wuest died in March, at age 35, after a two-year battle with colon cancer.

Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin remembers when he first met Wuest.

"I was introduced to him my first month on the job, 10 years ago, by Jim Nill," Martin told the Free Press. Nill was the assistant GM in Detroit before becoming GM of the Dallas Stars. "He had a tremendous amount of passion for the Wings. His Red Wings Central site was incredibly thorough."

Shortly after launching CapGeek, which became a resource for NHL clubs and fans for detailed contract information about every team's players, Martin and Wuest again talked regularly.

"We had a little bit of a relationship," Martin said, "and he reached out to me in the process of doing due diligence, asked me about rules and issues regarding the salary cap.

"Over the years, and I told him this, he knew the ins and outs of the CBA better than some people who work for some of the teams. The amount of time he put into maintaining the site was second to none."

Honoring Wuest at the prospect tournament, an eight-team event that precedes Detroit's main training camp, made sense, given Wuest's passion for the next generation of NHLers. "He wrote a lot of articles about the tournament," Martin said, "and he tracked statistics before there was a more centralized system.

"It's a great honor to memorialize him and remember his impact on the Wings and the NHL community."


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Don Cherry wants Mike Babcock to stay with Red Wings

By Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press 2:16 p.m. EDT May 15, 2015

Don Cherry knows what it's like to be Mike Babcock right now.

After five successful seasons leading the Boston Bruins from 1974-79, Cherry was a top free agent coaching candidate going into the 1979-80 season. Though he didn't win a Stanley Cup, he could've stayed in Boston to chase one.

Instead, he joined the Colorado Rockies to become the highest paid coach in the NHL. He lasted just one season there and never coached in the NHL again. He's now a commentator for "Hockey Night in Canada" on CBC, best known for his colorful suits.

"I had 4 teams after me," Cherry said in a string of tweets this afternoon. "I was promised to be the highest paid coach. I could have gone to 3 contending teams. But I thought it would be great fun to go to a team out of the playoffs and the GM and I could turn it into a playoff team. So, I shook hands with the GM of Colorado and my fate was sealed.

"Yes I was the highest paid coach in the world but maybe the unhappiest."

Dylan Larkin playing well at worlds

Knowing that, Cherry thinks Babcock shouldn't make the same mistake he did by leaving the Detroit Red Wings after 10 seasons and a Stanley Cup to another NHL team who will pay him big riches.

"I know, I've been there. San Jose looks good. Good team, good GM and great place to live. But my guess Mike, is you'll stay in Detroit," Cherry tweeted. " Why shouldn't you? Datsyuk and Zettberberg still have a lot of years left and good young talent coming. Mike seems go get along with GM Kenny Holland and I know he's working for the best owner in sports, Mr. Illitch. Take my advice from a guy who has been there Mike.

"Don't take the money and run. Stay where you are. Believe me the grass is not greener."


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Mike Babcock could make decision by Wednesday

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 8:32 p.m. EDT May 15, 2015

Mike Babcock is getting closer to making a decision on his future.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and Babcock sat down for an interview with TSN Canada analyst Darren Dreger on Friday, and Babcock said he could make a decision as early as May 20. Holland gave Babcock a soft deadline of May 25 to make a decision.

"That date will be moved up," said Babcock, who along with Holland, returns Sunday from watching the world championships in Prague. "I bet you by the 20th I'll know what I'm doing.

"When your situation is as good as it is in Detroit, there's not a better job, there's a different job."

Babcock is under contract with the Red Wings until June 30, and would be free to sign with any team July 1.

"I was happy to hear Mike is far along in his process, that he's close to making a decision," Holland told The News. "Beyond that, I don't really know a lot."

Holland said he wants Babcock to talk to other teams and make sure he's comfortable with his decision —and make sure Detroit is where Babcock wants to be.

"I don't want Mike to think maybe there's a better opportunity," Holland said. "I'm hoping we're the best fit."

Babcock said he has "offers" from different teams, but wouldn't divulge which teams.

He said the process has been "educational.

"My head is spinning," Babcock said. "It's been an interesting process. I brought this on myself. I've learned a ton about myself and our relationship (with Holland) and the NHL. It's been great."

Toronto and Buffalo are two teams known to have talked to Babcock before he left for the World Championships.

Philadelphia, San Jose and Edmonton are three teams without coaches, although the Oilers reportedly are close to naming Todd McLellan, a former Babcock assistant who was fired by the Sharks, as their coach.

"Is change important to invigorate you?" Babcock said. "I've done a lot of thinking. It's time to make a decision here pretty quick.

"I'm a big-picture guy but I'm an immediate gratification guy, too, because I like winning."


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Don Cherry to Mike Babcock: Stay put

The Detroit News 2:17 p.m. EDT May 15, 2015

CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" commentator Don Cherry doesn't mince words -- especially in the 140-character confines of Twitter.

His message to free-agent coach Mike Babcock: Stay put.

In a stream of consciousness on Twitter, the former Boston Bruins coach shared his unfiltered thoughts on Babcock's future.

Cherry writes (edited for clarity): "I have some advice for Mike Babcock, the most sought-after free agent in hockey. Nobody knows where he is going. It is known that he will get about $5 million a year. Some people say that's ridiculous. I ask you why?

"Should not Mike make more that the third-line center or the fourth defenseman? I hope Mike doesn't make the same mistakes I made when I was the most sought-after coach. Yes, I was the most sought-after coach. I was the darling of hockey. Coach of the year, over 600 (winning) percentage with the Bruins.

"I had four teams after me. I was promised to be the highest-paid coach. I could have gone to three contending teams. But I thought it would be great fun to go to a team out of the playoffs and the GM and I could turn it into a playoff team. So, I shook hands with the GM of Colorado and my fate was sealed.

"Yes I was the highest-paid coach in the world but maybe the unhappiest. I remember I had to go to the dentist during the season to get a mouth guard as I was grinding my teeth away at night. Actually, we had a pretty good club.

"Lanny McDonald, Bobby Schmautz, Rene Robert, Joel Quenneville. We were all right except for one thing. The GM signed this goalie from from Sweden, who was a human sieve. He wasn't a bad guy actually. He had one problem … pucks. The GM held his ground as he did not want to look bad in front of the owners for signing this guy. So, that's why I am telling you Mike, don't go to a rebuilding team.

"I know, I've been there. San Jose looks good. Good team, good GM and great place to live. But my guess Mike, is you'll stay in Detroit. Why shouldn't you? (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg still have a lot of years left and good young talent coming. Mike seems go get along with GM Kenny Holland and I know he's working for the best owner in sports, Mr. Ilitch. Take my advice from a guy who has been there, Mike.

"Don't take the money and run. Stay where you are. Believe me the grass is not greener."


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Red Wings' Ken Holland glad to hear Mike Babcock will make decision on future next week

Ansar Khan


Mike Babcock will make a decision on his future next week, before the May 25 soft deadline that Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland set forth when he granted the coach permission to speak to other teams.

Holland, who along with Babcock, is at the World Championships in the Czech Republic, said Friday that Babcock has not informed him of a decision.

"Mike said he expected a decision way before May 25," Holland said.

"Nothing has changed from my part. I'm waiting for Mike to talk to some teams and make a decision. He met with a couple of teams prior to coming to Prague. I had teams sign the compensation letter. I'm in a holding pattern."

In an interview with TSN today, Babcock said, "I bet you by the 20th I'm going to know what I'm doing. This has been an interesting process. I brought this on myself."

Babcock spoke with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres before leaving for the World Championships. Holland would not reveal how many teams asked for permission to speak with him. Any club wanting to talk to Babcock is required to sign a letter of compensation agreeing to give the Red Wings one third-round pick at any point during the next three years if it hires him.

"I'm happy to hear Mike will make a decision by May 25," Holland said. "From our perspective, the sooner the better. If he stays we can get on with other things. If he leaves we can start the process to finding a replacement."

The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly set on hiring Todd McLellan, the former San Jose Sharks head coach and Detroit assistant.

The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose are the other clubs with coaching vacancies.

Babcock has maintained that winning and his family are the main factors in his decision, not money and personnel control. He wants to coach a team that has the opportunity to win right away and said his family wants him to stay in Detroit.

Babcock couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.

Babcock and Holland sat down for an interview with TSN.ca's Darren Dreger today which will air tonight.

Babcock, in a preview clip, told Dreger, "The Red Wings are an Original Six franchise, a special, special thing. I think about the opportunity to win. I think about my family and my time in Detroit. Is change important to invigorate you? I think about lots of things."

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He added, "I've done enough thinking. It's time to make a decision here pretty quick. I'm a big picture guy, but I'm also an immediate gratification guy, too, because I like winning."


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Don Cherry urges Mike Babcock to avoid lure of big bucks and return as coach of Red Wings

Brendan Savage


Outspoken hockey analyst Don Cherry has some advice for Mike Babcock.

Stay in Detroit as coach of the Red Wings.

Cherry is best known to many of today's hockey fans for his sometimes outrageous commentary during the Coach's Corner segment on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. But there was a time when he was considered one of the top coaches in the NHL.

During five seasons in Boston, Cherry led the Bruins to a 231-105-64 (.658) record and back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 1977-78. He won 51 games one season and lost 15 in regulation during another.

He won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 1975-76.

But after wearing out his welcome with Boston general manager Harry Sinden, Cherry was fired and decided to chase a big paycheck with the Colorado Rockies.

He got the money – Cherry claims he was the world's highest-paid coach at the time – but his one season in Colorado was a disaster as the Rockies went 19-48-13 during Cherry's final NHL season.

Now, Cherry doesn't want to see Babcock make the same mistake by accepting a contract that would make him the highest-paid coach in the NHL to try and rebuild a team like Toronto, Edmonton or Buffalo.

Babcock's contract in Detroit – which pays him an estimated $2 million per season – expires June 30 and teams are lining up to make him an offer after the Red Wings granted him permission to speak with other clubs.

The Red Wings have offered Babcock a contract believed to be worth $3.25 million per season for four years but there's been speculation he could get $4 million or more on the open market.

General manager Ken Holland said the Red Wings want to retain Babcock.

In a series of Tweets today, Cherry is urging Babcock to resist the temptation to cash in and instead stay in Detroit, where the Red Wings have made the playoffs for 24 straight seasons – the last 10 under Babcock.


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Detroit Red Wings rename prospects tourney trophy Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are honoring the late Matthew Wuest, whose Web site, CapGeek.com tracked NHL salary information and was widely used by fans and hockey executives alike.

The club and training camp event organizers in Traverse City announced today that the trophy awarded to the champion of the NHL Prospect Tournament has been renamed the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup.

Wuest also developed and maintained RedWingsCentral.com, which provided rankings, scouting profiles and features focused on Red Wings prospects from 2001-20014.

Wuest succumbed to a two-year battle with colon cancer in March 2015 at the age of 35. The Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup recognizes his significant behind-the-scenes contributions to the growth and development of the Prospects Tournament.

When Red Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin joined the organization in 2005 as its "capologist," then assistant GM Jim Nill and amateur scouting director Joe McDonnell introduced him to Wuest. Martin said the trophy is a terrific way to honor someone who had a tremendous passion for the club and the game and provided an invaluable service to fans and hockey personnel.

"He did an incredibly thorough job of letting people know about Red Wings prospects," Martin said. "(CapGeek.com) quickly became quite the authoritative site about cap information."

Martin was impressed with Cap Geek's details, accuracy and how quickly the information was updated, as well as Wuest's knowledge of the cap rules. Wuest called Martin at the start of every season to make sure the information he had about the Red Wings was accurate.

"He knew the ins and outs of the salary cap section of the CBA," Martin said. "Our pro scouts used it a lot. Kenny (GM Holland) and I used it. It required an unbelievable amount of due diligence and legwork. He did an unbelievable job. You knew the information was going to be bang-on for the most part."

RWC's coverage of the Prospects Tournament and Red Wings training camp were one of the most read sections of the site, providing statistical data on the participating teams and players along with exclusive box scores before the use of an online system was employed, spanning back to the inaugural tournament in 1998.

This year's tournament, the 17th hosted by Centre I.C.E. Arena in Traverse City, will run from Sept. 11-15. Participating teams include Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, the New York Rangers and St. Louis.

29

Pavel Datsyuk was Red Wings' Most Valuable Player in 2014-15, according to MLive readers

Brendan Savage

on May 15, 2015 at 6:06 AM

And the Most Valuable Player for the Detroit Red Wings in 2014-15 was ...

Pavel Datsyuk.

That's according to the 2,983 readers who voted in our poll asking who was the MVP based on both the regular season and playoffs.

Datsyuk received 1,147 of the votes – that's more than 38 percent – to finish well ahead of Justin Abdelkader, who was second with 731 votes (25.1 percent).

They were followed by Petr Mrazek (482 votes), Tomas Tatar (374), Henrik Zetterberg (80), Niklas Kronwall (57) and Gustav Nqyuist (48). There were 64 people who didn't like any of the names on our ballot and voted "other."

Datsyuk had 26 goals and 65 points in 63 regular-season games before scoring a team-leading three goals in seven playoff games. But as much as anything, one reader thinks his value comes from making everyone around him better.

"When a player was in a funk and needed to get going he was put together with Pav and almost always got on the scoresheet (except for Jurco)," wrote reader Ogonek22. "Pavel carried the team at times when fully healthy. I believe Abby, Tatar and Helm should get a lot of credit as well for their efforts and breakout seasons. I can't put any of them as MVP because this is their first time achieving this and I would like them to repeat or build on their success next year for me to put them in serious MVP discussion. It gets tougher as teams take you more serious and pay a little more attention to you."

Abdelkader had the best season of his career with 23 goals, 21 assists and 41 points. All are career highs. He also played on the top forward line and gives the Red Wings a physical presence.

"Abby gets my vote for whole-season-plus-playoffs MVP," wrote reader Detroiter-in-NY. "He's really become a huge part of the soul of this team. Howard gets my vote as first half MVP, and Mrazek gets my vote for second half+playoffs MVP. But to look at the entire season and playoffs as a whole, I think Abby contributed more to the competitive spirit of the team than anyone else. Hard to imagine saying this even a couple years ago. How times change!"

Mrazek wasn't even with the Red Wings when the season began but he was recalled from Grand Rapids to fill the void created by Jimmy Howard's groin injury in January and then took the No. 1 job from Howard in the playoffs.

Mrazek finished with a 16-9-2 record, 2.38 GAA and .918 save percentage before shutting out the NHL's highest-scoring team – the Tampa Bay Lightning – twice in the playoffs.

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"Although his body of work is incomplete, I give the nod to Mrazek as MVP for the Wings this year, simply because he stood on his head at times in pushing the highly-favored Lightning to seven games," wrote reader wingmaven. "Datsyuk was definitely more consistent, but without Mrazek, the Wings would have gone nowhere."

One of the readers who went off the ballot chose defenseman Kyle Quincey.

Quincey had perhaps the best season of his career, providing steady play on the back end while recording three goals, 15 assists and a plus-10 rating in 73 games.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here," wrote reader Honyuk. "Kyle Quincey is my choice. As far as a reliable d man goes, Q had an awesome year. Personally, I feel like he played much better than Kronner. The breakout starts w the D. Q was physical in front of our net and moved the puck. I really feel like he was our most solid player throughout the year."

Who do you think was the Red Wings' MVP?


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Mike Babcock links: Is Detroit Red Wings' coach at the top of his profession? Some question that

Brendan Savage

on May 15, 2015 at 9:09 AM

Mike Babcock is perhaps the best coach on the open market this year and NHL teams with vacancies are lining up to interview the Detroit Red Wings' bench boss.

But is he the best coach in the entire NHL as many people believe?

A couple of columnists out of Toronto aren't so sure.

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun and Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Globe and Mail both question whether Babcock really is the NHL's best coach let alone the No. 1 name that will be on the market this year.

Simmons points out that Ken Hitchcock of the St. Louis Blues has a resume that stacks up nicely alongside that of Babcock – they're good friends – yet while Babcock is being courted by as many as a half-dozen teams, Hitchcock doesn't know what the future holds.

Perhaps it's the two goal medals Canada won with Babcock calling the shots. But Hitchcock was one of his assistants on those two teams as well as being a member of Pat Quinn's staff in 2002, when Canada also won the gold.

One long-time NHL general manager told Simmons it was "amazing" that Babcock is so coveted while Hitchcock doesn't know if the St. Louis Blues will bring him back and could hit the open market without nearly as much fanfare.

"If coaches were given IOC gold medals, which they're not, Hitchcock would have three to Babcock's two," Simmons wrote. "The Blues have been something of a playoff disaster under Hitchcock — that is the why his job is on the line — winning only 10 of 27 post-season games in his time in St. Louis and getting eliminated three times in a row in the first round.

"The much-coveted Babcock, who will be paid more money than any coach in NHL history when he signs his new deal, has coached 31 playoff games in the same period: His Red Wings have won 12 of them. Babcock is thought of as a winner. Hitchcock is thought of as a regular-season winner. The facts don't exactly back up those notions.

"In three of his four seasons in St. Louis, Hitchcock's teams scored more goals, allowed fewer goals against, won more games than Babcock's Red Wings managed. In four years, Hitchcock's teams won 185 games — including playoffs — while Babcock's teams won 166 games.

"So why, the general manager and others want to know, does everyone want a piece of Babcock while Hitchcock waits and wonders? Good question. It's a case of perception being the reality here — with no real answer."

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• Toronto Globe and Mail: General manager Ken Holland probably deserves some of the credit for Babcock's success since he's the Red Wings chief architect, writes Kelly. "(Babcock's) NHL record is impressive, though no more impressive than several others. He's taken about 63 per cent of available regular-season points through his career – a little south of Anaheim's Bruce Boudreau and the off-season's 1A option, Todd McLellan. Babcock hasn't gotten the Detroit Red Wings through the second round of the playoffs in the past six seasons. He's won a single Stanley Cup – a mark matched or bettered by six other current coaches. He works for Ken Holland, the NHL's best spotter of undervalued and/or unrecognized talent. Wherever he ends up, it's going to be a lot harder to look just as good. It's a great résumé, but it doesn't scream 'Scotty Bowman 2.0.' Instead, Babcock's imaginative appeal relies on two things – his Olympic record and his essential Babcockness. He's apparently narrowed his job hunt down to a few cities – Edmonton, Buffalo, Toronto, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Jose ... actually, that's beginning to sound like all of them. It looks as if he's on top of the hockey world, holding everyone in the NHL by the tail. Instead, he understands that he may be as high as he'll ever go. And now he has to jump."

• Toronto Star: If winning is the most important thing to Babcock, he would turn down whatever former Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan offers in Toronto and instead wait to see if anything opens up in St. Louis or Pittsburgh, writes Bruce Arthur. "Shanahan believes Babcock is the best coach in the NHL. He knows that Babcock is known as a difficult man to work with; that he is arrogant, tough, opinionated. He knows that former players still hate their former coach, and he knows that Detroit has found a way to accept Babcock as he is. The Leafs would, too. But there's a difference between the best coach and the right coach. It's fine to swing at Babcock, because his endorsement would signal that when briefed on what Toronto plans, he would be willing to bite the leather strap, if not forever. But more likely, it would signal that Babcock is in this for money and ego and restaurants — and quite possibly family, to be fair — rather than the central driving focus of his career, and who believes that? LeBron went back to Cleveland because he was going home, sure, but also because they could win. Toronto might win, someday. But no time soon, Babcock or not."

• The Hockey News: Many fans of the Montreal Canadiens would apparently like to see the team dump Michel Therrien in favor of Babcock but Ken Campbell thinks the Habs' needs go much deeper than simply a new face behind the bench. "Now that Mike Babcock is available, do the Canadiens dip into that pool a year after inking Therrien to a four-year contract extension? There is an enormous part of the Canadiens fan base that is howling for that to be done. And you can see their point. With Babcock (or Jeff Blashill), Todd McLellan, Dan Bylsma and Paul MacLean – and depending upon their situations perhaps even Claude Julien, Dave Tippett or Ken Hitchcock – on the market, there might not be a better time to find a top bench boss. That is, if that's what you think you need. But no coach in the world is going to make Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais bigger and more difficult to play against. No coach is going to be able to reinvigorate the aging legs of Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin or coax scoring out of a bottom six group of forwards that simply cannot provide it."

• Philadelphia Inquirer: The Flyers are holding off on hiring a coach until Babcock makes a decision but they'd be the second choice behind Toronto when it comes to

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reclamation projects, says Mike Sielski. "If I were the Flyers and their fans I'm not sure how optimistic I'd be that Babcock is on his way here. For one thing, he's left open the possibility or returning to Detroit and the Red Wings have long been one of the NHL's elite franchise. More than that, they're closer to competing for a Stanley Cup now than the Flyers are. For another thing, if Babcock really wants to take on a reclamation project, the Flyers are probably only his second choice. Remember, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a head coach, too. Casual hockey fans in Philadelphia and around the United States might not appreciate this but in many ways, the maple Leafs really are Canada's answer to the New York Yankees. They're that popular. They command that much coverage and interest. Now, imagine the Yankees going 12 years and making the playoffs just once and in that one playoff appearance, they get knocked out in the first round. That's the Leafs and if Babcock were to go to Toronto and turn them around, he'd be a national hero. I guess all of us, including the Flyers, are just going to have to wait to see if he wants to become one."


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Mike Babcock will make coaching decision next week

By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily

Posted: 05/15/15, 6:51 PM EDT | Updated: 12 secs ago

DETROIT >> A decision on where Mike Babcock will take his coaching talents next season could be coming sooner rather than later.

A decision could come as early as next Wednesday.

“Mike said he expected to have a decision way before May 25,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said during a phone interview from the Czech Republic where he’s watching the World Championships. “From our perspective, the sooner the better, if he stays we can get on with other things. If he leaves we can start the process to finding a replacement.”

May 25 is the soft deadline Holland imposed in case the Wings need to begin a search for a new head coach.

“Nothing has changed from my part,” Holland said. “We’re really waiting for Mike to talk to some teams and make a decision. I’m in a holding pattern.”

Holland did confirm that Babcock has met with some teams since teams that wanted to meet with him had to sign a compensation letter agreeing that the Wings would get a third-round pick during the next three seasons if they hire him.

The two teams that are known to have spoken with Babcock are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres.

Philadelphia and San Jose are the other teams that have coaching vacancies.

The Edmonton Oilers are also in need of a coach, but are reportedly set to hire former Sharks coach and Detroit assistant, Todd McLellan, once the World Championships conclude.

McLellan is coaching Canada.

Holland did shoot down a rumor out of Buffalo that Babcock had chosen to stay in Detroit.

“He hasn’t told me that and I’ve been with him every day,” Holland said. “He hasn’t given me a decision.”

Babcock’s contract expires on June 30.

After the Wings were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third time in the last four seasons, Babcock laid out the two main factors that’ll help him make his decision – winning and family.

“My family wants to stay here, my wife and kids,” Babcock said prior to heading overseas. “The Wings have given me the opportunity to talk to other teams and I’m going to take advantage of it.

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“Life is about making good decisions,” Babcock continued. “Sometimes the most comfortable time is when you have no decision. I’ve got a good GM, a great owner, they offered me an opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of that.”

Babcock and Holland sat down for an interview with TSN.ca’s Darren Dreger with the current Wings coach saying he’s, “done enough thinking.”

“It’s time to make a decision here pretty quick,” Babcock said. “I’m a big picture guy, but I’m also an immediate gratification guy, too, because I like winning.

“Is change important to invigorate you? I think about lots of things,” Babcock added.

The Wings offered Babcock, who’s spent the last 10 seasons in Detroit, a contract last June that he didn’t accept.

They came back with another offer in January, which is believed to be for four years and just over $3 million a season, but Babcock wanted to wait until the playoffs were over to discuss matters.

Babcock has also focused on the Wings’ core group – Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall – being up there in age.

“Our team isn’t as good as it was,” Babcock said after Detroit was eliminated in seven games by the Tampa Bay Lightning. “Three of our best players are 34, 35, 37, so any way you look at it, we’re a team that’s changed a bunch of players. We’re a team that’s added a lot of youth to the lineup. Right now on the outside they don’t pick us as a Stanley Cup contender.”

Macomb Daily LOADED: 05.16.2015

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