With NHL teams already seeking the Red Wings’ permission to speak with Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill, the Detroit club is in no position — or mood — to let negotiations with Mike Babcock drag into a second week.

Blashill, whose Griffins play a series-deciding fifth game against Toronto tonight in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs, is the Wings’ Plan B. There is no Plan C.

Plan A, of course is to re-sign Babcock to a multi-year contract that will make him the highest-paid coach in the National Hockey League, probably between $4 million and $5 million. He and General Manager Ken Holland planned to begin a serious conversation about that today on the drive to Grand Rapids for Game 5.

Two hours there, two hours back. That’s a fair amount of time to ask and answer a few basic questions in a conversation that begins something like this:

"Mike, do you want to stay in Detroit? And if you do, how much money is it going to take and for how long?"

After talking things out with his wife, as he vowed to do before discussing it seriously with Holland, those questions should be fairly easy to answer — and the curtain could fall quickly on this drama, one way or another.

As with any unrestricted free agent, it ultimately comes down to money and term. But if Babcock tries to play this out more than a week or so to explore his options if he’s curious — and who could blame him? — then don’t be surprised if the Wings decide to part ways. And Blashill will be the next coach in Detroit.

"Much beyond that and it becomes a burden," Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano said Sunday. "There are other people involved in this, like Jeff Blashill. People want to talk with him. We like Jeff. He’s been a good soldier for us. And if Mike stays with us in Detroit, we want Jeff to go to the NHL where he belongs."

Both Babcock and Holland said Friday they hope they can figure this out within 10 days or so. Both men profess to respect one another professionally and like one another personally. In fact, both say their friendship is strong and real.

Babcock’s name has been linked to numerous teams with coaching vacancies, including Toronto, Philadelphia, San Jose and Buffalo; and to some teams who still have coaches but might be willing to part ways with them for a chance to acquire Babcock if he becomes available. Those teams include Edmonton and Boston.

One thing Babcock made perfectly clear in his exit interview with reporters on Friday, however, is that he has no interest taking on the general manager’s duties as well.

"I’m part of making decisions here," he said. "I have no skill set to be a general manager. . . I’m a coach. I love to coach. I love the players. I love the competition. I love being close to the ice. I love what I do, and I think I’m good at it. I have no interest in sitting where Kenny sits at all."

A lot of us have been predicting that Babcock ultimately will decide that he’s ready for a new challenge elsewhere — and the smart money around the league is sticking with that. But he sure sounded like a coach who was leaning toward staying in Detroit, or at least knowing what he’ll be leaving behind if he goes.

"I’m flattered. I really am," he said. "I’ve been here for 10 years, and they’ve been fantastic. My kids have grown up here. The Ilitch family has looked after me. We’ve had a great run as a team.

"I’m proud of what we’ve done here, and I’m proud of my relationship with our (team) leaders, with the ownership and with the general manager.

"Kenny and I, we’re good friends — and we don’t like losing," Babcock continued. "Our owner expects you to be successful, and I love that. You’re supposed to win here. You’re not supposed to be out at the end of April."

So the plan — whatever it was Babcock had in mind — was set, serious talks began Sunday and it will be over soon, one way or another.

"I’m not letting this go on forever," Babcock said, "and neither is Kenny."