As job rumors fly, Mike Babcock says he loves Red Wings

TAMPA -- For all the times Mike Babcock's name comes up when a new NHL coaching vacancy opens up, it doesn't register with him.

Speaking today at Amalie Arena as he prepared to guide his Detroit Red Wings in Game 2 of the first-round series against Tampa Bay (3 p.m., NBC-TV), Babcock maintained that the playoffs -- and his family -- are his focus.

"I'm coaching the Red Wings," he said. "Pumped to do it. My manager is fantastic. Got a great relationship. When the season ends, I've got a daughter going to University of Portland on the 12th of June and I've got a son going to Boston on July 10th. Those things are my focus. Everything else will get looked after when it gets looked after."

Babcock, who turns 52 on April 29, is in the last year of a contract. He has spent the past 10 seasons coaching the Wings. He has succeeded in a wildly successful coaching trajectory that's seen him establish himself as synonymous with winning. Now he stands to become the highest paid coach in the NHL. Currently that's Chicago's Joel Quenneville, at $2.75 million annually. Wings general manager Ken Holland has offered $3.25 million annually, but Babcock is eyeing $5 million annually. Neither he nor Holland have talked about negotiations since the season began.

"We're going to do our best to play as long as we possibly can, and then Ken and I will meet," Babcock said. "I don't spend much time thinking about it. I'm flattered I've got a great family, my wife loves me, and they like me enough to keep me here. The rest of this doesn't matter.

"I'm coaching in Detroit, I love coaching in Detroit."

Since the regular season ended April 11, head coaching positions have opened up in Toronto, Buffalo and Philadelphia. All three teams have deep coffers, deep enough to offer Babcock what he wants.

Reports earlier this week out of San Jose hinted former Wings assistant Todd McLellan leaving the Sharks by mutual agreement. Depending on how things go in the playoffs, there could also be openings in Pittsburgh and Anaheim, among others.

The Maple Leafs, true to Toronto considering itself the center of the hockey, have been front and center as a possible destination for Babcock. And there is no doubt team president Brendan Shanahan will go all out to deliver Babcock, including offering $5 million a year in salary, and probably throwing in personnel management, too.

Maybe Babcock says yes. A few years ago he said he always wants to be the guy who defuses the bomb. And the Maple Leafs are just short of an incendiary mess. But here's something else about Babcock: He really does like winning -- and the Maple Leafs aren't turning into a contender in one off-season.

Babcock's desire to win lessens Toronto's chance as a destination. If the Penguins job becomes available, there's the attraction of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Buffalo has an armful of high-end young talent.

Babcock may end up staying put, of course, coaching at Original Six team highlighted by Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and an influx of young talent, in a city that's passionate about hockey but also has other sporting interests such as a local NFL and MLB team, along with college sports. If Babcock leaves, the Wings will take a look at experienced coaches available (especially if McLellan is on the market), and weigh those against promoting Jeff Blashill, who went from Babcock's assistant for one season to head coach of Grand Rapids and is considered one of hockey's most promising young coaches. He was signed to a three-year contract last summer, but it's a safe bet that if the Wings don't promote him if there is an opening in Detroit, they'll be asked by other NHL teams for permission to woo Blashill.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.