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Mike Babcock could decide as early as Wednesday whether to return to the Red Wings to move on.

(Mike Mulholland/MLive.com)

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 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. At the Worlds, Babcock just watched two-way center Dylan Larkin of Michigan, 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 has 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.

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