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Babcock won’t discuss future yet, but sees challenges ahead for Wings

Mike Babcock

Mike Babcock

Dave Reginek

Are the Detroit Red Wings a team moving up courtesy of a young core led by Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan, Danny DeKeyser, and Petr Mrazek? Or are they a fading dynasty having already lost former leaders like Nicklas Lidstrom and on the brink of watching the two stars they have left head off into the sunset?

“Who’s going to replace Pav?” head coach Mike Babcock asked, per NHL.com’s Аrpon Basu. One of the best two-way forwards in the game, Pavel Datsyuk will turn 37 in July. Henrik Zetterberg will celebrate his 35th birthday in October.

“Our team is not as good as it was,” Babcock also noted, according to Postmedia News’ Michael Traikos.

That’s hard to dispute. Detroit has only won a single playoff series in its last four campaigns after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years in 2008-09. They won it all in 2008. Once Zetterberg and Datsyuk are gone or even just less effective, will the Red Wings start missing the playoffs entirely? Do they have anyone on their roster capable of filling that massive void?

Certainly the future isn’t all fire and brimstone for Detroit. The players mentioned off the bat have proven to be solid contributors and with their help, Detroit both made the playoffs and gave Tampa Bay a run for its money in the first round. The fact that the Red Wings came within a hair of advancing can’t be just brushed under the rug.

That being said, Babcock has raised legitimate points, and it will only add fuel to the speculation that the highly regarded coach will walk as a free agent this summer. Babcock didn’t confirm anything tonight, but Edmonton, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Toronto, and likely others would certainly be eager to sign him if he’s available.

Babcock on future:"Not talking about that now.We’ll have a meeting and final press conference, I’ll be happy to talk about that crap then.”


— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) April 30, 2015

I have been hesitant to read the tea leaves on Babcock, and he just lost. But if you’re a Wings fan, his comments were not encouraging.


— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) April 30, 2015

#DET #TBL Interesting that Mike Babcock noted how team’s core players are in their 30’s. Have to imagine that has an impact in his decision


— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) April 30, 2015

“He’s a really good coach. I’m sure a lot of teams want him” Jonathan Ericsson on Mike Babcock


— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) April 30, 2015

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