The formalization of the ultimate formality for Tick-Tock - excellent.  I’m more interested in what he’s gonna do with Stuart.  Much as I hate to see him leave, I rather like Pete’s idea of moving Ericsson in there next to Kronwall…

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 06/10/08 at 09:10 PM ET

I’m a little surprised it’s only three years.  he has obviously proven himself.  maybe Kenny believes coaches can become stale, and players stop responding.  somehow, like Scotty, I don’t see that happening to Babs.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/10/08 at 09:12 PM ET

I’ll be interested to hear the details in tomorrows presser.

Of topic… If anyone is interested, the Chicago Wolves just clinched the AHL Calder Cup championship over the Wilkes-Barre Penguins. It really doesn’t pay to be a Penguin this championship season.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/10/08 at 09:50 PM ET

How are we gonna retire his number? Gonna be alot of zeros on that jersey.

Drew halp us pour fanns owt here.

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 06/10/08 at 10:03 PM ET

I’m a little surprised it’s only three years.

Didn’t I read somewhere that three years is also what remains on Holland’s contract?  If true, it makes sense to me to not have the coach’s contract go beyond the GM’s.

Posted by BobTheZee on 06/10/08 at 10:04 PM ET

Didn’t I read somewhere that three years is also what remains on Holland’s contract?

holy crap.  can anyone even imagine this team not being run by Holland?!

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/10/08 at 10:09 PM ET

Babs was saying during the parade that he wasn’t interested in a long term deal.  He actually pointed out, PaulinMiamiBeach, exactly what you said.  Long term deals are not a good idea and shorter term deals are better for “taking stock and making adjustments,” to paraphrase.

Of course, he also said that his wife isn’t letting them move again until their kids graduate from high school.  I don’t know how old his kids are, but I assume the youngest is probably not 15 yet.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 06/10/08 at 10:11 PM ET

Long term deals are not a good idea and shorter term deals are better for “taking stock and making adjustments,” to paraphrase.

interesting.  I can’t see this team falling apart in the next few years.  I’d say maybe he’s the kind of coach that likes to take a team from being out of contention to the top…but that’s not at all what happened when he came to Detroit.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/10/08 at 10:31 PM ET

Love the Fathead add.  I got my Cup today and put it on the wall to complete the theme.

Posted by WINGS_FAN_IN_KC on 06/10/08 at 10:53 PM ET

I’m surprised that it’s only three years as well. If he and/or Holland leave, I’m going postal!

Babs’ son will graduate high-school when the contract is over, but I don’t see them leaving.

Posted by Osrt on 06/10/08 at 11:27 PM ET

My FATHEAD arrived.  I’ve had the Wigs logo for a while now but waited until immediately AFTER the Wings clinched it last week to order the STanley Cup to go on the opposite wall:

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll216/boatdude98/IMG_B4.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll216/boatdude98/IMG_B1.jpg

Posted by WINGS FAN IN KC on 06/10/08 at 11:32 PM ET

EDIT:  I hate the fact that we can’t edit once submitted…..........

WINGS logo not WIGS.

Posted by WINGS FAN IN KC on 06/10/08 at 11:34 PM ET

I finally found something to corroborate my memory—something of a feat in and of itself—from detnews.com’s Red Wings Notebook for June 9:

The three-year extension for Babcock would coincide with the three years remaining on Holland’s contract.

But I can’t imagine that Holland or Babcock will be going anywhere, unless either wants to…  and why would they want to? 

Anyway, I sure hope they don’t.  The very idea scares me.  I probably won’t live long enough to make it through another Dead Things era.

Posted by BobTheZee on 06/10/08 at 11:47 PM ET

Amen Bob

Slightly off topic: I keep reading that Lilja is going to be back. Did he already get signed? I know there would have been a post, an extended conversation and mass suicides if that happened, so wtf?

He thinks he is a top-4 guy, worth well over 1 mil… buh-bye

Posted by Osrt on 06/10/08 at 11:59 PM ET

Holland never signs his management team people to contracts longer than his.  All of the Wings management people have contracts that expire in three years.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 06/11/08 at 12:10 AM ET

Re Lilja…  I haven’t seen anything that says he’s signed.  The last I knew, which was some time ago, he had turned down Holland’s latest offer.

From Red Wings Corner:

Holland said that if unrestricted free agents Brad Stuart and Andreas Lilja both sign with Detroit, the Red Wings will have “10 NHL defensemen.”

Obviously, then, if we don’t resign Lilja we’ll have nine.

Posted by BobTheZee on 06/11/08 at 12:17 AM ET

Most unsurprising signing since Lidstrom’s two year extension.  Best coach in the game.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 06/11/08 at 01:34 AM ET

Jimmy D, is that you?  It’s me, George…

Thus far, there’s no word on Lilja, but my best educated guess is this: given that Lilja won’t command more than $1.5 million, you’re looking at 10 defencemen fighting for seven spots, and if somebody doesn’t make the cut?

Lilja’s cheap and tradeabl…tradibl…he can be traded pretty easily thanks to his track record as a solid 6/7 guy who can play in the Red Wings’ puck-possession system.

Babcock deal?

Perfect term.  Three years ensures that, should things ever sour in Babs’ dressing room, the Wings aren’t stuck with an undue financial burden, and if he’s still going strong in three years (which is highly likely), Babs gets a nice hike to adjust for inflation.

You tie up Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Dan Cleary for five to seven years.  You don’t sign a coach for that long.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/11/08 at 02:41 AM ET

Three or four years seems to be the standard for coaches and management.  Doesn’t surprise me - it completely avoids the dreaded “lame duck syndrome” by allowing for extension near the end.

Lilja hasn’t signed, but said that he loves playing in Detroit and would like to stay - of course, this was during the parade.  As an aside, how cool is it that the veterans could ask the first-timers how they were enjoying their first Stanley Cup celebration?  Not many teams have players who can compare and contrast several parades with the same team. 

Lilja’s cheap and tradeabl…tradibl…he can be traded pretty easily…

Methinks George has been typing while celebrating. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 06:13 AM ET

Seems a good deal to me.  I expect Babcock will be back after this one is up.  I’m not sure about Holland.  Nobody’s mentioned this yet, but when would you expect Yzerman to take over as GM, at the reins of a system implemented by Kenny?

Seems a lot less bleak than Holland being gone after three years and nobody to replace him.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the backroom, negotiating shady deals on 06/11/08 at 07:58 AM ET

Wings season and playoff records from Lewis’ last year to date:
Season W Finish Playoffs

2003–04: 48 1st, Central Lost in Conference Semifinals, 2–4 (Flames)

2004–05: Year of frustration - Hiring of Uncle Mike

2005–06: 58 1st, Central Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Oilers)

2006–07: 50 1st, Central Lost in Conference Finals, 2–4 (Ducks)

2007–08: 54 1st, Central Stanley Cup Champions, 4–2 (Penguins)

For Uncle Mike, 50+ wins every year, 1st in Division every year, Conf. Quarters, Finals, and then the pinnacle of success.

Good job Ken Holland (again)!

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 06/11/08 at 08:03 AM ET

I’m not sure about Holland.  Nobody’s mentioned this yet, but when would you expect Yzerman to take over as GM, at the reins of a system implemented by Kenny?

Holland has said before to expect his retirement press conference about 20 minutes after Lidstrom finishes up with his own. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 10:32 AM ET

I’m sticking with my prediction that Holland will remain the Wings’ GM, and Stevie will slide in as an assistant assistant GM and/or will remain in his roving vice president’s role, with a more active role in personnel decisions and day-to-day operations.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/11/08 at 10:45 AM ET

Just an off the wall thought, but I wonder if the Wings would eye a co-GM thing after Kenny retires like the Stars have, like Yzerman and Nill splitting the duties.  It would definitely fit in with the whole “team” concept.

Posted by Hap from Grand Rapids, MI on 06/11/08 at 01:59 PM ET