The Detroit coach is set to become hockey’s biggest free agent, with suitors from coast-to-coast ready to woo the future Hockey Hall of Famer. He declined to address what awaits him following the Red Wings’ Game Seven loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, saying it can wait until the organization’s season-ending news conference in a couple of days.

That won’t stop others from talking about his future.

“He’s a really good coach,” Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson told the media in Amelie Arena. “I’m sure a lot of teams want him.”

There are five teams without a coach: the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils. Recently eliminated St. Louis is weighing the status of coach Ken Hitchcock. Boston, which fired General Manager Peter Chiarelli, could follow by letting go of Claude Julien.

Whichever team lands Babcock will pay a hefty sum.

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