from Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun,

Upon seeing a familiar ink-stained wretch from Toronto strolling around in the bowels of Buffalo’s First Niagara Center earlier this week, Mike Babcock couldn’t help but have some fun.

“Hey, did you hear the reports? I’m going to Philadelphia!” a grinning Babcock joked to Sun Media.

You have to give Babcock credit. Rather than wilt under all this speculation regarding his future, the Red Wings coach is having fun with it.

That’s not to say the Flyers don’t have significant interest in Babcock. Indeed, when the likes of TSN’s Darren Dreger, one of the most credible hockey journalists out there, suggests Philly could make a significant pitch for Babcock this summer, well, where there’s smoke, there very likely is fire.

And with Babcock said to be looking for a huge payday, the Maple Leafs immediately come into play, since the one thing MLSE does have is deep pockets.

But here’s the thing: As much as the rumour mill will only continue to turn around Babcock, he’s not going to make a decision until the off-season -- if he doesn’t re-sign in Detroit first, that is.

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