Kenny was probably playing Canasta on his phone while Babcock texted back and forth with his agent, general managers, owners and players. Everybody offering him millions, fire trucks, beach-side estates. Babcock chuckling and counting money. Holland wondering how the hell anyone could fit five decks of playing cards into a single phone.

Hours and hours they allegedly drove and "talked about the Red Wings." Sorry, but Dylan Larkin can only take up so many minutes of conversation.

Oh, yeah, they undoubtedly talked about what it would take to keep Uncle Mike in Detroit. You know they did. But, I'm betting that conversation was short and I'm betting it rewound, then went forward. It probably went something like this:

Uncle Mike: "You shafted us on July 1st. Admit that to me right now."
Tick Tock: "Not my finest moment."
Uncle Mike: "Admit it or I'm calling Shanny."
Tick Tock: "Look, Mike. I kicked some tires. Hard. I kicked the shit out of some tires."
Uncle Mike: "1-800-TORONTO...I swear to god, I'll call that crossword-scribbling son of a bitch..."
Tick Tock: "Ok, ok, OKAY...I shafted us."

If Mike Babcock stays in Detroit, it is because Ken Holland has told him he's willing to spend some money on the present in the very near future.

The Blues are in the mix and they are right there. Right...there. Although, going from Ken Hitchcock to Mike Babcock isn't exactly what may get those players over the hump.

Toronto is money and money only. Is San Jose still in it? I would think so. Talented but so broken right now. Buffalo? Young and eventually talented. But Uncle Mike wants to win now. He wants a legacy, and he's going to go where he can cement it. He doesn't want one more Cup. He wants 3 or 4 more. And he's going to go where he can get it.

I just keep going back to that car ride, all the time they spent in Nicaragua or wherever the WJCs were. How do they spend all that time together and not hammer this out? Part of me says they did, but another part, a worrying part, wonders where all these rumors are coming from about the Blues and about our Uncle Mike stepping out and actually INITIATING the conversation with the Sharks.

Uncle Mike says his wife wants to stay in Detroit. Shit. That'd be enough for me. I do whatever the hell my wife tells me to do. I'm not kidding. Happy wife, happy life as a few of you have already pointed out. Don't discount that. Not one bit.

Uncle Mike says he can get the money wherever he goes. Money's money and money's not the thing but the thing is, I heard today about 6 years for 30 million. Umm. Yeah, that's a bit much (especially the term). That's Toronto talking right there, brother. Only Toronto would shell out that much for that long. Dumbasses.

Uncle Mike asks how are you gonna replace Pav and Hank and Nik? He doesn't like squeaking in anymore. Uncle Mike wants to kick ass and coast, rest before April. The Wings haven't rested in three years.

Here's a couple of things I believe:

I believe Mike Babcock earned this opportunity to shop his ass around and listen to insane offers. I think he's earned the right to hear people tell him how badly they want him. He's earned the right to refer to himself in the third person. I think it's cool. I don't hold a single grudge against him for that. He wants to win and he likes the attention right now. He's earned it.

I believe Mike Babcock stays in Detroit because I just don't understand how he and Holland could spend all this time together and not get it done. It's not money and it's not the future. Holland has had to sell him on the present. This Larkin kid may be a key. Mantha may be a key. Bertuzzi and all the kids who they've weaned together. If Babcock stays, it's simply because Holland has convinced him they will be ready to win and win big this October.

If Babcock leaves, that means he's convinced that chance is slim and we should all be uneasy about that. A Babcock departure signals Holland's failure to sway him on the prospect of winning another Cup in the next two to three years.

We should be used to that. He hasn't swayed a free agent, other than a desperate one, in years. Suter should have been here and Babcock knows it.

Interesting 24 hours ahead. Somebody's leaving. Blashill is either heading to Detroit or Toronto. Babcock to San Jose, St. Louis or home to dinner.

But it's not so much the impact of who's coaching that really matters. It's the signal that's sent should Uncle Mike motor west. Happy wife, or not.