from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

Never mind that he has fewer Stanley Cup titles than either Joel Quenneville or Darryl Sutter, neither of whom is considered a better coach than Babcock.

He — like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Drew Doughty, the largest stars in hockey — has won two Olympic gold medals, under two vary different circumstances, the most recent a triumph to coaching and order in hockey.

Babcock has his one Stanley Cup ring, twice lost in the final, once in Anaheim, once to Crosby with Pittsburgh, but is generally considered the No. 1 coach in hockey. And, coming up, the top free agent coach in hockey history.

That’s what makes this season of Babcock-watching and speculation so fascinating. The basic truth is, if Babcock wanted to stay with the Red Wings, and considering his long-term history with general manager, Ken Holland, that deal would be made by now.

It would have taken about a half-an-hour to get that done.

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