Okay, quick insert at the top of the pod from Saturday morning in Las Vegas with some

coaching news to discuss.

This is what we're hearing.

As reported, it is believed that Mike Babcock will be the next head coach of the Columbus

Blue Jackets once his contract with the Maple Leafs is up at the end of June.

I think right from the beginning, Babcock was very high on Columbus' list.

I think they met early in their process, and depending on who you talk to, Babcock either

wasn't ready to take the job, or initially he might have turned down the job.

Whatever the case, Columbus went through their process, Babcock, I believe, took a family

trip overseas, and either he reconsidered or he thought about it more.

One of the reasons I don't think he would have been a fit or wouldn't have wanted a job

like the Rangers is, if he wanted something that was a little bit more out of the spotlight.

I'm not knocking Columbus here, I'm not making fun of Columbus here, but the fact is it's

not the same as New York City or Toronto when it comes to media.

I'm not surprised that if he was going to take another NHL coaching job, it was going

to be a situation like this one.

I think what's going to be interesting here is the reaction.

I think some of the players in Columbus were asked about the possibility of it.

Don't forget Rick Nash, one of Gold Medal playing a big role with Babcock on the 2010

Canadian Olympic team.

I think we're in a situation where maybe Nash was willing to say, all right, I had a good

experience under him, I guess we'll hear more as this continues.

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