Report: Maple Leafs spoke to Red Wings about Babcock before Carlyle extension

There's a new wrinkle in the ongoing question of whether Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock will remain with the team once his contract expires at season's end.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are believed to have called the Red Wings earlier this year to discuss, among other things, the status of Babcock. The conversation took place prior to the two-year extension the Maple Leafs handed out to head coach Randy Carlyle in May, according to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet.

While the nature of the conversation is naturally under wraps, it reinforces the reality Babcock would be in high demand if he were to hit the open market as a free-agent coach.

Babcock has long said he will not discuss his status with the Red Wings during the regular season, and there's no sign of an imminent extension with the club.