Report: Blues, Sharks have sought permission to court Mike Babcock

Add the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks to the list of teams willing to part with the necessary compensation to land the NHL's hottest free-agent coaching candidate.

Mike Babcock is said to have spoken with Blues general manager Doug Armstrong while taking in the World Championship in Prague, and will meet with the Sharks early this week before settling on a decision, according to MLive's Ansar Khan.

Babcock has already spoken with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and has been in constant communication with his current employer, the Detroit Red Wings, throughout the process.

St. Louis is still weighing the option of retaining Ken Hitchcock, whose contract - much like Babcock's - expires next month.

San Jose, meanwhile, is actively searching for a replacement for Babcock's former assistant, Todd McLellan, who was fired in April after seven seasons.