The Detroit Red Wings are in trouble. At least that is the way it appears from the outside looking in. After two-plus decades of dominance, the city known as “Hockeytown” may need to get ready for some big changes.

By big changes, we are talking about going beyond just the personnel that wears the distinctive winged-wheel on their sweaters. We are talking about a potential change behind the bench. Coach Mike Babcock is currently the most tenured head coach in the NHL heading into his 10th year behind the Detroit bench. His ninth season marked the 23rd consecutive season that his Detroit Red Wings have made the playoffs and the tenth time in 11 years of coaching that he has reached the postseason.

Babcock has a resume that virtually assures that his legacy will live forever in the Hall of Fame. He is currently serving out a one-year contract with the Wings and seems to be 100% fine with the idea, calling his relationship with general manager Ken Holland “second to none”.

While the Red Wings were once considered a free agency destination due in large part to the success of the franchise, there were whispers that players stayed away due to Babcock’s hard-nosed coaching style. The 51-year old bristles at the suggestion.

"Maybe they don't want to come because Mike Babcock has a one-year contract," he said. "The way I look at it here, if you don't want to be coached, don't come here. If you want to be pushed to be the best that you can be, that's what we do here. You know what? The proof is in the pudding.”

Spoken like a coach who was one win away from consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2008 and 2009 and the owner of two consecutive gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. While Babcock has never catered to his stars, he acknowledges that he cares about his players reminding them that there is a job to do.

“I think I care a lot about my players. When you care about people, you make them do it right. When you don't, and there's lots of coaches that don't, then their teams don't do it right and they don't have success. We just have the hard meetings. We get it out front. Does it piss people off once in a while? Absolutely. But it also leads to behavioral changes and getting things better. So you know what, I'm not apologizing for that stuff at all. I like to be treated honest.”

It’s a refreshing take from a man who has a track record second to none among his NHL contemporaries. While a guy like Babcock has been blessed with some of the greatest players ever to lace up the skates, he continues to demand accountability. The 2014 Jack Adams finalist became Detroit’s all-time winningest coach earlier this season passing, ironically, Jack Adams.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else behind the Detroit bench, but it was hard to imagine anyone but Scotty Bowman either. They each share a steel-eyed glare that could cut through the galvanized rubber of a hockey puck if they trained their stare upon it long enough. The similarities certainly don’t end there, but they are decidedly different personalities.

Babcock’s one-year teasers keep the speculation rampant about his future in the Motor City. The standard statement throughout the year from Ken Holland and Babcock will be an echo of, “We’ll discuss that after the season”.

The reality of the situation is that Babcock will hit the open market next season as a free agent head coach. As arguably the best coach in hockey, Babcock can basically write his next contract and practically have autonomy over roster decisions as well. It’s a rare occasion, but let’s be honest, if Detroit wanted to lock him in long-term, that deal would have been made this summer.

The likely scenario of Babcock breaking the bank next summer with a new team means that Detroit will be looking for a new head coach. Jeff Blashill, the current bench boss in Grand Rapids, who is also in the final year of his contract, is a hot commodity in the NHL community and is the obvious heir to Babcock’s throne.

The 2014-15 season may be the swan song for Babcock in Hockeytown, but it has been a hell of a run and regardless of how he finishes the year, he will be leaving a team poised to contend for titles. The talent trail that leads from the Grand Rapid Griffins has served the Detroit coach well and will be a huge part of the success of Babcock’s possible successor.

Or, Babcock could stay, and stay long-term. I don’t think there is a Red Wing fan out there that thinks that is a bad idea either.