Mike Babcock told TSN that he will make a decision about his coaching future before the May 25 deadline the Detroit Red Wings game him to talk to other teams.
Sitting next to Detroit general manager Ken Holland at the world championships in Prague, Babcock said he will know what he is doing by May 20.
"I've done enough thinking; it's time to make a decision here pretty quick," Babcock said in the TSN interview.
Asked if he was leaning toward staying with the Red Wings, Babcock would only say he was leaning "to make a good decision."
Babcock refused to discuss which teams he has spoken to, but when pressed, he admitted he has received offers.
"There's not a better job out there," Babcock said of his position in Detroit. "There's a different job. You have to be careful."
Babcock was seen in Buffalo earlier this week meeting with Sabres owner Terry Pegula. The Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks also have openings.
After the Red Wings were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Holland gave his coach permission to talk to teams before Babcock's contract expires June 1. But any team wishing to sign Babcock during this window must give up a third-round draft pick if it signs him.
"I think at the end of the day, a third-round draft pick for a head coach is pretty reasonable," Holland said.
Jeff Blashill, the coach of the Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, is widely considered Babcock's replacement should he leave Detroit.
"Certainly he's going to be on the final small list of people I talk to," Holland said. "In my opinion, he's an NHL coach in the making."