Is Mike Babcock coaching Flyers a Real Possibility?

There’s a little less than two months’ worth of sand in the hourglass on Ron Hextall’s goal.

The Flyers general manager would like Craig Berube’s replacement as head coach in before the draft on June 26 and the most sought-after prospect hasn’t made up his mind quite yet.

Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose contract expires June 30, is still Detroit’s bench boss. Amid speculation that he may opt against returning to Detroit for an 11th season, he drove with Red Wings GM Ken Holland Sunday to watch their American Hockey League affiliate in the playoffs.

“Don’t read anything into anything right now,” Babcock told MLive.com. “Ken and I had a good conversation and we’ll continue to do that.”

Babcock is far and away the biggest fish in the coaching potential-free-agent pool. Former San Jose coach Todd McLellan, who “mutually parted ways” with the Sharks, is another name that’s out there and he is in Prague coaching Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Team Canada in the World Championships.

Although McLellan will likely be brought in for an interview upon his return to North America, the Flyers — along with other teams that have coaching vacancies — are thinking of Babcock first.