The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have fallen behind in yet another race.

Mike Babcock will not spurn the Detroit Red Wings to become coach of the Maple Leafs, TSN's Bob McKenzie said definitively in a radio appearance Tuesday morning with Montreal 690.

"He's definitely not coming to Toronto."

The news echoed the belief held by many in the hockey world, suggesting there isn't an opportunity available that can lure Babcock from Detroit and out of the 10-year partnership with Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.

"I think the offer he got from Buffalo is intriguing, but I think he looks at the team and realizes there's still a lot of work to be done there," McKenzie said. "And that if he wants to win - and he does - and if he wants to compete for Cups - and he does - he's going to get a better opportunity to do that in Detroit than he is in Buffalo.

"At this point, most people will be extremely surprised if he doesn't come out and say that he's staying with the Detroit Red Wings," he added.

McKenzie touched on the other long-shot destinations, calling the San Jose Sharks' involvement as more of a "courtesy call" and submitting that Babcock's relationship with Ken Hitchcock will prevent him from supplanting the St. Louis Blues' current regime.