Why would Holland be speaking for Babcock? In what way would that make any sense? You really think Chiarelli called Holland up and asked him if the coach he was still interested in keeping would want to go to his team?
What makes sense to me is that they kept getting more impressed by the game watching Mclellan coach Hall and Eberle at the WHC. I think that made them very comfortable going with him instead of hunting the white whale that Babcock has become. Chiarelli is smart enough to see that a top notch coach is not only interested in coming to Edmonton but he can also work with his best two players. I don't think it's any more complicated than that.