Babcock's Tough Approach Embraced by Oilers Stars
Leopards do not change their spots, so a softer, gentler Mike Babcock is unlikely behind the Edmonton Oilers' bench in what could be his last coaching opportunity. However, the team's stars have welcomed his demanding style, hoping it will lead to a Stanley Cup.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, seeking to end their individual awards without a championship, have expressed willingness to accept Babcock's tough love. Babcock drew parallels to Steve Yzerman, who transformed from a high-scoring forward to a two-way player under Scotty Bowman in Detroit, winning three Stanley Cups.
Accountability and Team-First Mentality
Babcock emphasized that the Oilers are not asking their stars to score less but to focus on details and defensive responsibility. He noted that Yzerman, a close friend, would attest to prioritizing Cups over personal statistics. "We're not asking them to score less, we're asking them to do things right … in a different way, with the details of the game," Babcock said. "They say they're in. We have to make everyone on the team feel important."
Zach Hyman, who played under Babcock in Toronto, has likely endorsed the coach's methods, having thrived under his demanding approach. Hyman's experience may have helped convince McDavid and Draisaitl to buy into Babcock's system.
Babcock's Return from Retirement
Babcock, who was enjoying retirement, reconsidered after a call from general manager Stan Bowman and conversations with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman. "I was enjoying retirement like you can't believe… I didn't think I would be coaching again but when Stan reached out and said Connor, Leon and Zach wanted to talk that was worth the drive (from Saskatchewan)," Babcock said. "When I sat down with the players, that was phenomenal… star players who want nothing more than to win. They're telling you how they're willing to change and adjust and when you hear that it's pretty exciting for a coach."
Babcock also met with Oilers ownership and management for 3.5 hours before finalizing his hiring.
Expectations for the Upcoming Season
The challenge will be whether the Oilers can adopt a team-first mentality, avoiding risky plays that have led to goals against. Babcock's track record includes a Stanley Cup with Detroit and an Olympic gold medal with Canada, but his tenure in Toronto ended amid reports of player dissatisfaction. The Oilers hope his demanding style will yield results this time.
As Babcock noted, "Obviously when you're sitting with those players it's fun, but they've played the game long enough and they have opinions and I have thoughts about how things should be. We broke down what went on in the playoffs, we walked through the clips, how it was done and how it will be going ahead."
