Mike Babcock to Oilers Rumour Refuses to Die Quietly
The persistent rumour linking Mike Babcock to the Edmonton Oilers coaching vacancy is showing no signs of fading away, despite the veteran coach insisting he is retired.
Bob Stauffer, a prominent hockey insider and host of Oilers Now, has repeatedly brought up Babcock's name on his show. Stauffer, who has close ties to the Oilers organization, discussed the possibility with several NHL insiders. While some dismissed Babcock as an option, others argued he would be an ideal candidate to push the Oilers over the top.
Insiders Weigh In
On TSN, Darren Dreger reported that Babcock told him, 'Dregs, I'm retired. Loving it.' However, Stauffer questioned whether coaches are ever truly retired. Justin Bourne of the Real Kyper & Bourne show stated, 'He'd be perfect for them right now, like absolutely perfect as a coach. All the other baggage, whatever you think of him, he's the exact get-you-over-the-hump, galvanize-the-boys type of guy.'
Pierre LeBrun, another NHL insider, acknowledged Babcock's coaching pedigree: 'Next to Scotty Bowman, Mike Babcock's probably the best coach I've ever covered. But you know, obviously, with that comes all the baggage we know about.' LeBrun added that Babcock texted him to confirm his retirement.
Frank Seravalli suggested that if the Oilers are looking for an experienced Stanley Cup-winning coach, Babcock would be a top candidate. 'If you're setting the parameters of: must have experience and have been a winning Stanley Cup coach, that would be the guy that I'd be looking hardest at, if not Bruce Cassidy.'
Stauffer highlighted Babcock's unique achievement: 'He's the only guy, only coach in history in the Triple Gold Club, right? Stanley Cup, World Championships and Olympic gold medal.'
Cassidy Still the Frontrunner?
John Shannon, a veteran NHL analyst, believes the Oilers will eventually get a chance to interview Bruce Cassidy once the playoffs conclude. 'I think that they will grant every team that requests talking to Bruce Cassidy,' Shannon said. He also spoke strongly against hiring Babcock, citing a shift in the game toward player involvement in decision-making.
The debate continues, with the rumour refusing to die quietly.
