The Edmonton Oilers announced yesterday the entire Bakersfield Condors staff is coming back. You may wonder why, but Chaulk’s main job is to develop talent for the NHL team. We all have our ways of evaluating success, but for me actual NHL games played is the only real way to monitor the AHL coach.
Since becoming head coach for the Condors in the middle of the 2021-22 season, Chaulk can be credited for contributing to the following players progress:
- Philip Broberg 230 NHL games
- Dylan Holloway 225
- Mike Kesselring 190
- Matthew Savoie 87
- James Hamblin 41
- Ike Howard 29
- Noah Philp 32
- Josh Samanski 24
This is a solid group. No superstars, but the first-round picks developed and Chaulk (plus his staff) deserve credit for it. Now, you always want a coaching staff to find a hidden gem, and Mike Kesselring qualifies. His offensive surge came during Chaulk’s first season, I’m comfortable giving the coach some credit. Josh Samanski isn’t yet established but he looks like a good contributor. Chaulk shouldn’t get a massive amount of credit, but it didn’t take long to use Samanski in a feature role.
- Roby Jarventie 10
- Quinn Hutson 6
- Connor Clattenburg 5
- Xavier Bourgault 2
If he never returns to the NHL, then Roby Jarventie will not be on the positive side of the ledger. But Jarventie flourished under Chaulk. I will say he has more NHL potential than all the other wingers not named Ike Howard, in my opinion. Quinn Hutson saw a feature role and make good, he’ll need to improve foot speed to make it higher. Connor Clattenburg has surprising skill and offensive touch, I think Chaulk did the wise thing in playing him in a depth role. He doesn’t have to change a thing beyond staying healthy and flying more sorties. Xavier Bourgault was not a strong first-round draft pick. It happens.
I think the next group (Nicholl, Lewandowski, Lafreniere but also Owen Michaels) might have more NHL potential than last year’s group, save Howard.
I see many people believe the Mike Babcock media avail will turn into a major commotion, but I doubt it happens. Babcock will be asked some warmup questions from the rights holders, and by the time the fastballs come Babcock will say something like “I’ve learned a lot over the years, and the major takeaway is winning is all that matters” but in a softer form. Babcock is not without charm, and you can expect plenty of quotable fodder about the Oilers and his vision. That will sustain the internet for days. If Babcock talks specifics about the team, the world bubble by 6pm today above Edmonton will include the worlds “Stanley” and “Cup” and I’m quite sure.
There are legit questions to be asked, but once the hiring takes place, the report card comes out five years from now. That’s how life works, and why the hardest screw to ever walk a turn at Shawshank gets another chance today.
With Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson signed, the roster is coming into view. I think Ike Howard wins a top-six role unless he’s traded, and I do think it is possible he gets traded or starts the season in Bakersfield. Let’s run the most likely lines and pairings based on what we know. For our purposes, we’re going to trade Darnell Nurse for Nick Seeler, and sign Frederik Andersen to play goal:
- Line 1: Savoie-McDavid-Hyman
- Line 2: Howard-Draisaitl-Podkolzin
- Line 3: Nuge-Dickinson-Frederic
- Line 4: Dach-Samanski-Max Jones
- Extra F: Curtis Lazar, Owen Michaels
- Top Pair: Ekholm-Bouchard
- Second Pair: Walman-Murphy
- Third Pair: Seeler-Emberson
- Extra D: Spencer Stastney
- Goalies: Andersen, Jarry
I would much rather acquire Jordan Kyrou and Michael DiPietro over Howard and Andersen above, but the Oilers don’t have the horses to make the Kyrou deal.
On the Lowdown today, it’s the roundtable with Declan Krueger, Donovan Paulson and Josh Fenwick. We’ll cover the Mike Babcock hiring, discuss trade destinations for Darnell Nurse and the overall impact of the summer moves so far. Noon to 2 on Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Am I the only one who listened to the Babcock presser and thinks this is going to to go horribly wrong???
My take away from the presser is
Pray for Evan Bouchard
Why specifically Bouchard?
I would suggest you listen to the DJ Smith interview for further info on Bouchard and the coaching staff.
I came away knowing that they hired “Mike Babcock” and not some “new version of Mike Babcock” and, well, if they are going there, might as well go all the way.
Listen to Babcock with Stauff – not the propaganda but on the 5 minutes on systems/tactics and their plan to study the league, etc.
Spin
Narrative
When Dickinson was signed, I wondered where Mgmnt sees 93 on the roster (certainly not as 3C). I figured perhaps 1LW or 2LW but hearing Stauffer’s Interview with Babcock, it could be he has Nuge penciled in as 2C when Connor and Leon play together. Babs eluded that he may indeed play 97 and 29 together (either on the road or at home, but likely not both) and that Nuge could be the 2C in such scenarios. I was glad to hear this, as that in fact leaves room for Howard in the top 6, which is where someone with his skillset should be.
Agreed given the verbal of both Babcock and Smith.
I would also suggest there is room in the top 6 for Howard even with McDavid and Leon on separate lines as I think that Podz can be a driver on a 3rd line with Dickinson (Podz does not have to be locked to Drai) with Howard playing with Drai. They’d be remiss not to give Howard a real opportunity with Drai – their skill-sets are highly complimentary and they very well could mesh and it could be impactful.
Reports that DJ Smith is the highest paid assistant in the league.
Not surprising.
Did Mike Babcock actually answer any of the questions asked?
I just watched the presser and he just lawyer his way out of everything with nothing said of substance.
He didn’t answer each one directly however he clearly thought each of them was a great question lol
I see leafs are shopping carlo.
Not a fit for oil obviously with resigning Murphy
But just curious. How does he compare? Maybe makes the Murphy contract look a little better…or worse?
Carlo is toast. Very slow.
DJ Smith says McDavid will not be a primary PK guy.
Watching this presser again, it’s pretty obvious that the Oilers knew what they were facing optically with this hire and they decided the best way of dealing with Babcock’s baggage was using the players’ endorsement of MB as cover.
It’s solid PR. How can you possibly take this franchise to task for hiring an abusive bully with a long track record of player mistreatment, when the players themselves want the bully?
Over and over, this is the defense they return to. Babcock/Popeye says “I am what I am” and “I wouldn’t have taken this job if the players weren’t all in on Mike Babcock” and that’s supposed to be good enough.
What great news for toxic bosses everywhere. You don’t need to apologize, change, or be accountable. You simply need to find another workplace with more willing victims lining up to tolerate your abuse.
Who cares if this invalidates all the people abused and/or bullied in the past? Winning is all that matters don’t you know.
How does the saying go? Hire a clown, expect a circus?
It would be one thing if the Oilers hired Babcock without consulting the players, it’s another thing if the players are giving their full throated endorsement of Babcock.
The Oilers will truly get what they deserve under Babcock. Maybe they get a cup, maybe this is the final straw that breaks the camels back and then owner Dareal Catz is left sitting on his bed of money, wondering if Jason Voorhees would be a good GM for the Oilers while McDavid heads off to another team.
The team is an absolute cash cow. There is no significant penalties for incompetence in this market. For a long time now, that has bred complacency. But in recent years it seems to have gotten worse. It is now breeding arrogance. This team literally does not care a whit what the fans think.
Winning was the prime directive under Sather, but he also wanted to emulate the Habs in being a first class organization. Hiring an unrepentant Babcock is not the action of a class organization. It’s the move of a team that only cares about what happens in its own walls.
The Oilers are smart enough to know they can treat their fanbase like a captive audience. They’re not wrong, but I do miss the days when this franchise was worthy of our admiration.
This narrative is boring and based on reports at spitting chuckles by a few sad sacks who can’t self regulate their feelings. Nothing to see here. Let’s move on and play some hockey.
Or, perhaps the players are 100% on board and that was key to Babcock as he knows what he will me requiring/demanding of them.
I don’t see Connor, Leon and Zack being used as puppets for the org’s PR on this.
Doesn’t really matter if the players are complicit or just enabling. Either way the result is the same.
I don’t know why the Oilers should care about the character of the people they hire. Clearly many of their fans don’t.
Babcock literally doubled down on bring a bullying ahole in Columbus today and the reaction of many here is “I’m fully onboard!!!”
No wonder hockey culture is in the state it is.
Survivor bias issue. I’ve been coming to LT’s so long I happened to visit to read the discussion but I’m out (it admittedly was the straw that broke the camel’s back, though I think putting the hire together with the smoke around Bowman puts a worse gloss on who Bowman likely is, so we’re not talking about independent events; other straws are more league and hockey culture wide) and I know more than a few others. Some of its Babcock; some of its lower esteem for all those who facilitated the hire. But most people going for the exits for like reasons aren’t posting on fan forums.
I wouldn’t call those sticking around of bad character, though. There’s lots of reasons people have to stick around. Some good. Some bad. I’ll miss the hockey talk with the pops, for one.
It’s a sad state of affairs. It definitely has me thinking about re prioritizing as well. The enablement of this behaviour is very disappointing.
Babcock’s a d!ck … but some of the best to play and coach in the game have been cut from the same cloth. I remember chirping and getting chirped constantly in my crease. Some of it cut deep, but the mental warfare and intimidation has always been part of the game. It never bothered me for long, but I know some guys that just couldn’t cope with it and lost the passion for the sport.
Survivor bias indeed … most of the guys who make it far in the sport either have really thick skin, or are total d!cks.
Per Twitter:
To Colorado
Gavin Brindley
To Buffalo
4 Overall
Via -> Byram for Middlestadt
Middlestadt for Coyle
Coyle and Woods for Brindley
Truly an innovative franchise we should post about daily.
Nicely done
Geez. I was confused by this post. How the hell did Colorado get the 4OA? Then I looked. Chicago.
Wow – so Buffalo trades a top 4 D entering his prime years for a second round centre, a second round pick and taller version of Mike Kesselring ?
Kekalainin is the most over rated GM in the league
Actually, I take that back … I don’t see anyone credible backing up a trade of the 4th overalll for Gavin Brindley
Bob proposed to Babcock his theory about McDavid and Drai together to give more minutes to others.
Babcock did agree (playing them apart can leave less minutes for others) but said things may be different at home and on the road. Everything to be explored.
I trust someone will give him the Nuge without McDrai data. 2022 to 2025 is right there as a template for success. Separate lines, but still play the bottom 6 and put them in important situations
DJ was saying as an opponent it’s much harder to match up against them when they are on separate lines when DJ is at home. And the opposite when Oilers are at home – easier for the opponent if they are on separate lines
Whoa! “Yzerman Moment” is having a moment.
Excuse me if I’m perplexed.
#yzermanmoment
Many people specifically Mark Spector, have suggested Connor McDavid will have his ‘Yzerman’ moment when he learns the value of playing a two-way syle. It was 1997 and everyone forgets Sergei Fedorov was the elite center who played in the heart of the game.
I’m perplexed because it seemed so obvious for at least the time I’ve been watching, and when it’s been raised has been pooh-poohed.
But now it’s genius because … Babcock.
Mike Babcock in the Defensive zone “we are going to pressure like crazy. The biggest thing to determine d-zone success is to have numbers at the line. This is all going to be determined by how we play in the offensive zone and how we are not going to lose people and now we are fresh coming back. We have not worked out and will have not worked out how we will play on the d-zone until we do a study and what worked in the NHL in the last three years and the playoffs. We’ll look at it all and look at our group and will decide the best way for our group. There are a lot of things I’m a stickler for and that I like but they does not mean there are other parts that can’t be adjusted. We are looking at it all and will do projects over the summer. Once I get to know the roster better and the individual guys and their tendencies and what we can do to help them, they will help me with the defensive structure. The number 1 thing to play without the puck and to not give up goals is to be organized in the o-zone and to be fresh and to not let them make the zone big, to make it small quick.”
Babcock on the PK (to summarize): The goaltending has no chance when they don’t know where it’s coming from. Like d-zone coverage, most important is numbers at the line. Win the faceoff, get it 200 feet, have numbers at the line. Make sure they can’t set up. Full out gas, that is what we’ll be doing. We need to make sure we have the right people and then get them in their roles. We spent the entire morning on the PK. Just like even strength, we give up way too much off the rush. Details won’t be ironed out until we analyze the league.
Finally a coach that will give players a role. When’s the last time we had a coach give clear instructions on each players role for the team? I hope bottom 6 are more involved with the pk. Role players are called role players for a reason. I’m at a loss at when the last coach used the wording of role players? I guess the usage of the word role players is old school. Maybe that’s what this team needs some good old fashioned old school coaching that involves line matching and giving fresh air to Batman and Robin.
Sounds like Eakins’ swarm and fitness emphasis, and like what Knoblauch must have been saying about the O-zone.
You got “swarm” from “pressure”?
Music.
This is structure.
This will go well.
If Nurse stays hes gonna have a great season. The goalies too.
DJ Smith’s verbal on Nurse made me somewhat excited to see what could be…….
https://x.com/friedgehnic/status/2069572063803666800?s=61
It sounds like talks are intensifying between Buffalo and Chicago involving Bowen Byram
Chicago reportedly sending the 4th overall pick to Buffalo but other pieces could be involved.
Wow!
Looks like Byram should get his wish to be a #1D in Chicago likely paired with Levshunov
Severalli:
Full trade, per sources:
To #Blackhawks:
LD Bowen Byram
LW Jordan Greenway
To #Sabres:
2026 CHI 1st Round Pick (No. 4 overall)
2026 NYI 2nd Round Pick (No. 45 overall)
LD Louis
LD Louis? Any relation to Joe?
Man, Filip Forsberg is a great contract at $8.5M for another 4.
I wonder if he’s close with Mattias Ekholm?
The DJ smith interview i posted about earlier – great stuff
https://www.jasongregor.com/june-23rd-2026-derek-van-diest-tyler-yaremchuk-dave-mccarthy/
Oilers Daily
@oilersdailyy
Sounds like Connor Ingram is heading to Ottawa, per Bob Stauffer on OilersNow.
Yep didn’t think he was the right mix with Jarry. If they can’t pry Cossa or another close to ready youngster Come on down Pickard!
Cam Robinson
@Hockey_Robinson
From a team-side source just now:
“I’m afraid my phone is going to start smoking any minute now.”
To say the trade market is active right now would be the understatement of the year.
Dude you have to stop pasting your whole twitter feed here. This is literally a zero substance post (and I know a thing or two about zero substance posts).
He’s got nothing better to do.
You guys are hardcore.
Brisket in the smoker.
Homemade Babushka recipe in the oven.
If it was ever a concern. . .
Jesperi Kotkaniemi What’s up with Jesperi? Only 25 years old Im sure he can play hockey.
Does Carolina want to retain? Or is a free agent after buyout and very affordable. Oilers are pretty good with reclamation projects and he could likely play well on that third line.
he played 0 playoff games and had 9 points. Hes one of the go long contracts that didn’t work out. He’s at best a 4th liner right now. No way for that contract. Scrap heap tryout sure.
That’s Stan Weir territory
Was hoping nobody noticed that 2nd grade level sentence when i couldn’t edit.
Stan Weir cuts his scissors with paper.
Stan Weir knows how to weaponize Cap space.
In the above line up I would prefer Nurse back there or even Kulak. Where did extra savings $ go?
Up front need someone big, fast and can hit. Kapanen. Or newer version who can score. How much $ is there to work with?
Cut out Andersen, go back to inexpensive Ingram. But really, really need another top six threat. Find him.
If Nurse can be dealt for a cheaper LD (Seeler) without too much retention, I’d have time for Marchment. It’d be a Bowman special as he’s 31 y/o, say $5.5mil for 5, instead of $6mil for 4 which is what he’ll likely get.
I just know I’ve always hated Marchment when the Oilers play against him.
If the draft goes McKenna, Stenberg, Malhotra, this opens up a Knies trade to Chicago for #4OV in a big package, with the Leafs taking Chase Reid at #4.
Rick Dhaliwal hearing the Canucks may pass on Malhotra and take Reid at #3
I think the Leafs would probably be as interested in Malhotra as in Reid.
Chicago has Bedard, Frondell, and Nazar. The Knies deal for #4 in a huge package might still be on.
Eric Stephens
@IcemanAthletic
Sharks GM Mike Grier said he’s had five teams that have been “very consistently serious” about asking for the No. 2 pick and that his group has discussed a “couple legitimate offers.”
The Sharks just traded Eklund for #9. That creates a hole at wing but guarantees they can get a defenseman (with #9).
That suggests to me that they’re not happy with the offers for #2, and they’re taking winger Stenberg as BPA, and they’ll be happy enough with one of Carels/Smits/Rudolph at #9.
The press conference confirms that Babcock has not taken any lessons learned from the Columbus debacle, which all but affirms that the Oilers are getting Babcock as-is without any reform.
This organization knows what they are getting and will reap what they sow, for better or worse.
My personal opinion: This ends in either two extremes: Stanley Cup, or total implosion of this team ala Calgary Flames-Sutter 2.0 era. I’m leaning towards the latter.
Astute observation.
Thanks for the two cents, Freud.
Still better than your’s. Self awareness is a thing.
The obvious disconnect on this hire imo is we’re expected to believe Babcock is a quick study who’s kept up on the current systems, tactics, motivational techniques, etc. required for today’s game while he simultaneously demonstrates that he learned absolutely nothing from his aborted tenure in Columbus.
Watch the presser, they all said he knew exactly what he would change and broke down film with the leadership core. He’s been helping his son and kept with the game.
As for running a bench, Quennville said it took about 1 preseason game and he felt fine.
Dont like the hire, not worried about the hockey side.
You post this even though there is demonstrable evidence to the contrary from today’s presser.
Listen to his spot on Oilers Now – he does in to high level detail on tactics and speaks about analyzing the league over the last 3 years in conjunctions with determining the details of how they will play.
DJ Smith is there as a contingency plan and foil for Babs.
Flames all blamed Sutter, they got rid of him, then got even worse.
I think Babs is a charlatan but the players wanted this so bully for them.
He really did sound like a snake oil salesman in that press conference
Some team should offer sheet Nemec
I hope not. the Thought of Nemec and Parekh trying to defend the Duo makes me smile
Calgary just sort of did. Calgary has two Slovaks on their roster. Nemec will be the third.
It was better to make a deal without using their own draft picks.
I’m not as high on Kyrou as many and would not give up that much – maybe if he was still on a cheaper contract but not at $8MM plus.
Interesting that the Sharks give up a very good young player for a high draft pick. Future cap management but interesting for an “upswing team”.
I also don’t understand Washington trading futures for Kyrou. Won’t they be rebuilding soon?
Washington actually has only 2 forwards in their 30’s and that includes old man Ovechkin if he comes back as well as Tom Wilson who is 32,
They are rebuilding…er…retooling on the fly.
Just the tipping
Just the first of a few shoes to drop in San Jose.
Eklund is a LW and and so is Ivar Stenberg.
After playing against men in the SHL he is thought to be NHL ready right out of the box and is considered to have more upside with many scouts tapping him as their 1st overall choice in the draft.
As mentioned, the draft pick from Ottawa likely allows the Sharks to take Stenberg AND land one of the top rated RD at #9 (Daxon Rudolph?).
Over and above that, the Sharks shed Eklund’s $5.6 million cap hit giving them over $46 million in free space for other moves.
Grier kept his mouth shut and learned the art of the game from Sather. Anyone that doesn’t miss more than 1 shift after separating his shoulder is old school Oil tough. Three to five years from now the Sharks will be true Stanley Cup contenders.
30 goals and 80 points for $8 million something is value.
5 more seasons at $8.125 million.
That’ll be a huge bargain in a couple of years.
Jason Robertson, while a cut above, is reportedly seeking a long term deal at $14 million and it’s very likely someone will give it to him.
Analyzing players on goals and points doesn’t account for quality of play. Thus, statistics
What is value for 18 goals and 46 points?
Of course, I acknowledge it was likely a one-off season but that trade is full value and essentially disregards that season – full price and full cap hit coming off a regression season
He’s never had 80 points – he’s a 70 point player more than an 80 point player (and that disregards last season).
Hes been over 2 pts/60 at 5v5 5 of the last 6 years and was close this year. Their power play might just suck. Very nice player
It’s clear some on here have very different standards depending on the team. Oilers, Oiler contracts and Oiler players = bad. Other teams and their contracts and players = good. I’m all for discussion and differing opinions, but this blatantly permeates every one of their posts.
But McMichael is even better value.
Not a great trade for washington imo. Def an in the now trade I guess for a good player. Overpay is possible.
Who is the best player in the trade?
RE: best player in trade measurement
I would love to see the flow chart for the lizard brained matrix this has scienterrifically been proven against based on your entire history of narratives.
Will any of the players in trade now be playing Edmonton?
1. Yes -> is there anything i can exaggerate against them?
2 No -> did they used to play for edmonton?
Etc etc
I think the Blues are very happy with the trade. It will be fine for them if Kyrou excels elsewhere. He was not going to do it in St. Louis.
The Swedish centre prospect in the deal may be Steen acquiring his mini-me.
Yeah…It fits their retool perfectly.
And I imagine Steen’s familiarity with Swedish hockey may also see them draft more form there.
C Alexander Command should be right in their wheelhouse at #15
From what I’ve read from you, STL has been doing everything perfectly for years now yet, here they are, making more re-tool moves…..
You must be misremembering things as you often do.
pretty rich coming from you… but can’t say I am surprised
Fibber doesn’t mis-remember, he purposefully ignores
I think stl hosed Washington
Im not sure kyrou is even an upgrade to McMichael? Better cap. Younger. 80% of the offence and better in his end no?
To add the 16th OVA seems excessive.
But i have not dug into the underlying numbers
agreed.
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
Full trade details per Caps release:
To Capitals
RW Jordan Kyrou
To Blues
LW Connor McMichael (RFA)
2026 WSH 1st Round Pick (No. 16 overall)
C Milton Gastrin (2025 2nd Rd Pick)
I hope this puts to bed deluded ideas of us getting a Kyrou-type player. The cost is way more than we have available to trade.
With Howard being a Hobey Baker winner adds a little more salsa on top for a Yankee team that’s interested.
Blues now with #11, #15 and #16 in the draft.
#15 and #16…Is that the Ruck twins?
Two centres in return for Kyrou likely means the Blues will target the D Gustafsson at #11.
A little high for the Rucks I think but you never know.
Maybe the Blues can trade down from #16OV and trade up from #29OV and maybe get two sequential picks somewhere around #23 and #24
About right I would say.
Wish we could offer sheet McMichael
We’ll get St. Louis back one day.
St. Loo is still trying to get us back for the Joseph-Grier trade for magic beans.
Am I alone that McMichael is 90% of the player kyrou is?
I might even take him over kyrou. Maybe i am missing something? First blush looks like an awful trade by Washington in my opinion
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
Full trade details:
To Ottawa
William Eklund
Kasper Halttunen
Brandon Svoboda
To San Jose
2026 FLA 1st Round Pick (No. 9 overall)
San Jose is now picking 2nd, 9th and 27th overall in Friday night’s #NHLDraft.
There has been speculation that San Jose will take Ivar Stenberg at #2 and this could be an effort to ensure that they also get one of the big 4 D at #9.
Ottawa downgrades from Brady to Ekkund.
Brady for Eklund, Halttunen, Svoboda, a 2026 1st, a 2029 1st and a 2027 2nd. Plus about $3M in cap space.
Tkachuk put up about an average of 10 more points a season than Eklund since he had his first full year in the NHL
Looks like Stenburg at #2 and either Smits or Verhoeff or Rudolph at #9.
Yep, pretty much a perfect draft for a rebuilding team and of course they also might hit on a player with #27.
For a team that hasn’t made it in 7 years and is still unwinding from crippling contracts this is great. Them and Chicago will be a force in the 2030s
One more season of unwinding.
Couture – $8 milion
Woodrow – $3.6 million
Orlov – $6.5 million
Martin Jones – $1.66 million
M.E. Vlasic – $1.16 million
Erik Karlsson – $1.5 million
Another $20+ million in cap space freed up.
Freed up just in time for the end of Celebrini’s ELC. In my line that’s Market Neutral.
Well, they already have $46 million in the cap bank…I think they’ll be okay.
Okay with what. Who are they signing/trading for. Call up Colorado they like trading houses for paperclips.
Yep.
Someone posted here a few days ago that Coffey would be back as an assistant coaches. This is not accurate. Coffey is not back as a coach.
edit: same interview with Rishaug at TSN
That sounded fishy Babcock will want his own assistants
Listening to an interview with DJ Smith on Gregor’s show. This guy sounds phenomenal. Talking about how we need to be more like Florida and Carolina with depth and Connor and Leon helping with building up the whole team. Loves Nurse, would welcome him back. loves Bouch. Worth a listen, I’ll try and post the link later.
On Frederic “we gotta get his confidence back. Everything’s about confidence…”
”Im probably going to be the most outgoing guy you guys have seen around here in a while. Im joking around 24/7 as an assistant coach.”
I think he’s the contingency and succession plan.
For those concerned that the leadership group was involved in the process, Stan Bowman says in a TSN interview with Rishaug that it was Babcock who initiated it saying that he wasn’t interested if everyone (owner, management and players) wasn’t on the same page. Babcock requested the discussion.
The good news if you’re a star player in today’s NHL? No need to get mad if you didn’t have a say in hiring the new coach, you can certainly get him fired.
Would you be this bent out of shape if the same process had unfolded but it was Todd Nelson?
If anything is bent out of shape, it’s the Oilers decision making process.
Their latest and greatest idea for winning with McDavid is throwing a Hail Mary to an unrepentant pariah.
I think Babcock, and Torts for that matter, are mature team coaches.
Torts admitted he was about reinforcing and tweaking. Feeling the pulse. Barely and X’s and O’s and no teaching.
This team wants a hardass because they’re established and want to win. Think elder Bowman, Sutter, etc. I wouldn’t let either anywhere near a young roster.
Maybe I’m underestimating Babcock’s systems but the peak rosters he had were extremely mature with the best 2 way dman in the world and a perennial Selke winner among other stars.
I think the players want to learn but I think there’s a disconnect between leadership who see themselves not getting younger and the rest of the roster.
No clue how this shakes out. Might be a hot start then we’ll see how the standard holds when the bad habits creep back in the Glimmer Twins games.
Its the bad habits of the rest of the roster not the Glimmer twins that’s the concern.
If the Glimmer twins continue to be the Glimmer twins and the rest of the roster plays a winning brand of hockey, you’ll see the Glimmer twins lead the team back to the finals once again.
If Dickinson’s line score 1 goal for every 3 they give up, they’re cooked regardless of what the Glimmer twins are up to.
If 97 and 29 line were positive in 24 we have a banner. They were part of the problem in the final.
Last year symptom of a larger problem that cost KK the job.
Agreed on JDick. Guy got posted to line 2 a week in cause of Leo and then got injured himself. 3C role. 5 years younger than Rico so we pray.
Babcock needs to get fresh air for Connor and Leon. Give Dickinson his own line have Frederic role told to him. I felt sorry for Frederic last year he didn’t know if he was coming or going. Frederic will bounce back to 15 goals this season especially if he gets a little PP net front presence time.
Babcock on what he learned during his time away, from interview with Rishaug
“When I started at RDC, U of L, we had so much fun. As coach, as players, that’s what we’re bringing here. That’s what Smitty’s about, we’re gonna have a riot. That doesn’t mean we’re not gonna work like f*cking dogs, we’re gonna work. But we’re gonna have a ton of fun. The games too special not to have a riot doing it. Im too old to not have fun. We’re gonna have fun.”
I really hope he and DJ can pull that off. They so need to learn how to enjoy the journey
I think the coaching change will be noticeable right out of the gate.
Look for the team to be ready to go on game 1 of the regular season.
Offense and defense coupled together more tightly and no more stretch passes, thank god.
Knoblauch was too nice IMO, players were left to do pretty much what they wanted. Team was never ready to start, they were always in a hole by the end of the first period. Followed by a period and a half of desperate fly by the seats of their pants shitstorm.
The players will give him 1 good season at least, before they give up on him. Maybe that’s the plan so they can pivot to Kennedy after his contract expires.
Hearing Bowman say three times how much Babcock “impressed” him in their first interview was definitely giving me MacTavish/Eakins flashbacks.
Someone might need to tell Stan that the new Iron Mike isn’t really the bromance type.
Maybe therapy converted him.
Maybe its a refreshing change of pace from soft spoken KK.
Agreed. Time for rah rah and move to DJ when the message gets stale.
Why would you be surprised? All GMs say nearly the same thing when they announce their new HC hire.
Where are all the coaching doesn’t make that big a difference people lately?
Right here sorry was prepping for Canada Switzerland then the lady’s Brasil followup against Scotland. Various BBQ required. Come on down if you’re in the area.
Coach doesn’t make a big difference compared to the players. Change out the message every couple years unless you have a great orator with a strong team.
Deck chairs on the Titanic otherwise.
Flames acquire a Simon Nemec from NJD for 2 first round picks.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7093661/2026/06/23/simon-nemec-trade-devils-flames/?source=user_shared_articleDevils trade Šimon Nemec to Flames for picks, prospect: What it means for both teams
https://x.com/frank_seravalli/status/2069505929943404845?s=61
No contract in place yet for Nemec. Big deal for #Flames – they leveraged future year extra first rounders, projected to be late in 2027 and 2028, to get a 22-year-old right-shot defenseman.
And Calgary still has these picks in 2026 #NHLDraft: Nos. 6, 30, 36, 51, 55, 65,
Great work by cgy.
As an oil fan in BC my hate for cgy has waned a bit as i despise the dys so much… i guess also because cgy has been so insignificant…
But this is a solid move as long as he isnt Rienhart 2.0…
**obviously he is far more established. I just mean as long as he does pan out well as a top pair dman
Another RD to go with Parekh and Whitecloud.
Now all they need is 3 or 4 lefties.
A long way to go but they have 10 picks including 2 firsts in the upcoming draft.
I don’t get why they got another RD. Wasnt nemec’s whole issue in NJ being blocked by Hughes on the PP? Now Hes blocked by Parekh?
And then there’s this.
Another team with the D-corps “locked up for a very long time” 🙄
Good grief….Nemec just finished his 21 year old season and has 155 NHL games under his belt.
At that age, Bouchard had 21 after spending a season in Bakersfield.
Do you think Nemec will be as good as Bouchard?
Putting up a 90+ season as a d-man is very rare. So good grief yourself and your dumb trolling … nobody cares about the Calgary Falmes here.
This will age well.
Take it up with your boys Dom and Pronman.…you only cheerlead for them when it fits your narrative.
Not sure what this has to do with Dom’s assessment of Nemec or the reported contract that Nemec is seeking.
Or what it has to do with Bouchard other than your constant bullshit.
Good grief. At Nemec’s age Brogan Rafferty was already better than Bouchard.
The Oilers are going to destroy that D group. Either puck optional or small and aren’t going to play defense
When star players endorse the idea of having an arsehole coach, that’s a tell.
They’re not looking for nice. They’re looking for accountability, because they’ve seen what systems and structure does firsthand, tired of losing to teams that have less talent, but play hockey better than they do.
The Oilers need structure. They need accountability.
Most importantly they need more from the bottom six.
The last one comes from fixing the first two.
The tell is the stars don’t think the bottom has enough try. Sounds like a leadership issue in the room. The bottom of the roster might not be good enough, that’s a management issue. Also, last I checked the entire lineup played pretty poor defense, including high risk plays at the bluleline by the top guys. Maybe pointing fingers at.your teamates is not a good plan for a team.
Accountability applies more to the leadership than the bottom 6, they need to cut the junior plays out of their game. They do not get a free pass because theyre better than everyone else.
Systems play, is all four lines playing structured hockey so their defense and goaltending aren’t left out to dry, and the bottom 6 can be greater than the sum of its parts. You’ll hear the word ‘identity’ tossed around, but thats having a system, and knowing what your responsibilities are everytime youre on the ice.
I agree with all of your points except:
Accountability was not an issue.
In a game against the Kraken I watched Mangiapane make a nice play in the offensive zone to create a shot for himself while the Oilers defence was changing. Mangi took the shot and it redirected off a Kraken defender hard. Seattle broke out and scored.
Mangi did not play again that game.
The real issue was that Knob was completely in over his head and had little to no concept of what it took to coach at the NHL level.
Which is more of the reason as to why there was a lack of structure and a lack of involvement from the bottom six (except Adam Henrique, Knob loved him)
Okay but can we agree the benching of Mangi was absolutely warranted.
He stunk. Didn’t create anything for his teammates and play died on his stick alot. Had to overpay to get him out when he took his ball and went home.
I agree with KK that dude was washed.
I hear you but I see Mangi potting 15 this coming season and Knob will look like an even bigger joke than he already does.
Excellent post.
And we could see it last year in real time but it was foggy. Now with hindsight its glaring.
This is a day of hope for many Oiler fans who fervently hope that Babcock is the final piece of the puzzle that will put the Oilers at the summit. For the sake of all Oiler fans, I hope that is true.
Personally however, I see this decision as the final mistake that firmly closes the door on McDavid winning here over his remaining contract term. Mistakes can have singular impacts but they also have a cumulative impact. From management to coaching to personnel, the Oilers have simply made too many mistakes in the McDavid era to overcome them all.
The right HC hiring now MIGHT have been able to overcome these cumulative organizational errors but this last big mistake seals their fate imo. Their only hope is catching lightning in a bottle immediately with Babcock. Failing that, this turn to a toxic leader will bring the repercussions that you would naturally expect from this type of thinking.
Welp, not my first, second or third choice but here we are. Like partisan politics now that the choice has been made we fall in line.
Michael Jordan needed his Phil Jackson (as did Bryant). Joe Torre wasn’t the huggable type. There is more than one way to win a Cup.
Luckily for us the Pacific Division still sucks and is likely to get worse the next three seasons or so.
Vegas is old and getting older and was sold a glorious bill of goods by Conroy.
The Ducks are cute and entertaining.
L.A. just sucks. Will take a long time to recover from the Blake carnage.
Everyone else isn’t worth typing much about other than that Celebrini kid (and just him.)
Big fan of the two FA signings. I like both and you’re crazy if you can’t see Parkatti’s finger prints on those two players (maybe even Dach).
A few more weeks of healing up and mental prep should be good for everyone.
Agreed and even without stats if you have a group that struggles to stay into defending, adding players that want to do it helps the dynamic
Bowman targeted all 3, he knows the direction so he was absolutely going to sign them.
If we don’t have players that have swagger maybe it’s good our coach does. Time will tell. We’ll see if he’s different or loads up McDrai at the first sign of struggle. I’m going with the glass half full on this. Here’s to offseason hope.
Can’t rule out he may just bench McDrai, especially if he hears that they flew in a sick family member who came to watch them achieve some milestone.
The Marner incident was him playing games with the new kid in town. The Modano game time scratching was downright cruel. Modano wasn’t some thug he was an all-star at the end of a long career that deserved to have his moment in the sun with his family present. All Coaches have players that are bitter with management of teams. Before hiring Babcock I ask one question point blank. What was the reason you game time decided to fuk offer Mike Modano?
The best part about Babcock stories is, I wasn’t even referring to Modano. Babcock benched Spezza instead of playing him in his first game for his hometown team, the Leafs. This was after Spezza flew 16 family members and friends down (some of who had failing health).
But yeah, the Modano thing was a gross power move.
Sather would agree, he thinks coaches should be like Babcock
He didnt really answer about loading them up, and Bob all summer has talked about them playing them as 1 line to give more roles and minutes to lines 2-4. In Detroit he landed and split up Magic Man and Zetterbug, so not sure how he views these too
I’m getting Denny Crane vibes from Babcock, Oil Drop might be worth the subscription!😂
Babcock does not present as a progressive HC like Brindamour, Cooper, or St Louis. His demeanor is pure Quenneville, young Torts, or prime Keenan.
This is a simple solution to a complex problem. In the absence of an actual organizational vision, the Oilers are buying Detroit 2008.
The reality of this situation is winning now IS the only thing that can sustain it. If this team struggles, the egos will quickly go to war, factions will entrench, and the fallout will be catastrophic.
Babcock talked about different systems, what other teams are doing and who’s successful and why and what the Oilers can do with the players they have. That doesn’t sound old school.
That is exactly how a coach should think, but the action is what counts
The speed of the game has quickened since Babcock exit. More and more teams are playing much younger than Howard-Samanski-Savoie-Jarventie-Hutson yet K.K was old school. I want too see what the great Babcock has up his sleeve for younger skilled players we have. I would love to see Babcock mold a Connor Clattenburg into a 10 year career for him.
The most important takeaway from today’s press conference is that Mike still refers to himself in the third person.
“Why would George steal from the Yankees?”
“He wouldn’t!”
“Of course not”
“Exactly…. I don’t know what the hell is going on here.”
A trait that seems to me to not be a healthy thing. But apparently ‘illeism’ improves self esteem, emotional regulation, and performance under stress. Weird. Gonna have to try it out
Malignant narcissist.
On top of being an eye for top talent and prognosticator for the ages, I honestly had no idea you had such expertise in diagnosing mental disorders. Absolutely fascinating.
HH is speaking from experience.
reminds me of someone I “know” ;)…
Small list. Only based on pedigree.
Exactly as we speculated and feared.
Bowman did talk early about hard conversations behind closed doors but doing it with respect both ways. He was challenged on not having shown respect and he essentially said he’s not on social media and implied he isn’t really away of that reputation but he has good people in his life that keep him in check and let him know when he’s crossed the line.
Oh, we are getting the full Mike Babcock and, well, it could go horribly but it could help lead to Stanley!
It’s good that he has good people in his live that keep him in check. Family is important to him. I suspect that DJ Smith, Stan Bowman and the rest of the organization are extended family. And that he’s true to his word.
Sorry that says Bowman but I meant Babcock.
“We hoped for the best but it turned out like always.” -Viktor Chernomyrdin
Mirtle: “call it desperation.“
Still hoping…!
“I was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.” -1000 monkeys working at a 1000 typewriters
https://youtube.com/watch?v=no_elVGGgW8&si=h6PAATxeWwXBkYkB
The trick is to not take the personal attacks personally.
Players get chirped constantly by other players and by fans on social media. I’d say that being a successful NHL player requires the ability not to take things personally.
Someone needs to tell Chris Chelios to stop being such a baby.
— sweet Jesus help us :”you know 20 years ago when there wasn’t a cap we had all star team and guys who played without the puck real tough. 20 years ago I coached Stevey Y to a cup. That’s what we are going to do”
I think you missed the point.
Babcock did not coach Yzerman to a Cup.
Where does this come from? I didn’t hear it in the presser?
Babcock won the cup while there was a salary cap.
That press conference went very well I have to say.
Mike Babcock was very clear, he is Mike Babcock, he apologizes for nothing in the past and the top players and the org are on board with that guy leading them.
Unless he does something “wrong” here, I’m fully on board.
Lets Go!
Well…. he might be older and wiser.
He’s certainly older….
At NHL Board of Governors, Commissioner Gary Bettman informed the Baord they will be opening a process to investigate Houston or Austin TX for an expansion franchise
https://x.com/friedgehnic/status/2069482934130942091?s=61
More details after meeting is complete, but it is believed the same ownership group will lead the process, deciding on which of the two cities better fits for the NHL
https://x.com/andystrickland/status/2069493194245750807?s=61
Sounds like the NHL will be expanding to just one city (Houston likely with Austin a possibility) as early as the 28-29 season with another possible expansion team joining the league a few years later. The Friedkin family, among the largest Toyota private distributors in the world, are considered very serious buyers.
Anyone think DJ is actually going to be the coach in the traditional sense?
DJ sounds awesome
Also very smart to have him at the press conference. I wonder if there has ever been a press conference where it’s the head coach and assistant/associate.
Smith is an associate coach, we can safely drop the assistant label.
Player usage under Knoblauch was definitely an issue for Bowman. The GM & the HC were not in alignment on deployment and icetime.
Easy for him to say that now. We’ll never know whether he was willing to say so at the time. He should’ve fired the coach much earlier if this was true.
Agreed. Impossible to know what’s actually true and what’s spin after the fact.
Given Knob’s record I don’t see how you don’t give him a third swing at the postseason. A firing before that just wasn’t going to happen imo.
Or maybe should have fired the GM