Several small news items have reached us in recent days, so I thought it might be a good idea to address them before starting the certain, uncertain and distant bell series. Please read this.
Leon Draisaitl was quoted as saying “we’re looking to be coached. We’re looking to get better. and I sometimes deserve (to be yelled at) too, just like anyone else does. I don’t think ‘Babs’ is going to care overly much who we are in terms of that. I think sometimes that’s needed.” Source
After two head coaches with no previous NHL experience (Jay Woodcroft, Kris Knoblauch), the team sets sail with Mike Babcock this coming season. Babcock will bring structure, discipline and attention to detail, all welcome on a team that could not sustain the good play last season.
I’ve mentioned this on the Lowdown, but the Babcock era has a wide range of possible outcomes. I wrote about it today and believe this season could land with Stanley having a party downtown Edmonton or a chaotic road to ruin. All manner of outcomes appear to be possible.
Babcock will roll four lines and three pairings, and he will show loyalty to a player you believe should be moved down the depth chart. There will be roster controversies and all kinds of gasps about deployment, but if Babcock is winning games it won’t make no never mind.
Samuel Jonsson appears headed back to Sweden after a year in the ECHL. I imagine the player didn’t see a clear path to the NHL next season, and decided to ease on down the road to play in a more competitive league. I’m a big fan of Jonsson, ranked him high in the summer top 20.
Management has changed since he was drafted, and Rick Pracey (scouting director) has added Eemil Vinni, Daniel Salonen and Ryan Cameron to the prospect depth chart in recent seasons. I think Jonsson has a real chance to have an NHL career, but the Oilers may believe he’s yesterday’s papers. Only time will tell. Hopefully Jonsson has a strong year in 2026-27 and returns to a more settled situation one year from now.
On the Lowdown today, we will chat Elks, Oilers training camp roster, and one player who should be on the radar for a roster spot but rarely gets mentioned. Noon to 2pm Sports 1440 and You Tube. See you on the radio!
Three keys for new Oilers coach Mike Babcock to win in Edmonton
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7533437/2026/08/24/edmonton-oilers-mike-babcock-keys-stats/
One could say, “same as it ever was.”
For me, the key to this season is whether McDrai emerge as the team leaders, consistently playing the 200-ft game they’ve known they should (and can) play since I’ve been watching them. Last season, the two of them have made this a problem of the coaches, and the team. Now, they’re asking to be held accountable (the “yelling” remark is pure melodrama, meant to deflect from their own responsibility for last season’s poor showing).
I recall, vividly, you using the language of shot suppression, puck possession to describe what the previous coach was asking of this team. The team followed that system, all the way to SCFs in 2024 and 2025. The coach at the time was lauded as a bit of a wunderkind, for his ability to make changes that resulted in wins, and deep runs.
Now, a coach with a different temperament is being sold as the solution. Many of the same words are being used (along with some new: disciplinarian, among them). McDrai are, to my mind, looking for cover here. They already know how to play. They’ve known it for years. Maybe some yelling (and a willow switch?) makes the difference? Ugh.
But, to your point, a fast start will give the coach and team some grace. The same could have been said about last season (and a season or two before that). Let’s see if this team (and especially McDrai) have hit enough of a bottom to do what they already know they need to do (and have done well, in the recent past). There is less room for blaming coaches, goalies, or “team” this time around.
Absolutely agree with this. I question a lot of what Knoblauch did last season, but the biggest problem wasn’t that the coach didn’t hold players accountable, it’s that they refused to hold each other and themselves accountable.
If this doesn’t change, then even bringing in the ghost of Toe Blake isn’t going to turn this team around.
I can understand this but at the same time, while the players showed a disrespect for the regular season from game 1, thinking they were “good enough” to get through without expending too much effort and could just flip a switch, the coach seemed to have the same attitude and, even if he didn’t, certainly wasn’t’ trying to coach that attitude out of his team.
At the end of the season, he acknowledge the team’s season long malaise – he knew it was there – I didn’t see him being any different or taking actions in that regard, did you?
We couldn’t win 3 in a row till the end of season. The team just didn’t look right all season they looked like a tired team with no pep in there step.
I think i can understand why the top producers were coasting a little, it makes sense. But also they must have felt like “can we get a little help around here??”
Coach did not provide it, he kept on playing the top end until it wore out.
Leon-Connor-Nuge-Bouchard-Hyman hogging 1:50 of PP-1 time isn’t team bonding. Also Connor-Leon
shifts need to be shorter in OT. Other players need to be given a bone before going through a wall for Mike. When we had won five cups there was so many other players involved it wasn’t just Messier-Anderson-Kurri-Gretzky-Lowe-Fuhr-Moog-Coffey-Tikkanen-Ranford. There were so many other players involved Fogolin-Jackson-McSorely-Hunter-Lumley-Simpson-Smith-Gregg-Nilsson-Kushelnski-MacTavish-Lamb-Lindstrom-Kilma-Murphy-Graves-Muni-McClelland-Napier-Huddy-Hughes-Pouzar-Semenko-McSorely etc
I don’t think Knobby was pulling all the strings. He was just a yes man. I believe there was input from a variety of sources into how they were going to play. Hence no resemblance of a cohesive system.
Conserve for playoffs, Provide entertainment looked to be part of the reg season plan. Oh and win another scoring title.
I don’t think they needed to go full Babcock to commit to disciplined play, but Knobby was definately not the fit if they’ve decided Globetrotters doesn’t win cups
As I watch the Blue Jays stumble through this season after a World Series disappointment I am reminded of the Oilers, after two championship disappointments. Other than the expansion Blues, the Oilers are the only team to have this experience. It’s not uncommon for high-achieving (ie SCFinalist and WS finalist) teams to struggle in the following season.
Many expect professional athletes who are paid $Ms to somehow not feel the disappointment, to somehow overcome the grief, and just do it – play at the top of their game, win, etc. I think we’re expecting a lot, if that’s what we’re asking of them.
It’s at times like this that leadership born of struggle, failure, and years of experience matters. I don’t think the Oilers have that. Yet. The men who wear the letters are still young. What they’re going through – in the two SCFs, the disappointment of last season, whatever happens this season – is making them the leaders they could have used and leaned on after SCF 2024.
I believe Draisaitl when he says Kopitar is his hero, that Selke (and Cup) his ambition. I believe McD when he says he wants to win in Edmonton, with this group. I also believe he has the integrity to follow through on this.
But, I also believe the immaturity of these two young men, in the face of the disappointments of the SCFs, meant they weren’t at their best last season. They were “average” for who they can be. They didn’t have it in themselves to play 200 feet, with the exception of Nov 26-Dec 25. And, with the exception of those few games, couldn’t lead their team to play with disc. Finally, there was no more mature leader they could a) turn to, or b) be challenged by when they were struggling to be who they can be, as players and as leaders, in the face of their disappointment and grief. To my mind, that’s on ownership and management that hasn’t understood the importance of leadership to long-term winning team culture.
I wasn’t an Oilers fan during Taylor Hall’s time. Watching him win with Carolina, however, and reading and hearing the persistent love for this player, I wondered, “What would it have meant to McD, Drai, RNH, et al to have Hall in the room, and on the ice, leading them through the disappointment?”
quick comment. The team had next to nothing when Connor was drafted.
If a decent team existed with depth and leadership, you add Connor and away you go.
Connor got the opposite, with little help and little leadership to follow. Captain at 19 years old. When the team can only run around top players, they get tired. Its always on them to score, to lead, to do more.
This year, if they build a team that can do all roles at NHL level, without Connor / Leon. Then lookout once they turn Connor/Leon loose.
Great post.
It’s not a coincidence that 37 year old Jordan Staal won the Conn Smythe Trophy last season.
It’s one thing to say you want to be yelled at. It’s quite another to experience it repeatedly, especially if the team isn’t winning and the yelling appears to be arbitrary or ineffective.
This is my gut feeling with Babcock. If it’s going to work, it has to work quickly. Today’s modern athlete will not tolerate a dictator if the results aren’t there.
Abuse didn’t exit the workplace because people got “soft.” It exited because it doesn’t always work, and the younger generations no longer charge blindly onto the battlefield. Make no mistake. Hiring Babcock is a regressive move by the Oilers. This team is gambling that they have enough “old school” players to make this type of approach work.
Given this core had the likes of Hitchcock and Maclellan as HCs before, it begs the question, why now? Were the superstars just unwilling to listen to a hardass before? Did it take them quitting on player friendly coaches like Woodcraft and Knoblauch to embrace tough love now?
Are you trying to jinx the Oilers before they’ve played one game under Babcock? Don’t worry there will be endless content to talk about if things unravel early.
Don’t believe in jinxes.
I’m sure MB has softened a bit with old age, but he was known as a screamer in his junior coaching days. Demanded compete level from everyone at all times
The rumour of Jonsson signing in Sweden has never made much sense as there’s been nothing reported in swedish media about it and also every team in the SHL has their goalies set for the season already. There could of course be an injury to a goalie that hasn’t been made public yet but with Stauffee shooting it down I think it’s just a misunderstanding that got legs.
I really hoped to see Jonsson in the AHL this season. He had a great year in the ECHL and earned the opportunity to take the next step. Hopefully, if he does go to Sweden, this is a mutual decision by management and the player and not signs of a rift opening up between them. Goaltenders are voodoo, as the saying goes, but Jonsson is showing some potential in the dark goaltending arts.
I presume we’ll see both Ungar and Johnsson in the AHL, at least at times.
I think Tomkins will be there and, while they may start with 3 AHL goalies, there is also no harm in one of the prospects starting in the ECHL – they can wait for injury or they could even rotate – they have tons of options.
My take in March was that the team was worn out, both mentally an physically and what happened is what I hoped for. A long summer of rest. Now I hope for health an a long run to the cup. The Oilers are due, Canada is due and we have cap room to get a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenceman what ever is needed. Ovechkin was 32 or 33 when the caps finally won the cup. Older than our guys are now.
Here is hoping that the leaders, and the entire team, are able to commit to the system and structure that Babcock and Smith are going to implement and there isn’t all that much yelling. Teaching, yes, yelling, some but not much.
Of course, there will be some ups and downs, no one can commit shift in and shift out for 84 games but it needs to be the standard and that is what Babcock is here to ensure.
I don’t think Babcock will punish “mistakes” – there will be mistakes on the name of making plays and because the opposition has good players and force them. Mistakes made within structure will likely me permitted but straying from stricture or not committing to effort within structure, that will result in Babcock’s vitriol.
I don’t see many players on this team that are unlikely to be able to do this most of the time. The stars, of course, have not done so in the past but they seem highly committed. The likes of Kap and Jones and Dach have had inconsistencies in their 2-way efforts in their careers, they will need to commit.
i do think we’ll see 12 forwards involved each night – it will take different forms but we’ll see it. Commit to effort within their pick pressure structure and Bab’s will love you.
— there is no doubt that the players will do everything Babs says at least for awhile
— His recent track record, even going back to when the oilers beat his Detroit team, it’s really fair to question whether he has the technical acumen.
— being out of the league for almost a decade isn’t much different then the coaching from the last two head coaches : none of them knew what works in the NHL and had to learn this on the job
— Babs is both removed from knowing what works in modern NHL and his many many years of his previous tenure didn’t produce winning hockey.
— it’s a massive leap of faith.
— I’m of course curious but far from all in.
I think he is very much known as a very smart technical coach so I can’t agree with the second point.
Yup, he’s been out of the league although not out of hockey and I’m sure was somewhat up to speed on the goings on. In any event, the day his hiring was made official, he was very clear that he was going to be studying the league over the last 3 years to ascertain what did and didn’t work and, along therewith, study the players he has on his roster and put that all together to finalize the systems/structure his team will play. We know he was in the office back in mid-July. I have no doubt he’s putting in all the work necessary and I’m not concerned about his “time away”.
The first time 97 circles aimlessly around the D zone dot covering no one, leaving the high slot uncontested, turning his back to the play and hoping for a jail break in a tie game better be the last! Can’t believe he still has that much work to do in his own end. Looks like nobody has ever asked him to play proper D zone coverage!
Yes. And: He already knows how to play 200 ft. He was an important part of two deep runs that required it of him, and the whole team. Even last season, in the Nov 26-Dec 25 games, he -and the team- played sound hockey. It’s the inconsistency. So yes, maybe that changes.
I wait.
and those are the exact types of things the core group says they want to commit to and exactly what Babcock should be able to “teach” or ensure.
What about the lies posted as fact last night on Jonsson signing in Europe? No link was provided and it seems to have been made up.
Take it with a grain of salt OP, last night’s post was just a bit of misguided flatulence that blew over from B.C.
How do you know it wasn’t a consideration he might sign in Sweden ? The club has known about this and even brought Vinni up to replace him in the ECHL. Now it’s Stauffer saying Jonsson is going to rookie camp and playing in NA with no formal announcement from the club.
I don’t know it wasn’t a consideration.
I’m talking about the mid-evening post that Jonsson had signed back in Sweden with no link – a link was asked for, none provided and it seems the “report” was 100% made up.
LT has, in the past, saying that false rumours from fake twitter accounts posted would lead to bans – that could be a ban of a person getting fooled by a fake account.
This was just a make up lie of an Oiler prospect signing back in Sweden.
The rumour originated from random Comets fans on Twitter who said Jonsson told fans he was going back to Sweden. Which seemed weird but then we announced Vinii was coming over and it kind of validated it. Maybe there was discussions of him going back to Sweden but we convinced him not to
There could have been any number of reasons. It’s useless to theorize but I’ll do it anyway, perhaps Jonsson was looking for a promotion (which I think he deserves). With Ungar being preferred in the AHL, and not wanting to run two rookies in the A, Jonsson was told another year in the ECHL. Jonsson then uses Sweden as leverage (which is at least a step up from the ECHL). The organization signs Vinni for insurance in the East Coast (and guarantees more eyes/playing time for Vinni in a decent league). But then they pivot running with three in the AHL, at least until either Ungar or Jonsson establishes themselves as starters. And if both establish themselves, Tomkins could be loaned after that point.
I am talking about the report from the Oiler hater last night that Jonsson had signed in Sweden – a report that seems to be 100% made up by the poster.
I didn’t read yesterday’s thread but based on your comment I can already tell who was posting it.
On the plus side, if you keep calling him out on it, he will block you, too.
https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3d45d867cf2ef7cab32e82d12e873201b18d6d72c8620ee6f5f28d98012edfa8?s=64&r=g
Haha, not even a twitter handle attached to this one
@DStaples
Not OK.
Not even close to OK.
Top young goalie likely won’t be back with Oilers organization this season, appears headed back to Sweden.
edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/
Timestamp from your Staples tweet? Source?
Staples updated his article 2 hours ago:
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-samuel-jonsson
Who am I kidding, you blocked me for this very reason and won’t see this. lol
Getting him to block you seems like a badge of honour.
I like that the block option is available but I don’t want to miss anything.
I feel like the Fib Sequences kind of bring the rest of us together.
I wish I knew what post caused him to block me so I could print it, frame it and smile at it while drinking coffee every morning.
Staples is such a garbage reporter. He takes a fan comment from Sweden and runs with it as if it has credibility with a column in Cult of Hockey. Then, when the story falls apart (because there was never anything to it), he gives credit to Bob Stauffer for ending the rumour rather than take responsibility for the fact that he more than anyone gave it oxygen.
Rumours be rumours, especially in August. Staples via Bruce Curlock to Ayden Ganam on Oilers Now, based on a post on X by the top fan account for Fort Wayne Comets (Komets Khronicles), who may or may not have gleaned this from a comment out of Sweden which coincided with the Vinni signing.
Staples is not a hockey journalist, nor does he put himself out as one.
He is a fan blogger and has never deviated from describing himself as such.
This was a piece of information that was out there, it had been discussed over a few weeks, it had been discussed on the pre-eminent Oilers shows out there and Staples wrote about what is out there and gave his take – that’s all he did.
That story had been talked about on OilersNation, now DFO Edmonton, both written and on their video/audio platforms and on every other fan blog and all over X/twitter.
He gave it no more oxygen than any other fan blogger out there.
I thought him and Bruce made one hell of team. I miss the Cult of Hockey with staples pin-balling 10 different things around with Bruce calmly answering every one of Staples points. Bruce loved the Oilers so does Staples so does Reja. Houston we finally have competent D-men and Goalies.
Bruce is missed daily!
One of my favourite people to talk hockey with. I regret only meeting him once in person. I took him to a World Junior game in Edmonton during the weird summer Covid tournament.
David and Bruce did a lot of quality work over the years. Their hard work on identifying true high-danger chances and errors on plays was exceptional. Pity we don’t have it for all 32 teams, but Oilers fans have been lucky to have painstaking work done on their behalf .
David keeps up that work but it doesn’t have the “checks and balances” it did with Bruce. Those two would haggle over plays to make a final determination – yeoman’s work.
I think David wrote about it much later than many (I stayed away for a long time, too) and approached it as a mid-summer rumour out in the ether. I think this is what happens when the fanbase is at the end of a long summer with few loud noises. Oilers fans need something new to discuss.
and?
Not a single statement that Jonsson has signed in Sweden which is what you posted (and without the link so people couldn’t verify).
The discussion on Oilers Now was with respect to information/specuation that had been out there for a few weeks, nothing new and no-one reported any signing had taken place.
I asked you to confirm last night – you ignored.
You posted about a signing being official that you made up.
It may surprise you that I don’t stay up late at night waiting to respond to you.
Apparently, in retrospect, the origins of the story were a conversation involving Bruce Curlock.and Aydan Ganam.
https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/oilers-insider-debunks-rumour-top-goalie-prospect
LOL – you posted on the site after my comment – zero doubt you saw it, zero.
You posted a statement that said Jonsson had signed in Sweden – there was never anything officially (or even unofficially) reporting that. You saw something negative about the Oilers are you rushed to get it out there and, in the process, stretched was was out there (as you do) and posted a lie.
Man the eff up man and admit it.
The back and forth on this news is wild. I feel like I’m watching a tennis match.
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-samuel-jonsson
I too am surprised that using a rumour that someone talked to a fan in July about conversations between Jonsson and fans in April which had one anonymous source that nobody followed up on might not be 100% true……
It’s late August. Rumours and imaginings have been the currency for hockey writing (and commentary) since July 2. At CoH as well as here.
Now we’re supposed to be excited that a German wants to be yelled at (things have changed since I was raised as a German child; yelling was needed to get through our thick skins and egos. Perhaps Drai is feeling nostalgic… )
ps. I think Drai is overplaying the “yelling” thing as cover for his less than stellar play (and leadership) last season. He is actually quite sensitive, and smart. When the previous coach benched him for 2-3 shifts, for silly behaviour, he responded with a remarkable, almost Selke-worthy Rocket season. Last year, instead of his promised pursuit of Selke, we got sulks.
Nice to have some clarity on Jonsson from essentially the org itself, with Bob just tweeting:
“Regarding reports involving @EdmontonOilers goaltending prospect Samuel Jonsson, all indicators are that he will be attending EDM’s Rookie Camp in September.
Further to that he is expected to play in North America this season.”
Hoping to hear about a Tomkins deal or him being loaned out to an alternate AHL club sometime before season start.
Tomkins can play in the ECHL.
Even still, move him or loan him elsewhere, I dont want him taking starts away from Vinni or Day either.
Just a thought – I don’t think anyone will want to take over his 400k AHL $ contract. I wonder if we consider going 3 goalies in Bakersfield too?
a three goalie rotation makes some sense. You have two goalies, Ungar and Jonsson, whose play in the ECHL earned them the opportunity to play in the AHL this year. You start with a three goalie rotation, see how Ungar and Jonsson are playing. If it looks like they’re both ready, trade or loan Tompkins. If one isn’t ready or struggles, off to the ECHL with them
I don’t know what I don’t know but I don’t think the org will want to go with a 2-AHL rookie tandem and they will want their vet involved.
Well it is confusing.
Thumbs up if the babcock effect helps the team over the finish line
I was critical of the Johnson situation earlier last season. Big miss by the organization. I don’t think it’s fatal but I hope they are communicating with the player and have a plan in place for him to return to NA in 2027.
Just as I expected and been saying for a year now the team was coaching itself. The star players tried to drag us over the finish line and ran out of gas last year. It takes a full team to win Stanley. If you don’t think Connor-Leon don’t have a burr under their ass when the Tkachuk’s mock them and tease them about Cups and Gold Medals. The team tried the new way generation way of snips and snails, And puppy dog tails. If anyone thinks Babcock at 63 is changing one iota is mistaken. The star players have put their Cup dreams in an Old School coach. By hook or by crook this team can taste the Cup this year.
What you’re trying to say is the players haven’t been listening to the coach and that they’re
difficult to coach. That’s not so much on the coaching but on the players themselves. It’s a shame they need to resort to having a task master coach them but I guess we’ll see if they decide to tune him out also. Lets hope Babcock can bring out the maturity of this group of players, otherwise it truly will be a disaster.
Who is going to bring out the maturity in Babcock?
Babcock doesn’t want to waste this opportunity.
Old school is back yee-haw. I would say Hyman was formed into a fine player by Babcock. Hopefully Jones-Dach-Frederic-Joseph-Podkolzin take note and follow suit.
Old school came back multiple times, and it couldn’t get the 2018 Plan the Parade Leafs anywhere close to the cup.
Hyman may be what you call survivorship bias.
Never liked Holland also disliked Babcock even more. Watching Babcock-Holland meltdown in the last couple of minutes was golden. I still can’t believe they allowed the Hemsky tying goal. Anyhow what’s the alternative? I would cheer for the Oilers even if Genghis Khan was the head coach.
I think we all hope for the best. I just don’t want to hope for something that will likely not happen. As much as I would like for Babcock to stand up for his players on and off the ice, it seems more likely that he would do something like watch McDavid get cheap shotted, then blame McDavid for letting it happen, preaching how he is responsible and accountable for his own safety on the ice. We’ll see!
Mike is 63 this is his last hurrah. Even if he’s in good shape there’s a lot of hard miles on and off the ice flying so much is hard on the body. Mike has 2 years to turn his legacy around he couldn’t ask for a better core than Leon-Connor-Hymam-Nuge-Bouchard-Andersen-Jarry
Rick Bowness is in his 70s I believe. I think there are a good 5-6-7 head coaches in their 60s – Q is 67.
There’s a reason you don’t hear about Gallant and many other older possible coaches is because they are quietly dealing with health issues. NHL believes in it’s retread coaches
The Players are taking off the white gloves. They want a coach that will get in the mud with Maurice who owned the reffing both Finals. The want a hard ass when times get tough they want someone to protect them from the media. They want a deterrent when playing Florida or the various ass clowns on every team. Guys like Lomberg a 4th line shmuck was controlling the game against us last year. Go back and watch K.K just stand and allow Lomberg to embarrass us. Babcock will not allow this to happen on his watch guys like Pospital should be aware if you touch our stars you will be dealt with accordingly.
It’s the players that play the game and it’s the refs that ref the games. And I’d have to say that often the officiating is suss. Coaches have no control over that.
It’s called game management both teams get the same number of penalties. In game two OT the refs the fans the announcers the players all seen too many men on the ice yet the refs swallowed the whistle. I believe with Babcock behind the bench we get that call. Babcock would also have let Kane do his job against Bennett when the score was out of reach either way.
It was the officials that didn’t allow Kane to do his job on the ice and yes it is called game management. Teams will take what is given to them and coaches are a part of the team.
Sometimes you take a penalty in a 7 game series. K.K was in over his head.
Mike Babcock is not one to protect his players from the media. He also doesn’t really favour or play enforcers.
I think you may be projecting your idea of what old school is onto Babcock, and it doesn’t fit.
Probably. let’s pop the popcorn and find out.
Agreed to a certain extent. But I do wonder if the line in the sand between motivating/holding accountable and bullying has shifted in the league. My hope is Babs has learned to repackage his approach. If not, he needs to be replaced ASAP. There is no place for dehumanizing anyone, in any profession.
I suspect the NHLPA will be watching closely.
The comments section in your posts the last few days are so divided. Maybe you steered us in that direction like a good collie gathering sheep on a mountain. It really does seem like Stanley or Bust to the majority of the fan base.
There are some that are regulars here that are always negative, no matter what is going on. It’s hard to win championships especially in the NHL. So much good fortune is needed. If the Oilers were healthier last Cup run they could have just as easily won it as not
The panthers are no dynasty, but being as arrogant as they are they have said it. I haven’t seen a truly dominant Cup winning team in ages. Maybe the Avs were closest. The panthers gamed the cap, as did the Knights and Lightning. My point being with enough luck the Oilers have as good a chance as any team now that gaming the cap isn’t an option. Last season they were out if gas, as were the panthers, and the coaching got exposed, which in the end is a good thing
The shame is that it took them so long to get it together after winning Connor. A string of mistakes at GM, skipping hiring Bill Zito and getting Holland stifled a big chunk of Connor and Leon’s careers. KH hiring Tippet, then Woodcroft, then another rookie. He got it backwards, when the core was not ready to play mature hockey they gave them a vet, and when they were gave them rookie coaches. Weak understanding of managing the cap
Holland’s view on players doesn’t work, he can’t make good deals often enough, and doesn’t understand age curves. The proof is he’s doing to LA what he did with the Oilers, aging them out and giving them mediocre defensive D that aren’t good puck movers
We don’t know what is going to happen, but Bowman has turned the majority of the roster over in a short time. It’s younger, faster, and to me is better balanced. I think the players are better overall. Zito did the same with the panthers. It’s a big bet with Babcock, but he’s certainly a more accomplished coach than any we’ve had since McLellan
I find all of this exciting, they have defined their plan and are going for it. They have invested in all things off the ice, in the young players in the system right down to youngest amateur, in analytics, and have a lot of boots on the ground. Compare that with not having an OHL scout for a few years
The snails pace of Holland, the player types he likes, his inability to work around cap issues, made going into the season feeling like unless they got really lucky or by some miracle made a great deal, the results were not going to be different. I don’t feel like that now, all cannons are pointing in the same direction
I’ve been of the mind that they’ve been on the road to ruin after the first Stanley run. Babcock doesn’t make me feel any better about it. Same old Oilers, hire on a name that was last relevant when the players on the team were children.
The team will rise as high as Connor and company can take them. I don’t believe the potential height is as high as it was a few seasons ago. Feels more like a ticking time bomb.
Babcock might help them with their yearly early season malaise, If not I feel it could be a short stay.
I agree that Babcock has a wide range of outcomes, and a whole lot of downside if things go sideways. There’s always Torts to come in and pick up the pieces.
Goaltending can make a Coach and GM look like geniuses. Andersen joined the team for one reason and that’s Babcock.
Jonsson and Ungar should be the AHL tandem this year at around 50/50 split. They’ve both earned that. Tompkins should have just been moved to make way for that plan. The Tompkins’s of the world are available and inexpensive every day of the year if they decide in December that they need one. Hopefully it’s not too late to make this happen still.
agreed.
This might just be a case of Jonsson standing up and saying, “HEY what about me”???
Good on him.
I do wonder about the reasoning for this. This management group values developing guus in the A above all else so im inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt but Im very curious why they didn’t move out Tomkins. Im guessing they just didn’t want two rookies.
He has another year on his contract and he had a good season last year. They may have thought Jonsson’s development would have been slower. But it’s reasonable that a 32 year old journeyman netminder should step aside. Not to mention Jonsson , or maybe his agent is pushing the issue, by any means possible. I like it.
Tough to see management going with two non-established AHL rookies as the sole tandem.
I understand the excitement of going with two prospects but management likely won’t take that risk, and there is risk.
It’s important for the team to be successful on-ice as that is concussive to development of all the prospects, the skaters in addition to the goalies. The AHL is chaos on the ice (and often off the ice with their travel and game schedules, etc.), Tomkins provides that calming presence, a floor of ability in the net, the mentoring, etc., etc.
I would be wrong on this but I believe the org likely thinks that is important. Two rookie goalies, with little established levels in the AHL (or none) could crater the season and I doubt the org wants to take that risk.
There will be injuries, both Ungar and Jonsson will get their AHL starts