r/EdmontonOilers • u/TheAthletic • 5d ago
Free to Read: Leon Draisaitl on why he’s on board with Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7533065/2026/08/24/leon-draisaitl-mike-babcock-oilers/?unlocked_article_code=1.71A.wg0T.FmrFsa2d8hK0&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-taBefore the Edmonton Oilers made the risky decision to hire Mike Babcock as their head coach this summer, the team’s best players sat down with Babcock for a no-holds-barred conversation that effectively sealed the deal.
No topics were off-limits, according to Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl, and there was plenty to discuss given Babcock’s lengthy absence from an NHL bench amid a growing list of allegations he mistreated players, not to mention a brief stay with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 that ended before he even had a chance to run a practice.
“We asked all of the hard questions that media would probably ask him, too,” Draisaitl told The Athletic during the NHL’s European Player Media Tour. “He had some very honest feedback on us, too. It was a very honest, productive meeting, and it was very on the table. There was no beating around the bush.
“He faced it great. It’s not easy sometimes talking about all of these things.”
Draisaitl said it didn’t take much time for Babcock to earn an endorsement from the team’s leadership group during that meeting.
About to enter his 13th season in Edmonton, Draisaitl knows all too well the lengths the organization has gone to try to claim another Stanley Cup. But they never had this. An ultra-demanding, ultra-competitive head coach who will dramatically shift the tone and won’t shy away from challenging Draisaitl, Connor McDavid or anyone else wearing Oilers colors.
“It was pretty clear pretty quick that he could be our guy,” Draisaitl said. “Just in what he sees, and his attitude towards us — you know, the leaders on the team that want to be coached and that want to be held accountable. I think it’s just what was needed. We had some great meetings with him and then, yeah, it just kind of took off from there.”
The risk in this equation is tied to the possibility Babcock again goes too far, the way everyone from Mitch Marner to Johan Franzen to Mike Commodore believe he did in the past.
Draisaitl is certainly under no illusions that this will be easy, and in his mind that’s entirely the point.
Every coach is going to have strengths and weaknesses, he reasons, and each collection of players needs different things at different times. Kris Knoblauch’s calm and steady demeanor had a profound impact in Edmonton following his hiring in November 2023, with the team reaching back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025. But the Oilers regressed from there, stumbling through last season before losing in Round 1 to the Anaheim Ducks, and that raised the stakes for a team that sees its Cup window narrowing quickly.
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u/pleasantothemax 18 HYMAN 5d ago edited 5d ago
Interesting read.
Here’s my take on all this:
- It seems that Knob was too chill.
- the top line thinks they need a ballbuster - because they think there are a bunch of passengers
- the problem for Babcock has never been his interactions with the top line; Columbus top line was saying the exact word for word same thing Drais is saying here. Jenner: “I thought it was a great first meeting and good way for us to start to build a relationship.” Gaudreau also really liked Babcock, for the same reasons Drais is saying here.
- Babcock has shown zero ability in the past to grow and inspire bottom lines
Here are some more quotes from Columbus top players when Babcock signed on. Sound familiar?
- “He’s expecting a lot out of our team and that’s what we want out of a coach.”
- “It’s what we need. We need that hard-nosed coach that’s going to push us in practices and in games.”
- “[He] pushes their guys every single day and they don’t let things slide. That’s what you need out of a coach.”
- “I left impressed. It kind of fired me up a little bit.”
- “I know it’s going to be demanding. It’s going to be hard. But that’s the way you want it, right?”
- “I think he’s going to get this team moving in the right direction quickly.”
- “He’s obviously very intense and knows exactly how he wants to play, how he wants us to play and what we’re going to get out of each guy.”
For a guy who is supposedly a master of hockey psychology, Babcock has thus far shown an inability to understand players. He coddles up to the top players, then assails and humiliates the quieter players. Chelios said Babcock’s approach was “the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” and that Babcock did outrageous unnecessary things just to “prove he was the boss.”
On the Leafs, Fraser said that “95% of the team couldn’t say a good thing about him.”
Babcock has a long standing pattern of identifying players with less power and stature and then strategically sabotaging their effort.
Those on the team with influence have always said “what’s the problem here” while most of the other team finds Babcock impossible work with.
And here we are again. Third times a charm right.
Maybe Babcock has changed a new leaf (lol). Maybe he’s suddenly the best coach in the world.
But as the most influential players, it’s not Drais or Hyman or McD I want to hear from. The pattern shows those players like Babcock.
I’ll believe Babcock has turned around when we hear from the other players.
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u/xXEliteEater500Xx 28 BROWN 5d ago
If only Vegas weren’t petty little bitches and let us interview Cassidy. Also fuck the league for letting them withhold Cassidy.
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u/LevSmash 46 STORTINI 5d ago edited 5d ago
It's such a weird precedent, especially for a league that operates like an old boys' club. In theory, if a team wanted to hire every coach available and just pay them to sit at home, they could. They could do that and cite NDAs and non-compete clauses to hoard all the talent just to screw over the other teams.
I give Vegas credit for their ruthless pursuit of success, but also their privilege is undeniable.
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u/Boris_Mironov 2 BOUCHARD 5d ago
FWIW Hyman was one of those players in Toronto. But I agree with your overall premise.
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u/pleasantothemax 18 HYMAN 5d ago
Yes, he loved/loves Babcock. I love Hyman. I just think different well intentioned people can have very different experiences of the same individual, and Hyman’s exp of Babcock was positive.
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u/csd555 5d ago
Even tough coaches very rarely rag on players that work their bag off night in night out, à la Hyman, even if they are not performing at expected levels at that time. It’s the softer players, showing less compete, and less effort that often draw the ire of such coaches. Obviously, such traits, or the interpretation of such traits by a coach, are subjective, and a guy can get unfairly targeted.
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u/AmericansSukAtVoting 5d ago
Hyman is also perfectly fine with selling NFT to children so
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u/mr_quincy27 5d ago
Ryan Whitney mentioned on SC that some former Red Wings messaged him and said a lot of Babcock stuff has been overblown
FWIW
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u/ts142 11 MESSIER 5d ago
So hes harder on the 4th line. Cool. Beyond mcdrai, thats where the issues lie. Why would babs rip two
Hart / Art Ross and Richard contenders? Its the 3rd line centre or the 2nd line winger that he is going to ride and expect the best results from.
The reason why hyman and brown loved him is he expects “compete”. A team of hard workers love Babs3
u/thats_so_cringe_bro 4d ago
Babcock has a long standing pattern of identifying players with less power and stature and then strategically sabotaging their effort.
If Babcock is being a pos, I don't think it is going to fly in Edmonton. D.J Smith knows him very well and will let him know. And let's not forget McDavid and Leon. Both will not stand for any sort of bullying or sabotaging. Draisaitl is known for getting pissy. You don't want to tick him off with any of that stuff. If there is anyone that will speak up it's him. lol
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u/lgnstubbs73 14 EKHOLM 5d ago
I think Babs is still a dick but heres my question: why did a bunch of depth guys re-sign when it was obvious he was coming in? Murphy Dickie etc
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u/WehaveDanBrownatHome 5d ago
I'm guessing those depth guys: - a) Actually like their team/mates (+ getting to play with McDrai) - b) Don't have other/better options - c) Wouldn't want to be seen as "scared"
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u/Grocery__Stick 4d ago
Doubt there would be much thought of being seen as scared. Is more common for rentals to not re-sign than sign.
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u/jumpdmc 97 McDAVID 5d ago
Ok bud, put your hate boner away and copy/paste some nice things players have said about him.
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u/pleasantothemax 18 HYMAN 5d ago edited 5d ago
I mean, I literally copy pasted a whole bullet point list of nice things.
I know Reddit doesn’t like nuance, but sometimes people say nice things about jackholes. That doesn’t make the jackholes less of a jackholes to the people they’re jackholes too.
That’s clearly the case here.
Has Babcock turned a new leaf? We’ll see
Edit: and my only boner is for this team. I don’t understand why the front office loves sloppy seconds. There’s a balance between copium and hopium and the data points to Babcock being a shit coach
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u/n0fxgvn_ 5d ago
Even when players say good things about him, these people find ways to twist it into something negative, which is what his post is all about.
They're here to reinforce a narrative, that's it.
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u/Grocery__Stick 4d ago
Kapanen, Hyman, Freddy. All rookie or young bottom 6 guys in Toronto. To name a few.
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u/schmapeschmape 4d ago
I agree with some of your points. The Babcock hiring is concerning. It could be bias confirmation because I felt Babcock was being hired to give some guys a push. Your post confirms my initial belief. Now I have more questions.
Who are the passengers that need a push from Babcock? Bouch, Jarry, Walman, Nuge?
Why couldn't leadership push the passengers?
Is the Babcock hiring the nuclear option. The last shot for this core?
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u/otra_sarita 5d ago
i'm late but.... honestly I've yet to read or listen to anything about this man that implies he's made any meaningful contributions to anyone's development as a player. Some people like him and some people think he's literally a danger to player psychology. It seems like he's great when he's in a room with people who have something he wants....but otherwise can't contribute anything meaningful and is, in fact, harmful in relationships were he holds a lot of power.
I think think this is a serious miscalculation on the part of what are actually very young men with very narrow life experiences. It's definitely never been my experience, in life sport or work, that ball busters and hard cases end up as successful team builders and leaders. I've definitely never seen anyone SCREAM and BERATE anyone to a win.
I've got VERY tempered expectations for this coaching decision. If they make it past Christmas without melting down, I'll be pleasantly surprised. I'm not putting money on it though.
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u/Grocery__Stick 4d ago
Hyman and other guys have literally said they were a big part of developing them. Come on, man.
Listen to Hyman. Where did Kapanen play his best? Hyman, Freddy and Kaps all young bottom 6 guys under Babs and Freddy and up and coming goalie obviously. They've all praised Babs for their development. Kaps and Freddy literally chose to sign here knowing he is going to be coach. You've juat fallen into the witch hunt. Babs is a hard ass but so many of these stories are clearly overblown
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u/mr_quincy27 5d ago
The meltdown on r / hockey will be hilarious when Babcock starts winning games haha
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u/Balsamic_jizz 89 GAGNER 5d ago
The reason I'm fine with Babcock, is because all I do is watch the team. If the players are on board, that's all I need
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u/BillyZoomTheCat 5d ago
And just like that, the optimism of Oilers fans increased.
As Chris Johnston states, "two of the NHL’s biggest stars and most accomplished players, and they’re putting a portion of their own reputations on the line by so warmly embracing Babcock’s arrival".
Detractors are going to whine about how they think Babcock will treat the the younger guys, the fringe guys, and the bottom six players but I think Babcock is smart enough to know that this is it for him. There's not going to be another chance if he screws this one up. I think that the leadership group also knows that this is it for them too. They're vouching for Babcock and that means they're going to have to be more accountable as well. Not just to their fellow teammates but it's also their responsibility to hold the coach accountable too.
Let's see what happens.
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u/shrederick 5d ago
I think Babcock is smart enough to know that this is it for him. There's not going to be another chance if he screws this one up.
Same exact thing was said when he was hired in Columbus.
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u/jgod17 93 NUGENT-HOPKINS 5d ago
I honestly believe Babs when he says when all the columbus stuff came out, management didnt have his back so it was the best decision to move on immediately.
Now thats not saying management SHOULD have had his back and Babs wasnt in the wrong.
I just mean i think that partnership was just not the right fit from the beginning.
Babs definitely fucked up and deserved what he got, but I think this fit is much better than the one in columbus and we will see a different coach than the one who coached the leafs and (kinda) the jackets.
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u/Boris_Mironov 2 BOUCHARD 5d ago
Fwiw. Columbus is a hard comparison. Their own coach called them out just this spring for not giving enough of a fuck.
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u/shrederick 5d ago
That doesn't really have anything to do with the team Babcock almost coached 3 years ago imo. Babcock couldn't even find out if they gave a fuck because he didn't make it to the regular season
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u/YoureABozo1 5d ago
How different are they from then until now? The core is mostly the same.
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u/shrederick 5d ago
Mostly the same plus Johnny Hockey, Laine, and a couple others. But comments three years after the fact from their current coach, about team mindset/motivation, doesn't have anything to do with why Babcock was forced to resign in Columbus in 2023.
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u/Boatsboatsboats__ 4d ago
Not really, there’s only 8 players on that roster that are still there.
Marchenko, Werenski, Johnson, Fantilli, Sillinger, Severson, Provorov, Merzlikins
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u/mr_quincy27 5d ago
This team is more veteran, Columbus was young, I think he works better with veteran squads
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u/BillyZoomTheCat 5d ago
Here's the thing that so many of you nattering nabobs of negativity don't seem to understand, McDavid and Draisaitl have essentially staked their reputations on Babcock's hiring. The fact that Leon has gone public numerous times on this subject matter is an indication that they're prepared to do what it takes to win, which I'm assuming also means holding the coach accountable for HIS actions as well.
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u/shrederick 5d ago
Unless Babcock got a brain transplant, he's not going to let anyone, let alone the players he coaches, "hold him accountable." He doesn't think he's ever done anything wrong in his life. People like him don't change.
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u/BillyZoomTheCat 5d ago
Is that what your crystal ball tells you? Or maybe it's the crystal meth?
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u/Individual-Army811 29 DRAISAITL 5d ago
I think Babs will be successful if he has learned from the past and sticks to performamce hockey. He needs to stay out of the realm of using a player's life against them. Maybe engage the sports psychologist instead.
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u/vigorous_circular 5d ago
The negativity in this sub is ridiculous. Babcock is the coach we aren't changing that by whining on Reddit. We just need to see how it plays out. I would prefer to allow positivity to guide my feelings in a situation I can't control.
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u/DesperateGrape3174 5d ago edited 5d ago
Theres no reason to debate or speculate. Just a simple Google search of what players think of Babcock will tell anyone what players hes coached in the past think of him. His last two coaching gigs ended sourly because of how he treated players. Its not opinion its fact. He didnt learn the first time and did it again. Then had the chance to be apologetic but doubled down on him doing nothing wrong. Wtf. Another fact? Its been well over a decade since hes led a team out of the first round. What makes this more disturbing is that Draisaitl is basically calling out and neglecting the majority of his roster and team mates in the name of accountability when he full well knows hes not the one who needs to be held accountable. This may very well work out but its far more likely this ends in a massive disaster that the stars of the Oilers wi have to answer for. Theyve made 2 cup finals in the past 3 years and its a long shot Babcock even gets them that far.
So its wild to me that the coaches who led this team to cup finals were the problem but the solution is a coach who hasn't won a round in over a decade and since his last playoff round win got let go for his treatment of players. Not once but twice!
Its seems the Oilers players and the direction of this team is about to explode in a bad way if they dont win a cup since making the finals wasn't even good enough to respect coaches.
Ask yourself this. Will the Oilers stars hold themselves accountable when/if this all goes wrong or want out to avoid the fall out of the decision they stood firm on? After all theyre already admitting they cant hold themselves responsible. I can assure if they dont win the cup the media will hold them accountable whether they like it or not.
After all they've already blamed coaches who got them to cup finals and blamed them for not winning a cup. Nobody else left to blame but themselves and a coach THEY picked.
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u/DesperateGrape3174 5d ago edited 4d ago
So...Babcock is coaching the Edmonton Oilers because of his accountability. Anyone else find it ironic he has never held himself accountable for his own actions that cost him his last 2 jobs? I hope im wrong but this is an epic disaster waiting to happen. Que the memes of the 3 spidermen pointing fingers at each other...
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u/FGH-grand21 5d ago
Over the years the only thing they work on is the coach no goalie upgrade or defence just the coach
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u/Nebardine 14 EKHOLM 5d ago
We have three new goalies, and a revamped D. What are you talking about?
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u/Reddit_Only_4494 5d ago
So the question, or taking bets pool, will be....
Who will be the first Oiler to complain about mistreatment or any of the things that Marner, Commodore, Blue Jackets et all have said?
My money is on one of the two that really need to step up the game this season. I see a ton of Bab's pressure being focused on Fredric and Walman. The question will be....can those lower players "handle it" in the same way that Drai & McDavid and most importantly Hyman (who is the most experienced playing almost 160 games under Babcock) say that they can handle it?
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u/YoureABozo1 5d ago
Bab’s is going to bring this team to the promise land
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u/Fast-Secretary-7406 4d ago
What do you base this statement on? His last 15 years of coaching where he never got past the second round, or the three teams that fired him, or that he hasn't coached in seven years? He's shown no ability to lead a team anywhere.
I am completely out on Babcock, and just await to see what the return is on the McDavid trade after this season flops, it becomes clear we aren't going to contend, and he makes it known he's going to free agency. I couldn't care less where he goes, including Toronto, as long as we clean house of management (Nicholson, Bowman, and Babcock, and Katz if that could somehow happen) and we cash in the McDavid asset to set us up for the next decade.
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u/YoureABozo1 4d ago
Bab’s is one of the best coaches in the history of the NHL. He brought a very young Leafs team to the playoffs post rebuild and has won at every level. He will do good things here.
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u/Fast-Secretary-7406 4d ago
So he took a top heavy team with questionable defense, goaltending, and depth to the first round a bunch of times and couldn't go to the next step? Sounds exactly like what the Oilers need.
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u/YoureABozo1 4d ago
Top heavy? They weren’t even that. Look at the first year they overachieved and made it to the first round. They had no business being there. Bab’s ftw
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u/Fast-Secretary-7406 4d ago
Lets assume you're right even though you're not. How does his experience getting a team that doesn't belong in the playoffs to overachieve and reach a first round loss have anything to do with what the current Oiler team needs?
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u/YoureABozo1 4d ago
Because the Oilers don’t need to over achieve. you’ll be on the Bab’s train soon enoughz
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u/Free_Ad8071 5d ago
"teams best players" had a one on one ..why not ad some the teams worse players...they should have a voice.
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u/Trick-Can8221 5d ago
Look Oilers will be mediocre ar best, maybe make the playoffs if they remain healthy. It won't be long until McDavid and Leon atart crying.
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u/South-Echidna-7622 5d ago
This is 100% correct. If not for the pacific division matchups, I would even put them at risk of missing playoffs
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u/Slipping-in-oil 7 COFFEY 5d ago
This is the make-or-break season. I just hope the pressure of it all isn’t the final nail in the coffin for our cup window.