Connor McDavid Isn’t Giving Mike Babcock a Free Pass

Connor McDavid isn’t planning to interfere with Mike Babcock’s coaching style, but the Edmonton Oilers captain made it clear there are limits to how much the players will simply stand back and let their coach operate without intervention.

In a candid interview with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas, McDavid was asked about the conversation between the leadership group and Babcock when the Oilers hired the new coach. The storyline was that the Oilers made it clear from the get-go that they weren’t going to put up with any nonsense. In a manner of speaking, McDavid suggested that conversation did happen, but it was a two-way street.

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He talked about the team wanting to make sure Babcock was interested in coming in to coach a group as hungry as this Oilers group is. They want to be coached and they wanted to be pushed. On Babcock’s end, he was happy with his situation and wasn’t looking to coach a team that really didn’t want what they said they wanted. It was more a ‘be careful what you wish for’ type of scenario.

After pressing each other, both sides figured out they were on the same page. But there are limits.

“Babs is there to be Babs and to coach the way that he sees fit,” McDavid said. “We’re also a team and teammates who care about each other. If there’s an area or a place where we have to step in, of course we’re going to do that. But we would do that with any coach. It doesn’t matter who it is.”

In other words, they want Babcock to press. They want him to push. What they don’t want is the silliness and mind games that came with some of his other tenures in the NHL. This group has each other’s backs, and if they see he’s out of line — beyond making sure they’re ready to play, prepared, working hard, and doing what it takes to win — they’ll shut it down.

So Far, So Good in Edmonton

It’s only been one preseason game, but it was a good one for the Oilers, who defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-2. The team was flying, putting up offense, and the new guys were a part of it all. Guys knew their roles, and the win came fairly easily.

After the game, Babcock called in an imperfect performance, but he liked a lot of what he saw. He was asked about Isaac Howard and was hard on his gameplay, but was also quick to praise the young forward for his efforts at camp and what he sees in the player. Babcock heaped praise on Alex Formenton, Colton Dach, and Mathieu Joseph, and was positive about many others.

What the Oilers asked for is what they’re getting. The real test is what happens when things go sideways, which they inevitably do for any team at points through an NHL season. How will everyone react when it’s not all sunshine and rainbows?

Next: “What a Difference-Maker He’s Going to Be…”: Babcock Praises Polarizing Oiler