Edmonton Oilers
“He’s Intense”: Draisaitl Breaks Down First Skate With New Oilers Coach
Leon Draisaitl was asked about his first impressions of Mike Babcock after the opening day of training camp. It’s what we thought…
Leon Draisaitl was specifically requested by Edmonton media on Thursday as the Edmonton Oilers took the ice for their first skate with new head coach Mike Babcock. Why? Because Draisaitl always tells it like it is. He doesn’t waste words or sugarcoat what he thinks. To no one’s surprise, he didn’t hold back while speaking to reporters. He described the session and his new coach as intense.
Noting that Babcock is detail-driven, the session set a clear tone for the season ahead.
“It was great, it was intense. You know, he’s energetic, he wants things done a certain way and he wants them done right,” Draisaitl said. “I think anyone in the building could hear it and probably see it, but it’s great. Details are great — he cares about the little things, so it was a good first day.”
When asked about the new coaching style, Draisaitl acknowledged there will be an adjustment period as players and coach get acquainted. “I think it takes a week or so to get used to him. It takes a week for him to get used to us and learn the drills and whatnot,” he said.
Anything more than a week, and the players can expect Babcock to raise his already much louder volume than this roster has been used to. It’s what the leadership group asked for, and it’s what the Oilers hired: Babcock’s demanding style. Draisaitl said he expects it to sharpen the little things that “got away from us a little bit over the last couple years.”
“I feel like you could already see it today,” Draisaitl said, referencing a brief penalty-kill session at practice. It was a kill that included new arrivals Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph.
Draisaitl was also asked about Vasily Podkolin, who was slotted alongside he and Connor McDavid on that top line. If it’s the trio Babcock intends to deploy, that will be a skilled and energetic line. Draisaitl praised his new linemate, saying he works hard and puts himself in the best position to succeed. Babcock is the kind of coach who will reward that.
As intense as Babcock was, he’s already forming relationships with players. During the first on-ice session of the morning, the team left for a flood of the ice before returning. Draisaitl and Babcock joked on the bench and embraced in a friendly hug. It’s business, but there’s time for play and friendly banter.
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