Edmonton Oilers

Oilers’ Mike Babcock Admits, “What the Heck Am I Doing?”

After a 4-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth, the Edmonton coach says the heavy minutes his stars are playing “have to stop.”

by
NHL Trade Talk
October 17, 2026

Mike Babcock looked at the ice-time sheet after Thursday’s game against the Utah Mammoth and asked himself the same question the media was about to ask him after seeing Connor McDavid play over 25 minutes. “What the heck am I doing?”

Following the Edmonton Oilers’ 4-2 loss, Babcock was blunt about why his top players keep logging such heavy minutes. “It has to stop,” Babcock said. “I’m also trying to survive right now,” he added, pointing to the injuries that have gutted his lineup.

Edmonton played without Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Matt Savoie, Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach and Jake Walman. With essentially the entire second line missing, Babcock leaned hard on his stars:

Evan Bouchard: 27:03
Connor McDavid: 25:52
Leon Draisaitl: 23:00

Heavy minutes for McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard were not what the coach preached coming into the season. His idea was to give everyone a role, get usage out of the entire roster, and avoid taxing his stars. Unfortunately, using his elite players a lot has been necessary. Babcock didn’t know when he made those comments that he’d be down an entire second line for the first six games of the season.

He admitted the team has been lucky that games have been spread out, but added that he can get away with this for only so long: “That’s not the NHL. It’s impossible.”

Oilers Hanging On As Long as They Can

Despite the result, Babcock liked much of what he saw from his players. The Oilers suffered their first regulation loss, and although they never led, they stayed within reach until Utah’s empty-net goal sealed it. Even in a first period where Edmonton managed only three shots, they kept the Mammoth in check.

“I liked a lot about this game,” Babcock said. “I like that everyone competed and dug in. It was a hard, tight-checking game.” McDavid agreed, despite playing a lot more than the coach probably wants him to. “I thought we competed and put in a good effort,” the captain said. “We expect to win every night, no matter who is on the lineup.”

Babcock is trying to find the upside in the injury crisis. “We’re seeing who can play and who can’t,” he said. If the Oilers can stay in games until reinforcements arrive, they should be fine, even if that means enduring some low points. “Right now we’re not as deep,” he said, “and I thought that showed tonight.”

What’s Next: Saturday vs. Utah

The Oilers get another shot at the Mammoth on Saturday. If Hyman is cleared to return, that solves one piece of the puzzle. Nugent-Hopkins has been skating. Dickinson’s status is murkier: Babcock said his injury wasn’t ankle-related, an answer that left a few reporters puzzled after the game.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Jets, Flyers, Oilers & Maple Leafs Troubles?