Elliot Friedman’s Thursday statement confirms that the league has formally cleared Mike Babcock for hire, and the Edmonton Oilers are quickly pursuing him.
Contract discussions, according to Friedman, have already begun.
Friedman estimated the timeline to be the beginning of next week, assuming no hitches.
“Now that Mike Babcock has been cleared by the league, rumor has it that the Oilers will formally start the process of hiring him, including contract negotiations.
It seems like the timeline will be early next week, assuming there are no snags.”
– Friedman, Elliotte
Given that the team finished the season with a 41-30-11 record, 93 points, and no head coach, this is a very short runway.
Consider the meaning of that amount. Despite scoring 282 goals this season, the Oilers were unable to advance beyond the middle of the group.
The person who assumes that bench will be under immediate and unforgiving pressure to perform well on a club that has been built with excellent offensive skill.
As GM, Stan Bowman’s initial significant choice is divisive.
Stan Bowman, the general manager, is responsible for this, and it represents the most significant choice he has made during his time in Edmonton.
In theory, Babcock’s resume is flawless. the Stanley Cup. Gold in the Olympics. Several division crowns.
But his departure from Toronto in 2019 was unpleasant, and the player relations problems that followed overshadowed any possible return to the league.
It’s one thing for him to be released by the NHL. It’s a different discussion to get a locker room to buy in completely.
Last season, Edmonton’s road record was 19-16-6, which indicates that the squad has an advantage when playing at home. ice didn’t always travel well. A coach who can sharpen that road identity will matter.
The Oilers’ last 10 games of the regular season went 6-2-2, so there’s a functional core here.
Babcock walking into a room with Connor McDavid is a bit like handing someone the keys to a Formula 1 car after years in the garage. The machinery works. The question is always who’s steering it.
Whether the players will respond to his style is the question nobody can answer until training camp opens.
For now, Bowman is betting that a cleared name and a proven track record outweigh the noise.
That bet could look brilliant by February. Or it could blow up spectacularly by November.
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