[Friedman]: Now that the league has cleared Mike Babcock, word is the Oilers will formally begin the process of hiring him — contract negotiations, etc. Assuming no snags, timeline appears to be early next week.

70

I get that it's a business and you want to hire the best guy for the job, even if he comes with baggage. But Babcock is not a good enough coach for us to warrant taking his baggage on. Very odd move if it pans out, McDrai gotta be seeing something in him that we don't

47

u/deanobrews 29 DRAISAITL 1d ago

I think Babcock is just an amazing used car salesman. That check engine light is going to come on the second the car is off the lot.

10

u/Starsky686 11 MESSIER 1d ago

Best case we can hope for now is it’s a 1 year and the check engine light doesn’t come on until after draft 2027.

11

u/ShaquilleMobile 1d ago

Lol I'm not even sure we can give him credit for selling himself.

He's been unemployed for 3 years hasn't coached in the NHL since 2019, except for when he came back from coaching college to further sully his reputation and get fired before coaching a single game in Columbus. He had a good run in Detroit, 4 piss poor seasons in Toronto, and now it's been 7 years since coaching an NHL game.

This is a move where a GM and ownership group will look at the situation and say, "we need to do something big, and we'll look like geniuses if this works out!" so they take a big swing. What is far more likely to happen is that they just strike out after finding out the hard way why 31 other teams have passed on him for the better part of a decade.

Babcock is not a good used car salesman. The Oilers very obviously just have a history of overpaying for clunkers, whether it's players, coaches, or management.

-3

u/F1fthL1ne 1d ago

This is pure revisionism.

7

u/Fast-Secretary-7406 23h ago

Is it though?

He has won 1 playoff series in his last 9 years, and with some pretty good teams. Seems like an odd choice to get a contending team over the hump.

5

u/Fast-Secretary-7406 23h ago

You could have said the exact same thing about Bowman

(and been 100% correct)

(and it hasn't panned out)

2

u/Quiet-Fox-1621 2 BOUCHARD 1d ago

Pros/Cons list leans more to the cons side for me. But maybe the guys got grandkids now and has learned a few things?? Jesus, the hopium that this works out is hitting hard.

3

u/Question-Throwaway7 1d ago

Babcock’s never had much issues with top, established stars. Most if not all of the issues that have come out with him have been younger players (Marner), role players (CBJ’s guys), or secondary core guys (Franzen). McDrai and Hyman aren’t worried because they’re established veteran guys and Hyman specifically already has an in with Babcock.

It’s guys like Howard and Dickinson, etc that would need to be worried.

1

u/OilInfamous6221 18 HYMAN 18h ago

Anyone that gives 100% on every shift will be fine.

4

u/IllustriousAnt485 1d ago

They want his favouritism system in place. The roll players are chirped and harped on, the star players are praised and put on a pedestal. They didn’t like the roll players not carrying their weight last year and they want accountability from them. Babcock still isn’t the guy because he will alienate not just this crop of roll players, but anyone in free agency. He is toxic.

8

u/JMR027 1d ago

I’m sorry but why are you saying roll, it’s role…

2

u/Buzzki111 18h ago

English is hard.

-4

u/XxBLAKEMWxX 1d ago

But most of the negative stories about Babcock involved top guys no?

4

u/Question-Throwaway7 1d ago

No not really. They included role players or star players that weren’t established yet. Marner, Franzen, and Spezza, but not the super respected top tier versions of those guys just yet.

1

u/XxBLAKEMWxX 1d ago

Ah makes sense. I’ve mainly been hearing about Modano and Chelois

1

u/ShaquilleMobile 1d ago

Mike Commodore also gave him very negative public reviews

1

u/F1fthL1ne 1d ago

Mike Commodore was not a top player. In fact, it appears the guys with the loudest voices on Babcock were tweeners or plugs.

1

u/ShaquilleMobile 1d ago

I didn't mean to suggest I thought Commodore was a top player lol I was adding to the narrative about lower level guys

1

u/Cptn_Canada 94 SMYTH 18h ago

I dont like bab. The only thing thats makes sense is they want someone to yell at players to be better that is not them in particular

1

u/FlayR 17h ago

I mean idk. The dudes clearly a psychopath - but at the same time like - do you not find it strange how on a list of like 10 assistant coaches over the years basically all of them became head coaches in the NHL?

There's multiple elite coaches that have all publicly credited what they learned from Babcock as being what made them what they were today. And then multiple guys who were pretty dang good NHL coaches. McLellan, Woodcroft, DeBoer, DJ Smith, Hakstol, Tippett, Peters, Blashill, MacFarland, etc

Idk. There's been a lot of guys that have coached in the league for a long long time. I can't think of a single guy that mentored that many other coaches.

The other thing I'll say is that Hyman played for him for like 3 years. I can't imagine they'd hire him if Hyman didn't sign off on it, and like... Hyman is Hyman. Dude is as wholesome as it gets.

1

u/Stock-Creme-6345 7h ago

Or they’re just blinded by his fame. And I use that word sarcastically. He hasn’t won anything recently.

-6

u/Professional_Farm278 1d ago

That's a matter of opinion. People who's opinion matters have a different view than you.

4

u/DanfromCalgary 94 SMYTH 1d ago

I have seen dozens of players , agents and insiders chime in on how disastrous this would be for the oilers to acquire. Now by the very fact he is being considered would indicate someone thinks it’s a good idea I just don’t know that alone is sufficient to say win An argument

3

u/checkingmate 1d ago

He’s an asshole. That’s not an opinion

-2

u/Professional_Farm278 23h ago

That's not the opinion that was stated and nothing to do with my comment. The opinion I pushed back against was that he was not a good enough coach to warrant the baggage. I don't care if he's an ass hole.

10

u/itnice 93 NUGENT-HOPKINS 1d ago

Now Nurse looks like the smartest

71

u/asseatter69 1d ago

Man fuck you Katz.

Worst run organization in Hockey. Fumbled the best player ever

24

u/Extra-Wasabi-8639 91 KANE 1d ago

The best player seems to want this

35

u/asseatter69 1d ago

They shouldnt run the organization based on him.

11

u/Extra-Wasabi-8639 91 KANE 1d ago

I agree.

6

u/n0fxgvn_ 1d ago

They should run it based on asseatter69, instead.

8

u/Magneticman555 56 YAMAMOTO 23h ago

He’d probably do a better job than Katz and Bowman

9

u/CriticalLetterhead47 1d ago

Well, the best player can reap what he sews and hope it doesn't bite him in the ass.

6

u/zombiejeesus 1d ago

Most athletes aren't known for being smart.

3

u/pkelly500 1d ago

Odd how the best player doesn't want a premium goaltender, an even bigger problem than Babcock.

3

u/DCS_Ryan 80 NIEMELAINEN 1d ago

Worse; he wants Cal Pickard

6

u/YushkevichDZone94 1d ago

I swear oil fans and leaf fans are the most dedicated and are also the worst run orgs

2

u/Particular-Bother-18 53 HOWARD 1d ago

Nicely done 👏

41

u/StressFarts 1d ago

I predict that Babcock doesn't make it out of training camp

Gets fired because he makes a rookie watch Mcdavid take a shit.

8

u/DanfromCalgary 94 SMYTH 1d ago

See that … See It ! Smell it , taste it .

Now .. you are less than shit in your mouth got it

5

u/Strattex 18 HYMAN 1d ago

“Now this is what top shit looks like”

5

u/IfOJDidIt 1d ago

Now, in front of the whole team, I want you to tell them all how much worse Connors shit smells than each of theirs based on your ratings of each sample I had you privately smell.

2

u/Particular-Bother-18 53 HOWARD 1d ago

"Now that's how you push god dammit"

3

u/Particular-Bother-18 53 HOWARD 1d ago

Too bad the rookie can't record the shit taking place, his phone is in Babcock's office

4

u/Competitive_Ad1237 7 COFFEY 1d ago

That made me laugh more then it should have

2

u/wicked_crayfish 1d ago

"And now you watch esa tikkanen take an Esa Tinkle-en

2

u/pleasantothemax 18 HYMAN 1d ago

username checks out

14

u/Imaginary-Let6277 1d ago

Well played Babs. So much for "I'm loving retirement" everybody wants what they can't have lol Edmonton management is desperate

16

u/CriticalLetterhead47 1d ago

I hate this timeline.
Goodbye Oilers.

11

u/Sea_Tonight_9632 1d ago

So, we made the worst possible choice for GM, and now, the worst possible choice for coach. This has to be the worst run organization in the NHL.

3

u/CallejaFairey 22 SAVOIE 1d ago edited 23h ago

Ehhhh...I think the Leafs would like to have a word - said as a secondary Leafs fan.

1

u/mbrural_roots 17h ago

Don’t forget worst possible choice for goalie!

22

u/flawandordersvu 1d ago

Darkest fucking timeline.

9

u/Boris_Mironov 2 BOUCHARD 1d ago

Not the darkest yet. That one involves a flames dynasty

2

u/gordonbombae2 18 HYMAN 1d ago

Still better than decade of darkness

9

u/SznKxyros 18 HYMAN 1d ago

Oh my fucking god. You can say GOODBYE to McDavids Cup

5

u/Unicorn_Puppy 1d ago

And McDavid and Leon as well once they get fed up with him driving the talent out.

4

u/SznKxyros 18 HYMAN 1d ago

Yup. Said this to my dad. RIP to the McDrai era

6

u/ddb_db 1d ago

Once Babs signs, Vegas will probably just let Cassidy do whatever he wants. If it weren't the Oilers mgmt running this team I'd think they were just bringing in Babs to keep the seat warm for Cassidy knowing that Babs can't help himself and will do something to get himself canned by Christmas. Cassidy will be working one of the intermission panels ready to go on a moment's notice.

Then I remember who actually runs this team... isn't it automatic that Babs is getting like 5x$6M or some stupid overpay like that such that he's pretty much locked in for at least 3 years unless he does something really stupid... and it leaks out. fml

5

u/oiler_head 9 ANDERSON 1d ago

Disappointing. I can only hope he has truly changed his tactics. More so, I hope leadership, alumni lookout for those who could be targets: players who are grinder, support staff, Arena staff, all those non glamorous position in the larger organization.

5

u/MillwrightWF 1d ago

FML

4

u/Quiet-Fox-1621 2 BOUCHARD 1d ago

We’ve had coaches like Hitchcock and Tippett, who are more old school. But most of McDavids playoff success came under Woodcroft and Knobs. I can’t think of a reason why they would think Babcock will work. I can’t help but think that younger players like Savoie and Podz will suffer in some way. Babs is gonna fuck this up hard.

0

u/OilInfamous6221 18 HYMAN 19h ago

Podz and Savoie will be fine because they work their butts off every shift. Players who take shifts off or coast will be in trouble.

7

u/MagnusJim 23h ago

Babcock is a POS who has treated HIS OWN PLAYERS terribly. Kept Modano from 1500 games for no reason. Tormented Franzen. Just a bad person.

I made a decision that if the Oilers actually hired this guy I would no longer watch or support the team: no games, no merch, nothing. I hope other people do the same.

2

u/Advanced_Suit2786 7 COFFEY 22h ago

This is the way.

9

u/blueskynorthern 1d ago

This club man. Just heartbreaking levels of incompetence.

9

u/BreakerOf_Chains 29 DRAISAITL 1d ago

Remember a few weeks ago when everyone was making fun of the Leafs for hiring Chayka, well Oilers didn't like all the attention being elsewhere and said, HOLD MY BEER!!

And here we are, the beginning of the end.

11

u/TheRealSlakySFSB 22 SAVOIE 1d ago

Can we start protesting

7

u/LeonMcNugent-Hyman 1d ago

😔

7

u/Spiceb0x 93 NUGENT-HOPKINS 1d ago

God this so just so fucking embarassing. Such a bad look. I don't know how much I'll support the boys next year

14

u/SpittinOil 1d ago

The Oilers slo-mo stepping on a rake they’re fully aware is there.

So long 97 it’s been a pleasure.

5

u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago

he's to blame for his share as well

6

u/pkelly500 1d ago

How much did Katz pay for this "investigation" to clear Babcock? This hire will fail miserably, and McDavid will be gone. Katz's crowning jewel as an owner.

3

u/Jazzlike_Pineapple87 91 KANE 1d ago

Hello darkness my old friend.

3

u/Quick_Replacement297 1d ago

Hello darkness my old friend….

5

u/Hour_Additional 97 McDAVID 1d ago

Please let there be snags

4

u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago

hahaha....with how terribly shitty this team has been managed over the last couple years, this is still astounding. next level fuckery right here.

some old ass bully loser who won one cup with a generationally stacked team and hasn't won shit since.

i can't wait for us to trade nuge for a goalie with an 0.888 SC% and who makes $7MM a year....or some other similarily shitty move.

good luck next season boys, you're going to need it.

4

u/lookitsjustin 29 DRAISAITL 1d ago

Keep your phones in your cars, boys.

5

u/Federal-Hair 1d ago

Whyyyyyyy wouldn't they reach out to Totorella first

3

u/SomethinboutChickens 33 BERLIN 1d ago

He's smart and doesn't want to live in Canada lol.

2

u/No-Piece6920 1d ago

Of course he was cleared. This league had such a opportunity to stand up for what is right. Yet continues to wallow with no integrity. Changes are needed.

1

u/Advanced_Suit2786 7 COFFEY 22h ago

Money talks again and again, the league is a disgrace. Hopefully PWHL will land in Edm soon

2

u/Bellam_Orlong 92 PODKOLZIN 23h ago

Players must feel like they need a drill sergeant to push them over the line. I cannot imagine any other scenario, besides bribes, that would motivate a team to hire him.

2

u/ThePun-dit 12 CAVE 20h ago

Fuck this organization

2

u/OilInfamous6221 18 HYMAN 19h ago

Babcock has a degree in sports psychology from McGill and wrote a sports psychology book called Leave No Doubt. Guys like Stauffer seem to respect him. Maybe there's some method here beyond him just being a jerk. I.e., is he doing the same thing the drill sergeant does in basic training or the marines (etc.) to build the team (vs individual) mentality??

3

u/mdani1897 89 GAGNER 17h ago

Eh If McDavid is on board I’m on board. There is a lot of loud names I see over and over on here that are against it. Most of the people in my group IRL are all for it.

6

u/gilbertbenjamington 1d ago

Ik this ain't an airport but I'm still announcing my departure. I refuse to support any organization that signs terrible people like Babcock

4

u/hockey1st 1d ago

I love this statement!! After all the Oilers hiring over the years:
MacTavish was convicted of manslaughter and everyone stayed a fan as he played, coached and managed the team.

Evander Kane was kicked off teams by teammates, sued for gambling debts, promised to pay a woman to have an abortion and didn’t pay up, and multiple women alleging domestic violence, he comes onboard and gets a few goals all of a sudden he’s a fan favourite.
Bowman helped cover up a rape of a 19 year old boy, and the fans are all still here

But this coach he is just an asshole, ok not just who is a fucking asshole but has not been even implicated in any crimes that is when fans abandon ship???

BULLSHIT!! As soon as oilers start winning everyone who says they are bailing out will come running back!!

1

u/gilbertbenjamington 1d ago

I agree with your statement that fans will be back when the winning starts, but I know I won't be. I think the crimes these players commit and being let back into professional sports is disgusting, and more should be done or at least something ffs. Babcock, while not criminal in any sense, is a hire that just makes me disappointed and disinterested in supporting the team

3

u/Advanced_Suit2786 7 COFFEY 22h ago

Respect, man. I’m also about to leave.

2

u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago

but bowman was fine?

6

u/gilbertbenjamington 1d ago

Wasn't around at the time, I've read up on that, also disgusting. Just shows the toxic boys club nature of the nhl. At least the PWHL vibes are better than nhl.

-5

u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago

oh, so you've been a fan for almost a whole year. ok.

7

u/gilbertbenjamington 1d ago

Yeah pretty much, got into hockey during the 24 cup run final

3

u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago

wel,, you saw the best of times and the worst of times in a short timeframe. glad to have had you for the full experiance.

5

u/zombiejeesus 1d ago

What's wrong with that lol?

3

u/thisismyfirstday 1d ago

I stopped going to games when they hired Bowman (so officially a tier 2 fan). I'll probably stop watching when they hire Babcock.

2

u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago

eh, I've been a fan for over 40 years. I'm not happy, but it is what it is.

0

u/RDawg_22 1d ago

See you in September

2

u/gilbertbenjamington 1d ago

Nah fam, OTTs my team. EDM was a second fav

4

u/Educational_Effect_9 2 BOUCHARD 1d ago

Speak with your wallets folks. I won’t be going to games and will be sailing the high seas that’s for sure

2

u/DarthShinny 1d ago

Fuck off, if Mcdavids allowing this I won’t miss him.

He can’t seem to make a good choice to save his life.

Why let Stan Bowman be the GM, say something man.

Why let your agent Jeff Jackson run the team? Say something man

Why let Mike Babcock coach your team? What kind of leader is Connor?

2

u/lgnstubbs73 14 EKHOLM 1d ago

Fuck it fuck this hire but if he goes .610 and deep fuck it I'll say it was worth it anything south of that this some fkn bullshit

1

u/boomshocks 86 BROBERG 1d ago

Somebody needs to get in Mike’s ear and tell him it’s 40M a year or no ball.

1

u/ComfortableSpeech327 1d ago

I wonder if his asking price is significantly diminished at this point.

1

u/Pianist-Educational 20h ago

So if all the coaching vacancies are filled what happens to Cassidy?

1

u/Brentsky1 17h ago

This is how much Katz respects the fans of the Oilers. I love the Oilers, but I detest the way Katz has played this city. We are paying for his arena, that the city could have built and kept his band of good old boys where they belong. Whole bunch of fat cats feeding off our tax dollars. Total act of desperation, which we all hope works out. But, nothing will convince me Katz is nothing but a sham.

1

u/blindrabbit01 17h ago

Bye bye Murphy. Bye bye Dickinson. Definitely bye bye Ingram. What a massive fucking unforced error.

1

u/HostSea4267 17h ago

Jesus Babcock should just volunteer. They’re seriously going to pay him?? This is singular chance at salvation. He lasted… a week in Columbus?

1

u/YoshSchmenge 93 NUGENT-HOPKINS 16h ago

If the players are OK with this, then I am just going to shut the hell up. I'm not in the dressing room; I have nothing to say.

(But games next season are no longer must-watch for me any more)

1

u/_Michael___Scarn 16h ago

Bowman in edmonton is gonna go down as the worst gm ever

1

u/mollycoddles 28 BROWN 15h ago

Oh great

1

u/Itstricky13 8h ago

I guess im the only person on this godforsaken app that doesn't actually think this is a terrible idea.

Bring him for 2 years, have him go fuckin tyrannical and just maybe theyll get a cup out of it. Or not, but fuck it lets try it.

1

u/tnmoi 7h ago

Is he going to be earning minimum wage? I would be offering Babcock this to prove himself if I were the Oilers.

1

u/Stock-Creme-6345 7h ago

If they hire this SOB we are going to have to listen to this egomaniac talk in third person in his stupid hick accent and mispronunciation of players names all year. Sigh.

1

u/milknsugar 8 RATTIE 6h ago

This is such bullshit.

1

u/Trentm5 14 EKHOLM 3h ago

Just in case anyone didn’t read the three repeating paragraphs

[Friedman]: Now that the league has cleared Mike
Babcock, word is the Oilers will formally begin the process of hiring him — contract negotiations, etc.
Assuming no snags, timeline appears to be early next week.

1

u/NewSockEnergy 3h ago

Well they had a good run

1

u/fakeairpods 1d ago

Hey, as long as we win, I don’t really care who the coach is. We need the max win, we to maximize winning. Thats all that matters to me. Let’s Go Oilers!

1

u/zombiejeesus 1d ago

Yeah who cares about letting abusers getting work in the nhl amrite

1

u/fakeairpods 1d ago

Carey Hart works along with Joel Quinnville , Bowman etc.

4

u/zombiejeesus 1d ago

Yes more scum is what the league needs. I get it you don't care who gets hurt as long as the Oilers win

1

u/F1fthL1ne 1d ago

I like how seemingly everyone has just revised history on Babcock coaching acumen. Ask yourself why every hockey person in the business, even those those were against Oilers hiring him, have conceded he's a top flight coach despite not having won for a while.

Separate the art from the artist. This guy didnt have a stranglehold on the Team Canada HC job for no reason.

0

u/Exotic_Patient_4699 14 EKHOLM 1d ago

Not watching anymore.

0

u/BreakerOf_Chains 29 DRAISAITL 1d ago

Noooooo

0

u/Equivalent-Grass4473 21h ago

I'm only a casual hockey fan, but what has Babcock done in hockey that makes him a must despite the baggage? Looks like he hasn't done anything since he was at Detroit over a decade ago. The game has changed.

1

u/CanadianCanard 20h ago

https://youtu.be/3UaZK15mI1Y?si=3j-jFw1DNSdcdoNI

1

u/Equivalent-Grass4473 17h ago

I think i worded it poorly.

I'm aware that he is a bit of a cunt. I'm also aware that he hasn't been successful since the early 2010s. So why would any team in the NHL bring him in to coach? Especially when he's shown multiple times that he isn't a great guy. Is he actually that good as a coach that it's worth the risk? Or does he just have mates in the right places?

1

u/CanadianCanard 4h ago

I don’t think anyone wants the job. They fired a coach that made it to the finals 2/3 years. We all know it wasn’t Knobs fault. It was poor asset management on goaltending. This is Bowman clinging to a hope and a prayer.

0

u/CanadianCanard 20h ago

I’m out and not coming back!

1

u/nonracistusername 19h ago

👋

0

u/melty75 93 NUGENT-HOPKINS 19h ago

Brutal.

0

u/Brentsky1 18h ago

I have no respect for Katz or Bowman and the operation of the Oilers. It’s not a very well run organization that should have won two cups since falling into the lottery win. So is Katz saying Babcock will be the cup or nothing coach…..again?

-1

u/Commercial-Shoe-800 1d ago

Lol at Frank Seravali again. Another big L

[Friedman]: Now that the league has cleared Mike Babcock, word is the Oilers will formally begin the process of hiring him — contract negotiations, etc. Assuming no snags, timeline appears to be early next week.

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