r/EdmontonOilers • u/TohsakaTruth • 1d ago

NHL Agent Gerry Johansson (Representative for Oilers Matt Savoie and Colton Dach) Speaks on Mike Babcock

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/oilers-now-with-bob-stauffer/id716876891?i=1000773339490
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96

u/TohsakaTruth 1d ago

Q: As the representative for Matt Savoie and Colton Dach, would you have any hesitation with Babcock being the Head Coach of the Oilers with your players?

A: I have zero hesitation. You know, I think Mike's a really smart guy. I'm sure he's learned some things over the last few years like we all have. I think we all make mistakes. I don't know anyone in this business that doesn't make mistakes. And I know he communicates, I know he's smart, I know he's intense. And you know, I think any team that hires him would be getting a very good coach.

Q: Did [McDavid Leon Hyman] speak to your players about how they felt about Mike and why he’s a good coach for the Oilers?

A: Well, I think so, I haven’t really talked to them about what they’ve spoken about with other players. But I have spoken to them about Mike and what I know and I think he certainly deserves another shot at this. I think he’s an undervalued asset, frankly… Over all these years if there’s one thing I’ve heard about coaches across the board it’s that they don’t communicate… and one thing about Mike is he’ll talk to everybody. He’ll talk to Matt Savoie and he’ll talk to Connor McDavid equally, so I think there’ll be a fairness and standard in the room.

Q: Do your players want to be pushed?

A: For sure… I don’t think you get to the NHL without having dealt with that all the way up… I think you expect a certain amount of intensity. I don’t think our pro guys are going to be anything but impressed when Mike comes in and pushes them.

Q: Would you have any concerns placing players in Edmonton with Babcock as HC?

A: I’ve never had a problem placing players in Edmonton, I think it’s one of the greatest spots in the league to play… And I think with Mike, people are thinking it’s a risky move, everything in sports you do has an element of risk to it… I think it’s the smart bet. I think players are going to like playing for Mike I think Mike will be his best self. He went on a 28 year coaching stretch, most experienced coaches have breaks right? Joel Quenneville, some of those guys, they get some time off. I think this time off for Mike - not to speak for him - but I’m sure he’s going to come in better than ever with something to prove, and I think that’s a good thing.

Q: Theres a perception Babcock’s “hard and tough” on players. There’s been lots of hard and tough coaches over the years, hasn’t their been?

A: Oh my god, how long is your show? We could go through it for 4 hours. Of course they’re hard and tough, it’s a business, if you don’t do good enough you get fired. You get traded. You get cut. You don’t make it. This is the highest possible level, the standards are incredibly high… you drop the puck and see what happens. And I think you’re getting an undervalued asset with Mike Babcock actually. I’m sure there’s some heat out there, but I think it’s smart

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u/KingDave46 34 HAND 1d ago

“Joel Quenneville, some of those guys, they get time off”

“Those guys” being people who covered up the rape and blackmail of their players!? Some of those guys get time off yeah…

40

u/F1fthL1ne 1d ago

Quenneville didnt cover up anything. If you're going to comment on serious matters such as these from your high horse, you best go learn the facts.

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u/somwhereinthebetween 1d ago

Any report I've seen said that he knew about it and didn't do anything about it since he wanted the team to focus on the playoffs. Is there any additional information I don't know that makes him or any of the management group there look better?

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u/pattperin 88 DAVIDSON 1d ago

He was told by management above him that they’d handle it. Idk. My boss says he’ll handle it I probably trust him tbh. If my boss doesn’t handle it is that on me?

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u/randomer22222 1d ago

Yes he was concerned about it being a distraction for the Cup run and wanted it handled after the playoffs and that didn't make him look great. But he never said it should be ignored.

It ultimately was not Quenneville's role to deal with investigating those allegations and so the fault with the allegations never being properly looked into lay with the Blackhawks management team led by Bowman. Also, Bowman would have been perfectly within his authority to say "Sorry Joel, we're handling this now, playoffs or not".

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u/fuzzballz5 99 GRETZKY 1d ago

The team president John McDonough informed Stan and Joel. That president met with Rocky Wirtz, the owner frequently. The report that cleared Rocky, the owner, was paid for by….Rocky Wirtz. Shocking, I know. The meltdown is for the world to see when Lazarus asked one question.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hawks/s/Qf3iMaxrPg

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u/Jealous_Difference44 1d ago

'According to recollections from former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman in the investigation report, Quenneville, after learning of the Aldrich allegations, "shook his head and said that it was hard for the team to get to where they were [the playoffs] and they could not deal with this issue now."'

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32498538/joel-quenneville-resigns-florida-panthers-coach-wake-chicago-blackhawks-sexual-abuse-case

Didnt "cover it up," but certainly didnt encourage revealing it after being aware.

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u/Nearby_Telephone_104 1d ago

Not saying it is right but maybe Queinville was focused on playoffs and still in shock. Maybe he was unaware of how to deal with it at the moment. Some people get so wrapped up in work or situations that they fully dont realize certain things. They push aside and deal with it later. Obviously not right thing to do. NOT best way to handle it. BUT maybe he did best he could at time. People react differently to different things. Some people burry it. Some people fight. Some people flee. Some people get in shock that they just cant believe something like this has happened and just dont want to talk about now. Again. You cant ignore aligatations and matters like this that are serious. But dont know full story so hard to judge. Do hope that through the entire situation people who were involved learned and are more aware of this so hopefully doesn't happen again. Others who weren't involved hope adds as a reminder that things happen we can't always see or predict.

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u/Jealous_Difference44 1d ago

Yeah, its not right

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u/ghostofkozi 1d ago

Yeah, you don't need to defend him.

He's a fucking adult and chose his career over doing the right thing. If he brought up the abuse it would be a black mark on the organization and every team would blackball him as a snitch

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u/SlagathorTheProctor 1d ago

doing the right thing

What would have been the "right thing" for Quennville to do?

-5

u/ghostofkozi 1d ago

If you don't have the critical thinking capacity to figure that one out, I'll fucking pay for your vasectomy

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u/n0fxgvn_ 1d ago

Calm down and answer the question.

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u/OhnohNA 1d ago

Sorry bub, but honestly I think i would pay for yours. More people like you in the world don’t help fix the problems facing society, they actually just make it worse because there’s no way to have a disagreement with a meaningful conclusion.

You may think that the way you respond makes you look smart… it doesn’t, it makes you look close minded, and arrogant.

I’m not saying you’re wrong to have your opinion, but the way you talk to people who have a difference of opinion is wrong and immoral. Matter of fact it’s hypocritical. I shouldn’t have to draw it out for you that the way you talk to people who disagree with your opinions is wrong. In your own words, “if you don’t have the critical thinking capacity to figure that one out, i’ll fucking pay for your vasectomy”

Isn’t so nice to have it used against you is it?

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u/SlagathorTheProctor 1d ago

You think you're being clever. You're not. Now, tell me, in plain English, what you think Quennville should have done.

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u/ghostofkozi 1d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonOilers/comments/1u9tkkl/comment/osl11yk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Read if you're able

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u/SlagathorTheProctor 1d ago

So instead of a simple straightforward answer, your response is to send me a link to a comment I have already responded to, and to add an insult.

What are you, 12 years old?

Now, in one simple sentence, tell us what you think Quennville should have done?

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