Leon Draisaitl isn’t shying away from the idea of Mike Babcock bringing a hard edge to the Edmonton Oilers.
That was the message Friday during the European Player Media Tour, when Draisaitl spoke up in support of the team’s summer decision to hire Babcock as head coach. The Oilers’ move drew plenty of scrutiny around the hockey world, and the chatter only grew louder because the club’s stars were already tied to the conversation. But Draisaitl made it clear that he and Connor McDavid were aligned with the hire from the start.
“I think he’s got a very clear plan, and I think he holds guys accountable, and I think to him, it’s not about who it is when it comes to accountability, you know? Like, we’re looking to be coached.
We’re looking to get better and I sometimes deserve (to be yelled at) too, just like anyone else does. I don’t think ‘Babs’ is going to care overly much who we are in terms of that.
I think sometimes that’s needed.
I think he’s just going to bring a different attitude and a different mentality to our group. I think it’s exactly what we need right now.
I think he’s going to bring something different, a different look. Everyone’s very excited about it and looking forward to working with him,”
The 30-year-old forward is fresh off another big season, putting up 97 points with 35 goals and 62 assists in 65 games.
Babcock’s résumé comes with baggage, and that part of the story has been impossible to ignore. But he also arrives with real coaching credibility: a Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals. For Edmonton’s top players, that combination seems to matter more than the noise.
Draisaitl and McDavid have made their priorities plain. Winning comes first, and they’re willing to accept whatever comes with that push. In their view, Babcock has earned the right to command the room, and he’ll have their attention the moment he walks in.
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Face A Familiar Connor McDavid Tradeoff This Season
Connor McDavid has made a career out of turning the Oilers into a nightly must-watch team, and this season the conversation around him is familiar: how much individual production comes with the territory when the bigger goal is winning in the spring. A recent fan survey suggests Edmonton supporters are bracing for a slight dip in his point totals, but not in the broader value he brings if the team is better positioned for playoff success.
The more interesting part is the temperature around what comes next if the Oilers keep coming up short. Fans may be willing to trade a little offense for a deeper run, but there is still an uneasy sense that the long view of McDavids future in Edmonton will depend on whether those results ever arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Face Intriguing Next Step With Two Young Forwards
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Around the league, the broader landscape is shifting in ways that could matter down the road for teams trying to build and keep star power. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has suggested Houston could be the next expansion market, with play potentially beginning in the 2029-30 season, while Connor McDavids future continues to be a topic of conversation as his Oilers contract plays out. For the Capitals, the immediate focus remains on Leonard and Sourdif, but the market for young talent is only getting tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers May Use A Familiar Face To Solve A Camp Dilemma
With training camp coming fast and the preseason shortened, the Oilers could use a low-risk way to add bodies and get a read on depth under new coaches Mike Babcock and D.J. Smith. Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal floated the idea of bringing in a familiar face on a professional tryout contract, a practical move for a team that may lean toward players the staff already knows rather than spending precious time evaluating complete unknowns.
Curtis Lazar fits that description well. He has already worn an Oilers sweater and remains unsigned, making him an easy name to circle if Edmonton wants experience in a bottom-six role and some comfort in the camp competition. The appeal is obvious, even if the final decision still hinges on whether the organization wants to keep looking inward or give a known depth option another shot. [Read more 🡒]