This past summer could largely be summed up by a phrase I’m planning to carve into my tombstone:

HERE LIES KELVIN
HE READ THE COMMENTS

That or HE NEVER SAW TITANIC — I haven’t decided.

But yeah, the comments. These Edmonton Oilers have had the internet arguing over the 12th to 14th forwards all summer long. No wonder it’s the most profitable franchise in the Milky Way. And I get it, honestly. I read those blogs all summer; I’m here, I ain’t judging. But I do wonder if all the huff and bother about Isaac Howard has taken away from the potential appreciation of Owen Michaels.

Michaels’ rise up the Edmonton Oilers’ depth chart seems to have been largely overshadowed by Howard. Maybe because of how the latter was acquired? I don’t know; I’m not a scientist.

But there’s a new sheriff in town, and he likes what he sees from Michaels to the point where he’s cracked the opening night roster. A lot of that is likely due to injuries to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jason Dickinson, but Babcock also believes in opportunity for young players in those situations. He said as much. He’s saying a lot, actually, and it sounds like he’s doing a Darryl Sutter impression at every turn, except I firmly believe Sutter was messing with the media 75 per cent of the time.

Babcock? I don’t think he has it in him to mess with the media. Not anymore. Honestly, he’s a hockey grandpa now;........

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