There’s a common expression in media: “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” 

So what has Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock been up to this summer as he prepares to end a seven-year gap of standing on an NHL bench? Stealing. 

“We tried to see both playoff-wise and regular season-wise what works, what’s best,” said Babcock on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer on Tuesday about his coaching staff’s off-season preparation. 

“By doing that, you’ve got a plan of how you’re going to play, and basically you’ve stolen from multiple teams. Then you’re going to look at your group, and you’re going to say, ‘Can we do this?’” 

Unabashedly, Babcock is telling us what we already know — it’s a copycat league. You add what works, delete what doesn’t. 

On the doorstep of rookie camps and training camp, Babcock highlighted a few things in his most recent interview, done from South Dakota while hunting elk (yes, seriously). 

For one, he reiterated that he wants to have fun. He even used the word “riot” again. 

Babcock also talked about how much he wanted Misha Donskov in the fold as a consultant and wants an environment where his assistant and associate coaches can challenge him. As he says, “It’s not about what you think. It’s about the best idea.” 

But the most revealing is that there’s the plan, there are the things you want to........

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