I was pessimistic about the Edmonton Oilers hiring Mike Babcock from the second the rumours started to fly around, and yesterday’s introductory press conference didn’t do anything to ease my concerns.

I still think this is a coach who, at one point, was one of the best, if not the best, in the sport. But that was over a decade ago.

Off the ice, the game and the culture around the sport have changed so much over the last 10-plus years, and his last stop in Columbus showed that he couldn’t adapt.

On the ice, the game is changing even faster than that, and his stint in Toronto — the last time he actually coached a game in the NHL — showed that he couldn’t adapt that way either.

Aside from all the baggage he comes with, which he took virtually no accountability for yesterday, it is absolutely fair to wonder if Babcock is capable of still being a successful coach in the modern NHL.

He simply hasn’t proven it.

Still, he is a fresh voice for the Oilers, and considering just how stale the team looked for the bulk of the 2025-26 season, it’s hard to argue against their decision to bring in a different voice. And when you compare the personalities of Babcock and former Head Coach Kris Knoblauch… well, they’re certainly different.

I do not think we will see the Oilers sleepwalk their way into this regular season the way they have so many times over the past few years under different coaches. I think the presence of Babcock, whether you like it or not, will have everybody on high alert from the second training camp starts.

Also,........

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