Mike Babcock was right to scratch Jake Walman

Mike Babcock has made some questionable roster decisions throughout his career. One of those included scratching Mike Modano from what would have been his 1,500th NHL game.

Even though the response to that decision was quite negative, don't expect more of the same from Oilers fans, players, and media when it comes to Jake Walman.

Because quite frankly, this was the right move to make.

And that is the subject of the latest episode of The Mike Babcock Saga.

Sure, my opinion of Babcock has been quite sour at times; save for my on-and-off praise, that view essentially serves as the backbone for this drama in itself.

But TV shows do have a way of throwing curveballs into the script.

Yes, I'm reluctantly including whatever Stranger Things tried to pull off with its final season.

And failed miserably in doing so. Poor Duffer Brothers; being forced to frantically write the script for the finale like a college student finishing an essay right before 11:59 p.m. Don't get mad at me for making the joke, I've also seen and experienced those memes.

But The Mike Babcock Saga is now truly a hit streaming series, made possible by Guillermo Rodriguez's unfortunate elimination in Dancing With the Stars and the news that The Night Agent's fourth season will be the last.

In you go, curveball.

Now, where was I?

Oh yes.

Walman did not take part in the Battle of Alberta, and Babcock's reasoning is quite solid.

When questioned by reporters during a press conference, Babcock justified the decision as one required to make sure that his team can win. He's not wrong, especially when considering that Walman errors arguably played the largest role in Edmonton's two-game losing streak.

Say what you will about his contract length or his status in the lineup, but those aren't the arguments that people should be making.

If your job is primarily to keep the puck from going into your net, you need to keep the puck from going into your net. If your job is primarily to score, you need to score. If your job is primarily to keep the puck from going into your net and score, then you need to keep the puck from going into your net and score.

The three things I mentioned above are exactly what hockey players are expected and paid to do; you can't just slack off and try to perform in another part of the game at the expense of what you are primarily expected to do. Walman is a capable offensive defenseman, but he is a defenseman. And there clearly isn't much defense in his game right now.

It's just like any other job.

If you're a cashier, your job is primarily to run the cash register. If you're a chef, your job is primarily to cook. If you're a greedy restuarant owner, your job is primarily to make sure that there is foot traffic and that you are excessively charging people for products they don't really need or can potentially get at cheaper value elsewhere.

Yes, I just went bar for bar describing what Squidward, SpongeBob, and Mr Krabs do for a living in the hit cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. But the point stands; to extend it, if you don't do your job, you get a discussion with your boss, a poor evaluation, reprimanded, or even fired.

This connection can be continued because Mr Krabs fired SpongeBob and Squidward or came close to doing so at several points.

Walman didn't do any of those three things I mentioned before my SpongeBob references. So, he should be reprimanded or fired; in this case, Babcock is being a little more lenient and scratching him, which would definitely fall more under the definition of reprimand.

Babcock did follow this up by mentioning that reporters can talk to Walman if they want to understand his reaction.

This could potentially be seen as an unfair means to get a player to own up to their struggles. But then again, that sentiment is easily countered by the consideration that Babcock is doing this to try and get Edmonton back on track.

Hopefully Walman uses Babcock's decision and the Spongebob references as a means to reflect ahead of the weekend's action. Otherwise, his stay in Edmonton might not extend to the end of his current deal.

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