After so many analyses and updates provided by yours truly, the Edmonton Oilers did what nobody wanted to do: hire Mike Babcock.
Honestly, I'm hoping I can stop here and not have to continue indulging myself in the ever-lasting Factory of Misery and Uncomfort that is a Babcock-run locker room.
But sometimes, there's no going back. So I must continue this saga and keep covering this ever-evolving trainwreck.
"How can I do that better?"
As in jumping around the truth like the floor is made of lava? If so, then Babcock is doing something better.
But it was that discussion about Columbus that really irked me when reading about the hiring and Babcock's introductory press conference.
While he acknowledged that things didn't go smoothly in the Blue Jackets' organization (his definition of smooth seems to be quite different), it really didn't seem like he was truly apologetic for his wrongdoing.
That's what concerns me. It's not that the Oilers went and hired a head coach who has a proven track record of intimidating players.
It's that the Oilers went and hired a head coach who has a proven track record of intimidating players and that hasn't openly acknowledged any wrongdoing. Even if he is truly apologetic, there is a very long list of people that might not accept any such apology at this time or ever.
"The truth is hard"
In this, I have to begrudgingly give Babcock his credit.
Oftentimes, to win in the NHL, everyone has to play their part. Whether its finishing the offensive chances or even winning the game-deciding board battle, every little thing matters in the NHL. And it can't always be the superstars that do it.
Such is true in the case of the Oilers. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl might carry the load, but there are areas like the goaltending and the defence that aren't necessarily doing their part.
It's unfair to throw the blame on any particular person or unit given the Oilers' struggles when it comes to getting those final few wins required to lift the Stanley Cup. But Babcock is right to tell things like it is, it's simply a matter of how that is conveyed.
Mitch Marner cowers in fear.
What to make of Paul Coffey's departure?
As Babcock and his former assistant/ex-Los Angeles Kings head coach D.J. Smith took the reins of the Titanic that is the Stan Bowman-led Oilers, the team announced that assistant coach Paul Coffey wouldn't return to the bench for the 2026-27 season.
Why he left wasn't made clear at the time, but the timing of the announcement doesn't exactly rule the Babcock question out.
There are, however, a few things that are worth noting. One such thing is that Babcock and Coffey never crossed paths in the NHL in the past; Coffey announced his retirement almost one year before Babcock's first NHL gig in Anaheim.
At the same time, Coffey did serve as an advisor to team owner Daryl Katz on a couple occasions. In breaking down Babcock's introductory press conference, The Hockey Writers stated that Katz was involved in talks with Babcock and that he had the final say on the hiring of Babcock.
Add all this up and you have ...
... a disaster in the making.
Sure, Babcock could go and win a Stanley Cup with the Oilers and be the coach that keeps McDavid in town.
But that's a significant unknown in today's NHL, and he could just as easily be a distraction. If we're really going to hypothesize here, his baggage and attitude could easily be what drives this iteration of the Oilers over the edge.
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