Which Oilers players could struggle or thrive under new coach Mike Babcock? - The New York Times
New Coaching Approach for the Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are set to become a possession-focused team under new head coach Mike Babcock. His coaching philosophy emphasizes aggressive puck pursuit, contesting passing lanes, and generating offense through neutral-zone turnovers. Players are expected to be relentless workers, with all skaters contributing to gaining possession of the puck. This approach will likely highlight certain players while putting others under scrutiny as they adapt to the new system.
D.J. Smith has also been named Associate Coach under Babcock. Smith, who previously served as interim head coach for the Los Angeles Kings, compiled an 11-6-6 record from March 1st through the end of the 2025-26 regular season. His coaching career includes four seasons as an assistant under Babcock with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he led the Oshawa Generals to an OHL title and a Memorial Cup win in 2015.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid has expressed support for Babcock’s demanding coaching style, stating that the team’s leaders, including himself, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman, want to be pushed. McDavid noted that the team has tried a consistent approach for a long time and is now seeking a different personality and method. He believes that this new approach, which may involve less ice time for top players and more responsibility for others, is necessary for the team to achieve its goals.
Players to Watch Under Babcock
Under Babcock’s system, forwards who excel in forechecking are expected to thrive. Zach Hyman, who previously gained significant playing time as a rookie under Babcock, and Vasily Podkolzin are veterans already accustomed to an aggressive style. Young players like Colton Dach are also positioned to make an impact. Dach, known for his speed and physical play, recorded 22.5 hits per 60 in five-on-five regular season play and 32.8 in the playoffs with Edmonton. He also scored two goals in 80 five-on-five minutes after joining the Oilers, indicating offensive potential.
Another valuable skill in Babcock’s system is disrupting opposition plays in the neutral zone. While official statistics for this are limited, Matt Savoie recorded 1.5 takeaways per 60 in 2025-26, demonstrating an ability to effectively intercept passes and create turnovers.
On the defensive end, some players may face increased pressure. While defencemen like Connor Murphy showed strong performance against substantial opponents, and Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, and Evan Bouchard maintained similar goal-against numbers despite playing significant minutes against elite competition, Jake Walman struggled in goal-against and expected goal-against metrics while playing substantial minutes against elite opponents. His performance in these areas, coupled with previous injury issues, suggests he will need to demonstrate improvement at training camp.
Evan Bouchard, known for his offensive contributions and ability to initiate rushes with passes from the defensive zone, presents an interesting case. While his numbers are exceptional, Babcock might encourage him to be more selective in his plays or adopt a more risk-averse approach in close games, without limiting his overall effectiveness.
Team Composition and Future Additions
The Oilers could benefit from adding another skilled agitator to their forward group, a role previously filled by players like Nazem Kadri in Babcock’s past teams. General Manager Stan Bowman might explore free agency for such additions. Mason Marchment, listed as the No. 11 free agent, and A.J. Greer, listed at No. 43, are potential options, though both could be costly.
Trades for players in this area are considered less promising due to high cap hits and questions surrounding options like Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens and Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames. An under-the-radar possibility to enhance the penalty kill and add a physical presence is former Oilers defender Vincent Desharnais, who left the team in the summer of 2024 and has since played for various NHL teams.
Babcock is expected to use playing time as a motivational tool, similar to how Glen Sather operated in 1983, aiming to strengthen the team by encouraging new arrivals to challenge established players for roles. McDavid emphasized that the team’s leaders want Babcock to be demanding of them, including Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Tyson Barrie, while also elevating other players. This approach is intended to push the top players and ensure everyone on the team feels important, contributing to overall success.
Source: nytimes.com
