An old Mike Babcock story is back, and the timing makes it sting. James van Riemsdyk just revived the tale of Babcock having Mitch Marner rank his teammates.
On Daily Faceoff, JVR recounted the 2016-17 episode in which Babcock had a rookie Marner rank the hardest-working Maple Leafs.
His reaction said it all. "Did that really just happen?" That's a teammate still processing how awkward the room got.
Picture being the rookie handed that assignment, then realizing your veterans might see where they landed. Few spots are more uncomfortable for a young player.
The story isn't new, but the moment it's resurfacing into is what gives it fresh weight.
The clip shows JVR walking through the memory while the panel reacts, that mix of disbelief and laughter that comes with revisiting something genuinely strange.
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The timing collides with Babcock's stalled Oilers hire
Here's the backdrop that makes this land harder. The NHLPA recently asked the league to investigate Babcock over allegations he invaded players' privacy in Columbus, and to delay his hiring by the Oilers until that's done.
Those allegations are unproven and under review. The Marner anecdote is a separate, much older story.
They shouldn't be lumped together as if both are settled fact.
But they feed the same conversation, and that's the issue for Babcock. The narrative around him keeps circling back to how he treats players.
Just days ago, Steve Simmons floated Zach Hyman's endorsement and the Oilers' interest in Babcock.
Then the union pushed back. Now old stories like this one recirculate.
To be fair, winning coaches always attract these tales. Some players thrive under a demanding voice.
Others bristle and remember. JVR's story is one room's memory, not a verdict.
Here's my read: the Marner ranking is uncomfortable but old news, and it shouldn't decide a hire on its own. The active investigation is the real question for Edmonton.
Still, perception matters for a move this loaded. When the public conversation is wall-to-wall player-treatment stories, a front office notices.
Every day this investigation drags, another old anecdote resurfaces. At some point, the noise alone could make the Oilers' decision for them.
Does the Marner story make Babcock too risky for the Oilers to hire?
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