Brendan Smith knows Mike Babcock's demanding side, but the veteran defenceman's message about Edmonton's new head coach was hardly a warning.
Smith broke into the NHL under Babcock with the Detroit Red Wings, learning his trade on a veteran team that was still loaded with accomplished players.
Now rehabbing his knee while trying to play another season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Smith offered a revealing look at what life under Babcock was actually like.
“You learn a lot, but it can be really challenging and demanding. Babcock taught me a ton and now he's back in the league, which that's a whole different thing.”
That description matters. Babcock's reputation has followed him for years, but Smith didn't describe a coach who left him with nothing but resentment.
Instead, he praised the details. “His X's and O's in his practice, it was high tempo. And I got better every day because I was playing against the best competition in the world.”
Smith saw exactly what Babcock demanded
Smith went even further when discussing Babcock's ability to read opponents and prepare his players. “His X's and O's were elite. He sees the game very well at a high level.”
And when it came to communication, Smith made one point especially clear. “With Babs, I knew where I stood. Always. I knew what kind of player he wanted me to be, to be successful on his roster.”
That doesn't erase the ugly stories attached to Babcock's past. Johan Franzen once offered a far harsher description, calling him “a terrible person, the worst I have ever met.”
But Smith's account exposes another side of Babcock's true colors. The coach could be demanding, difficult and intense while still giving players tactical detail, structure and absolute clarity about their jobs.
Smith also sees why that approach could appeal to Edmonton. “And right now, if you're thinking about Edmonton, they're in a win it now mode. I think that's why they made the decision.”
He isn't promising a perfect marriage. “I don't know how it will unfold. That will be for the year to kind of see how the cookie crumbles there.”
Still, Smith's final assessment is difficult to mistake: “But it could be a one year thing could be great. It could be a good fit.”
For all the criticism surrounding Babcock, one veteran who actually played for him remembers a demanding coach who taught him, challenged him and made his role unmistakably clear.
Will Mike Babcock's demanding style work with the Edmonton Oilers?
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