Mike Babcock has a message for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and none of it involves scoring.
They're the most important people to do things without the puck, Babcock said Saturday. They'll play their game, but they have to play with detail.
A new coach telling two of the best players alive what matters most to him. In September. On the record.
McDavid put up 138 points over 82 games last season. Nobody in this league questions what he does with it on his stick.
Draisaitl added 97 points in only 65 appearances. Same story, different number on the back.
Edmonton allowed 269 goals last season. That figure sits underneath every word of this.
They finished 41-30-11 and took second in the Pacific. Good, and never quite good enough.
Babcock on McDavid/Draisaitl and the rest of the lineup: "They're the most important people to do things without the puck that we need. Now they're going to play their game, but they have to play with detail without the puck, and so that's their focus for sure. Then the second part is to find depth. We need depth in the organization, so we don't have to play those guys too much. So that's my job: find it." Per Michael Menzies
-
Mike Babcock calls out McDavid and Draisaitl ahead of Oilers season
Babcock's follow-up was the sharper half. He needs depth in the organization so he doesn't have to play those two too much, and he called finding it his job.
That's a head coach saying the roster handed to him is thin. Politely. He still said it.
Here's the proof in one line. Edmonton's fifth highest scoring forward last season finished with 37 points.
Trent Frederic played 74 games and scored 4 goals. That's a full season of shifts.
He did it on a $3,850,000 cap hit with a -15 rating. Exactly the kind of contract Babcock is circling.
Jason Dickinson managed 17 points last season on a $4,250,000 deal. Same neighbourhood, same problem.
Matthew Savoie is expected out until at least October 20, and Mattias Janmark-Nylen is questionable for the start of the season.
Frederik Andersen sits on that same timeline, which leaves Tristan Jarry and the .882 save percentage he posted last year.
Evan Bouchard did put up 95 points and a +25 from the blue line. The top of this roster was never the trouble.
They closed the year with a 6-1 win over Vancouver. Pretty night, thin evidence.
So can any coach solve that from a bench? Asking Babcock to find depth in September works like asking someone to furnish a house after the movers already drove off.
Bowman has the chequebook and the phone number list. Babcock just told the entire province what he needs, and now everybody gets to watch whether it shows up.
Is Stan Bowman to blame for the Oilers lack of forward depth?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Connor Hellebuyck trade hits major snag as Sabres goalie blocks Winnipeg
