Mike Babcock got a loud cheer from the Oilers crowd last night, the first real welcome of his Edmonton tenure.
It came during the home opener introductions against Vancouver, before a single shift of regular-season hockey under the new coach.
Babcock was hired on June 23. Barely three months later, he already has a building on his side.
That matters in a market that doesn't hand out patience for free. The Oilers carried a four-game win streak into opening night, so the mood was already warm.
He's made his mark on the roster early, too. Owen Michaels, a player Babcock admitted wasn't supposed to still be around, survived camp while Josh Samanski went to Bakersfield.
-
Rewarding what a player did yesterday is the whole philosophy. Fans clearly like the sound of that.
Babcock's first road trip runs through Vancouver and California
The schedule tests it fast. The Oilers visit Vancouver on Thursday, host Seattle on Saturday, then head out to Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles.
Evan Bouchard carries a $10,500,000 cap hit, fifth among NHL defencemen. A coach who wants structure first will expect plenty from him on that swing.
Leon Draisaitl, at $14,000,000, holds the fourth-highest cap hit in the league. Talent at the top was never the issue in Edmonton.
How long the cheering lasts is the real issue. An opening-night ovation is the cheapest currency in hockey, and this crowd spends it fast.
It's like a compliment on a first date. Great to hear, and completely forgotten if the third week goes sideways.
Stan Bowman hired a coach with a plan. The first time the Oilers drop three straight, that plan will get the loudest review of all.
The Maple Leafs visit on Oct. 24, with Detroit two nights later. By then, that cheer will either still be ringing, or it'll have turned into something much harder to hear.
Will Oilers fans still be cheering Mike Babcock by Halloween?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Leafs fans make disgraceful gesture during home opener against Canadiens
