Connor McDavid and the Oilers' leadership group asked Mike Babcock to come to Edmonton. Ten games in, that ask looks brilliant.
The Oilers sit 8-1-1 heading into Saturday's home date with Toronto. They're a perfect 5-0-0 on the road.
The story of the hire has grown into legend, with stars supposedly picking their own coach. Stan Bowman's version is more measured.
Bowman said the club concluded it needed a successful veteran coach, then met with Babcock alongside team president Jeff Jackson. It was the coach who asked to speak with the leadership group.
“Because they asked me,” he explained this week. “When those kids asked me, they want to win, and I think they should. So I'm going to try to help.”
McDavid has answered with 31 points and a +18 rating. He's piled up 18 points over his last five games alone.
Leon Draisaitl already has 10 goals. Evan Bouchard has 19 points from the blue line.
The Oilers' depth problem is hiding behind McDavid and Draisaitl
Here's the catch. With the two stars together at 5-on-5, Edmonton has outscored opponents 16-4, per the Edmonton Journal.
Without them, it's been 15-7 the wrong way. No coach can paper over that gap forever.
Zach Hyman has one point through four games. Trent Frederic has one through 10.
Jake Walman is a -5 while carrying a $7,000,000 cap hit. That's not depth helping the cause.
The crease isn't settled either. Devon Levi is out until at least October 26, and Tristan Jarry carries an .873 save percentage.
And no, the rest of the league shouldn't copy this. Letting players choose the coach is like letting students grade their own homework, and it only works when the class includes McDavid and Draisaitl.
The stars who wanted this coach are holding up their end. The bottom six still hasn't.
Toronto, Detroit and Calgary all visit over the next week. If the depth doesn't show up on this homestand, Babcock's next tough call might not please everyone who asked for him.
Should other NHL teams let their star players help pick the head coach like the Oilers did with Mike Babcock?
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