Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl stated that newly appointed coach Mike Babcock will bring a much-needed level of accountability to the locker room, according to comments reported by NHL.com and Sportsnet.ca.
Accountability Under Babcock
“I think he’s got a very clear plan, and I think he holds guys accountable, and I think to him, it’s not about who it is when it comes to accountability,” Draisaitl told reporters, via NHL.com.
Roster Performance and Offseason Changes
According to NHL.com, Edmonton struggled to string together extended winning streaks during the regular season and ultimately fell to the Anaheim Ducks in the postseason while playing through injuries to key players, including Draisaitl and captain Connor McDavid. Those struggles prompted organizational shifts, starting with the dismissal of coach Kris Knoblauch on May 14, followed nine days later by the hiring of Babcock, who ranks 12th in NHL history with 700 career coaching wins, as reported by NHL.com.
Leadership and Team Outlook
Babcock enters Edmonton with a decorated NHL resume that includes a 2003 Stanley Cup appearance with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and a 2008 championship with the Detroit Red Wings. However, his hiring also follows high-profile departures in Toronto and Columbus due to past controversy regarding locker room environments and player privacy.
Worth a look