New Coaching Philosophy for the Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are set to adopt a new playing style under head coach Mike Babcock, emphasizing possession and aggressive puck pursuit. Babcock’s system focuses on contesting passing lanes and generating offence through neutral-zone turnovers. This approach demands relentless effort from all skaters, with a strong emphasis on gaining and maintaining puck possession.
Players who excel at recognizing danger, staying on the defensive side of the puck, and recovering quickly are expected to thrive. These attributes are often reflected in strong shot and goal suppression numbers. The upcoming training camp will present both opportunities and expectations for the current roster as players adapt to Babcock’s methods.
Babcock will be looking for forwards who can effectively forecheck. The model for this role is Zach Hyman, who gained significant playing time as a rookie under Babcock in 2016-17. While no rookies are expected to achieve that level of prominence immediately, young players who demonstrate furious forechecking could gain notice.
One such player is Colton Dach, known for his speed and physical play. Dach recorded 22.5 hits per 60 minutes in five-on-five play during the regular season and 32.8 in the playoffs with the Oilers. He also showed offensive potential, scoring two goals in 80 five-on-five minutes after joining the team. Veterans like Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin, who already play an aggressive style, are expected to provide forechecking intensity on the skill lines, while Dach and others will be crucial for depth lines. Babcock has a history of elevating players or entire lines when they perform well, suggesting Dach could see increased ice time if he succeeds.
Another key aspect of Babcock’s system is interrupting opposition plays in the neutral zone. While there isn’t an official NHL statistic for this, Matt Savoie recorded 1.5 takeaways per 60 minutes in 2025-26, indicating his ability to disrupt passing lanes and create offensive opportunities from turnovers.
Player Expectations and Defensive Focus
Defensive performance will be closely scrutinized under the new coaching regime. The Oilers’ defencemen’s possession numbers are largely consistent with expectations. The third pairing, consisting of Ty Emberson and Spencer Stastney, allowed the lowest goals against per 60 minutes (GA-60), partly due to facing less challenging competition. Connor Murphy, however, maintained a strong GA-60 despite playing against more substantial opponents, indicating quality play.
Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, and Evan Bouchard, all of whom played significant minutes against elite competition, showed similar GA-60 and expected GA-60 figures. Nurse’s goal share was 44 percent, lower than Bouchard and Ekholm’s 56 percent, a difference that can be partly attributed to the presence of Connor McDavid.
Jake Walman is one player who may face increased pressure this season. He played significant minutes against elite opponents but struggled with his GA-60 and expected GA-60. A similar performance could put him under considerable pressure, especially given his past injury issues and reports of Nurse being considered for a trade. Walman will need to arrive at training camp prepared to improve his numbers from last season.
Concerns about defensive gaps in Bouchard’s game have been noted, and how Babcock will address mistakes is a point of interest. Despite this, Bouchard’s numbers in scoring and outscoring are considered exceptional. Babcock, as a possession coach, will likely value Bouchard’s ability to make brilliant tape-to-tape passes out of the defensive zone, which are crucial for initiating rushes up the ice. While Babcock might encourage Bouchard to be more selective in his choices or play more cautiously in close games, limiting his offensive brilliance would be counterproductive.
The Oilers may also seek to add a skilled agitator to their forward lines, a role that Zach Hyman currently fills effectively. General Manager Stan Bowman could explore free agency options, with Mason Marchment and A.J. Greer identified as potential targets, though both could be expensive. Trade options like Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens and Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames are also possibilities, but they come with their own questions and high salary cap hits. A potential under-the-radar addition for the penalty kill and physical challenge could be former Oilers defender Vincent Desharnais, who left in 2024 and has since moved between NHL teams.
Leadership Embraces New Approach
D.J. Smith has been named Associate Coach under Mike Babcock. Smith previously served as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings, joining them in February 2024. He began his NHL coaching career as an assistant under Babcock in Toronto in 2015, spending four seasons with the Maple Leafs before becoming head coach of the Ottawa Senators in May 2019. Over parts of five seasons and 317 games with the Senators, Smith compiled a record of 131-154-32, with his 131 wins ranking second all-time among Senators head coaches.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid has expressed support for Babcock’s coaching style, stating that the team’s leaders, including himself, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman, told General Manager Stan Bowman they wanted to be pushed. McDavid acknowledged Babcock’s reputation for being tough on players but indicated that he and his teammates are ready for the challenge. He emphasized that the team is looking for a different approach after trying the same methods for a long time, believing that Babcock will bring a new personality and strategy.
McDavid anticipates that increased responsibility will be distributed among all players, potentially leading to less ice time for top players like himself and Draisaitl. He believes that for the team to achieve its ultimate goal, everyone must contribute and sacrifice. McDavid stated that the team wants Babcock to be hard on the top players, including himself, Draisaitl, Nurse, Bouchard, Ekholm, and Hyman, while also elevating other players. This collective commitment to a new, demanding approach is expected to strengthen the team.
The new coaching staff, including Babcock and Smith, will aim to foster a deeper roster where every player feels important, a strategy that Babcock highlighted as crucial for success during his introductory press conference. The goal is to create more depth and ensure that even players who don’t play every night contribute to the team’s overall performance.
The Oilers’ leadership is embracing this shift, with McDavid noting that the team has gotten close to its goals in the past but needs the “last 1 per cent” that a different approach could provide. The players are ready for Babcock to use playing time as a tool to motivate and strengthen the team, echoing a sentiment expressed by former Oilers general manager Glen Sather in the fall of 1983 about new arrivals taking jobs from returning players to make the team stronger.
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Source: nytimes.com
