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Edmonton Oilers 2026-2027 Season Preview: McDavid hands the reigns to Babcock · Jablam Sports Hockey

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to Jablam Sports Hockey, your home for everything happening around the NHL.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_01: I'm your host, Peter Bojarinov, and every episode we break down the biggest topics all fans are talking about with writers, TV, and radio experts from all 32 teams.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_01: Today we continue our 32 season preview episodes of each team with the Edmonton Oilers.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: And on the show, we have Alan Mitchell, aka Low Tide from The Athletic.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the show, Alan.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for having me.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate it.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: I'm looking forward to it.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_01: And of course, in trending now, we'll talk about another NHL player retiring.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_01: Let's drop the puck.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: All right, last season, the Oilers were ousted out of the playoffs in the first round after a bit of a middling season.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: Previously, they lost in back-to-back years in the final.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: In the summer, they went and hired.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: After they fired Coach Knoblock, they hired Mike Babcock, led by maybe the core players and Edmonton Oilers to help hire Babcock as his replacement.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: Is Babcock the missing piece to raise Lord Stanley?
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Well, he could be.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Mike Babcock is uh uh you know, it's well known and established uh that he is mercurial and that you know there are going to be conflicts and there's gonna have to be a lot of maturity from management players and the coaching side uh to make this work.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: That said, the you know the the die is cast, they've got a year to go before you know negotiating an extension with Connor McDavid.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: So the I imagine the ownership uh felt that this was a uh a year where they had to do something drastic.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know that anybody anticipated this drastic, but McDavid does have uh I'm sorry, Babcock does have the uh coaching chops and the reputation uh to get them where they need to go.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: If it's not Babcock, what else?
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_01: What needs to happen for this team to go all the way?
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Well, uh they they there's two things that they really need, uh, and they needed it, you know, in their two trips to the finals.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: They need consistent goaltending, and and they they need probably their goaltender to steal them a game in in every series and certainly in the final.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Stuart Skinner was thrust into the starting role, and he did well against Dallas Stars two years in a row, but he didn't have an answer against Florida.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the Otters didn't play well uh as well in front of uh against Florida, but they needed him to stand up and grab a game or two, uh, and he did his best, and I'm not being you know overly critical, but I think that the one of the key elements for this team is uh goaltending.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: The other is attention to detail.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um Babcock's had a few days with these players on the ice, one game so far, uh, three more to come right away here.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: And what he's what he's showing them is that they have to be uh thinking in a certain way all the time.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and that is an adjustment for this team because a lot of the forwards have been cheating for offense for a long time, and he's going to try to iron that out of their game.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: He wants precise passing, he wants outlet uh passing that is consistent, he wants the center to come down low uh and make it easier for the defenseman to pass.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and he wants those centermen to come down deep and help defend and overload a per particular area where the puck is.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: So there's a lot of you know tweaks and changes, but the the keys are goaltending and then consistency of effort uh and detail when they don't have the puck.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: You mentioned it right there.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the Oilers haven't possibly had ever steady goaltending in McDavid's career.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_01: And GM Stan Bowman went and signed Stanley Cup winner Frederick Anderson.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_01: Could he be the missing ingredient between the pipes?
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_01: But could he last long enough for him to do that too?
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you've you've said it perfectly because I think he is the key.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: I think that Tristan Jari uh may at you know at times carry the load.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: I think Devin Levi is a fascinating option.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: But Anderson is a guy who's been there uh and he's had great success over his NHL career when he is healthy.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: And right now he isn't, but he's working back, and probably I would say sometime late October or November he'll be in the lineup.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it, you know, they it sounds ridiculous, but their their schedule is so easy at the beginning of the year.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Their first 20 games is just a a cakewalk.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: So they should be able to be more than competitive during that period, and then when Anderson arrives, uh they you know they they should be able to face a little more difficult schedule, but they really need Anderson, I think, in the playoffs.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: Unless Levi jumps into the role and is spectacular, you can't expect that.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: And Jari has shown regular season ability, but his playoff runs have not been uh terrific.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: So Anderson would be key all year uh when he's healthy, but certainly they need him healthy in the playoffs.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_01: Doilers also signed defenseman Ryan Shea to a five-year deal at four million per after he had his first full NHL season at 20 years old.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_01: Where's it where does he fit on this defense and what can he bring to the lineup?
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I we're gonna find out where he fits.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: I think he could be secondary uh left side.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: It'll be he or Jake Wallman.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: He's already shown that he can play with Evan Bouchard in the first game, although the opposition in Winnipeg wasn't that terrific or against Winnipeg wasn't outstanding.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: But uh he's he's mobile.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Uh he can help with puck retrieval, he's a good outlet passer.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: I think ideally what you'd like him to play is second pairing, uh, maybe with uh Murphy and be the uh outlet passer and also the guy who can help on retrievals.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Murphy is not a fast train, but Shay could you know stand up with the blue line and then beat the rushing forward back to the puck and retrieve it and send it in a good direction.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: So uh he just gives them, I think, greater depth.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: They they lost Darnell Nurse, replaced him with Shea, who's a different kind of a player.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: He's not as physical, but he's as mobile, and that's important, and and especially when they you know they're they're looking at getting the puck retrieval and getting it out under control, which is really a like a big part of the game for defenseman now.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: Shea is that player, and he developed late, and they're lucky that he you know became a free agent because you know he's as you said, this was this is not a 24-year-old emerging, this guy who's later 20s, and sometimes it happens like that, but he's played the role well, and I think what's happened in a real way is the game has come to him in terms of his style matching the way teams play the game now.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: MVP of the league, Connor McDavid has his extension start now, two years left on that contract.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_01: What needs to happen in order for that Hart Trophy winner to stay?
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_01: And what could his next deal be at?
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I think the the next deal, uh you know, the the way the cap is going up now, uh, and the fact that he's he's basically taken, you know, discounted contracts for the last you know decade uh tells me that he could ask for the moon and they would give it to him.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: I don't he's not wired that way.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: He wants to win.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so I I I mean I don't know what the contract will be, but I doubt very much whether he'll be the biggest contract in the league.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: It's just not the person that he is.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: He wants to win a Stanley Cup.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: As far as what they what they need to do, I think the owners genuinely do need to show progress this year.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_00: And that's you know one of the reasons for hiring Babcock.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: But there are also areas of this roster that are in dire need.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: They need young players like Matt Savoy and Vasily Pod Colson and now Ike Howard to uh develop and and be the next group.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: The owners don't have really anybody under 25 uh who's who's you know pushing on a level, uh, even like the you know, you've got your top guys like Bouchard, uh McDavid, and Dreisidel, and then your second tier guys like Hyman and Ryan Nugent Hopkins and that group and Matias Eckham, but they're all older.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: They need players in that second group like Savoy and Pod Colson to be pushing at a higher level.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's what McDavid would need to see, and the autos need to do if they're gonna remain in the window to win the Stanley Cup.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: They're in the window now.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: They've accomplished that.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: Ken Holland accomplished that.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: Now Stan Bowman and and also uh Mike Babcock, they have to continue that.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: And part of it is is having Ike Howard take a step forward this year.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and and you know, that hasn't happened yet, uh, but you hope that it does.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: And they're bringing along some other players and and maybe they cash too.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: But uh Savoy was, I think, a key uh development player for this team because they finally have somebody who's gonna be able to play in the top six and and is under 25.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_01: Out of those kids that you just mentioned, Savoy, Howard, Pod Colson, which of them has the best chance to have a good breakout year this year?
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's Savoy.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: He scored 37 points a year ago.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, he's not you know start the year, he's you know, be out for a few weeks, but he you know, he almost got to 20 goals, almost got to 40 points.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: I think he could push 50 points.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think Pod Colson could too, uh, if he plays on the top line with McDavid and Dreisidel, but he won't get a lot of power play minutes.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: So most of his scoring will be at even strength.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_00: And Howard needs a center, a skill center, to pass him the puck, and he could score 20 goals.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: But I think if you're looking at a guy to step forward this year, uh that's that's Savoy.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: He's got some NHL experience, and he's definitely has has the skill to score over 20 goals.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_01: Time for some trending now.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_01: Dallas Stars signed forward Sam Steele to a four-year contract carrying an annual average of 3.7, the team announced Monday.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_01: Elsewhere, Kevin Hayes has announced his retirement from hockey on Monday after 12 NHL seasons.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_01: The 34-year-old, a former first-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2010, had 445 points in 805 regular season games with the Rangers, the Jets, Flyers, the Blues, and Penguins.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_01: And what did you think about Kevin Hayes' career, Alan?
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I thought he had a really good career, and he he played a lot of minutes and tough minutes, and he, you know, he he was uh like a player with size, uh, and he was he was you know matched up against some of the best in the league.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: Played a long time, over 800 games, and there were some injuries along the way, and there were a couple of deep uh playoff runs, uh, but I think he accounted himself very well.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: He was a uh first-round pick, and then I I believe he came out of college and he signed with the Rangers, and uh that he, you know, Jets, Flyers, Blues, had a really good career, you know, and and those you know, it's funny, those guys who are uh that that size have such a uh uh importance in the National Hockey League because he also puts up some points and he could uh play in the bigger parts of the game.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm sure it took a toll on him.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: And when he like he wasn't, I think he's five games into his KHL career, hadn't scored a point yet, obviously some tough sledding.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I, you know, he was only 34.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: He might have felt like go back to the KHL for a year, come back to the NHL, but I and I'm sure it was difficult for him uh to make that decision this early in the KHL season, but good for him.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think he got everything out of his skills he could.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_00: 805 games on the NHL.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: Not too many people reached that level, and he was a good player for most of those games.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_01: That's it for this episode.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: Alan, thanks for joining me.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_01: I enjoyed it.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_01: Fans remember to subscribe on your in for the show in your listening app.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_01: And if you have any questions, follow us on X at Jablam Sports.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: See you next time.