Babcock The Next Oilers Coach?

As if winning the Connor McDavid sweepstakes isn’t enough, Edmonton may be in a prime position to land Mike Babcock as their next coach.  I am not a Red Wings fan, but Babcock can flat out coach.  I didn’t know what to think when I first heard this rumor.  But sounds like it is gaining momentum.  Babcock coached the Canadian team to gold in the last two Olympics.  And he may end up in Edmonton…

The Edmonton Journal had this to say:

Of course, even before the Oilers won the right to phenom Connor McDavid, there were rumours swirling locally that management would make a serious bid for Babcock, who has led Team Canada to two straight Olympic gold medals.

With McDavid here, though, the rest of the NHL is taking those rumours seriously, as opposed to contemptuously.

It’s not slam dunk that Babcock will come to Edmonton, but with Detroit’s core players getting old, he might well be up for coaching hockey’s next superstar in McDavid.

With all that in mind, here are the top seven reasons Babcock will choose the Oilers:
1. Daryl Katz is wealthy and willing to spend

Money won’t be an issue, neither in how much Babcock is offered, nor in the team being able to spend to the cap.
2. Bob Nicholson is in charge — fully in charge

Nicholson was the Hockey Canada executive who put together each Team Canada. He’s now the businessman in charge of the Oilers. The hockey ops folks will report to him, not directly to Katz, which should lead to far more accountability in all areas of Oilers hockey, a welcome sign to anyone considering joining this group.

Click here to read the rest of the 7 reasons.

Photo courtesy of Tom Gromak.