Leon Draisaitl Backs Mike Babcock’s Oilers Hire

Leon Draisaitl believes Mike Babcock can provide the accountability and structure the Edmonton Oilers need as they pursue another Stanley Cup run.

Edmonton enters the 2026–27 season with pressure already building. The Oilers have reached two Stanley Cup Finals in the past three seasons, but a first-round loss to the Anaheim Ducks last spring forced the organization to reconsider its direction behind the bench.

The Oilers turned to Babcock, a coach with a Stanley Cup ring, Olympic gold medals, and one of hockey’s most scrutinized reputations. Draisaitl supports the move and said Edmonton’s leaders wanted a coach who would demand more from the entire roster.

Canadian-focused Roobet lists the Oilers at consensus odds of around +1000 to win the Stanley Cup. That price places Edmonton in the group directly behind the league’s top early contenders and reflects both the club’s elite offensive core and the questions surrounding its new coaching era.

Draisaitl Endorses Babcock’s Approach

Draisaitl said Edmonton’s leadership group spoke directly with Babcock before the organization committed to the hire. Those conversations gave players a chance to hear his plan and understand what he would require from the roster.

“It was pretty clear pretty quick that he could be our guy,” Draisaitl said. “Just in what he sees, and his attitude towards us, you know, the leaders on the team that want to be coached and that want to be held accountable.”

The Oilers have not lacked high-end skill. Connor McDavid remains the NHL’s most dangerous offensive player, while Draisaitl continues to rank among the league’s premier scorers and playmakers. Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard give Edmonton a strong veteran foundation.

But regular-season success has not delivered a championship.

Edmonton lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers returned to the Final in 2025 but came up short again. Last season brought an even sharper setback when Anaheim eliminated Edmonton in the opening round.

The losses have raised expectations inside the organization. McDavid and Draisaitl remain in their prime, and the Oilers cannot assume their championship window will stay open forever.

Draisaitl believes Babcock can help the team meet that urgency.

“I think he’s got a very clear plan, and I think he holds guys accountable,” Draisaitl said. “And I think to him, it’s not about who it is when it comes to accountability.”

That point matters for Edmonton. The Oilers need all four lines, every defense pair and their goaltenders to execute when games tighten. In the playoffs, a missed assignment or careless turnover can decide a series.

Babcock has never built his reputation on making players comfortable. He has built it on demanding preparation, sharp details, and consistent effort.

“I think it’s exactly what we need right now,” Draisaitl said. “I think he’s going to bring something different, a different look.”

Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Outlook

Consensus futures markets have Edmonton near the top of the 2026–27 Stanley Cup board. The Oilers generally sit in the +900 to +1200 range, with +1000 representing a reasonable consensus figure. That number translates to an implied probability of roughly 9.1 percent before accounting for sportsbook margin.

The market ranks Edmonton behind several teams, including the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers still remain firmly in the top tier of Western Conference contenders alongside the Vegas Golden Knights.

Edmonton’s case starts with McDavid and Draisaitl. Few clubs can match their ability to control a game offensively. McDavid drives transition play better than anyone in hockey, while Draisaitl can score from the slot, create on the power play, and overpower defenders along the boards.

The Oilers also remain dangerous on special teams. Their power play has repeatedly ranked among the NHL’s best during the McDavid-Draisaitl era. Bouchard’s shot from the blue line and Hyman’s work around the net give Edmonton multiple ways to score with the man advantage.

The concerns sit elsewhere.

Edmonton must improve at five-on-five, especially in its own zone. The club also needs a reliable answer in goal after recent instability at the position. A talented roster can survive short stretches of inconsistent goaltending in the regular season. It rarely survives four playoff rounds that way.

Babcock will inherit those questions immediately. His task is not simply to add another layer of discipline. He must establish trust, define roles, and get the Oilers to defend with more consistency without limiting what makes their stars dangerous.

The early odds show the market believes Edmonton has a legitimate path. They also show that the Oilers have work to do before they become the clear favorite.

Babcock’s Return Brings Scrutiny

Babcock’s coaching record makes him an obvious candidate for a win-now job. He coached the Detroit Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup and led Canada to Olympic gold in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014.

He also owns more than 700 NHL regular-season victories.

However, his past will follow him into Edmonton.

Babcock last coached an NHL game during the 2018–19 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His tenure in Toronto ended after reports emerged about his treatment of players, including an incident involving Mitch Marner during Marner’s rookie season.

Marner said Babcock asked him to rank teammates from hardest-working to least hardworking. Marner believed the conversation would remain private. Babcock later shared the list with veteran players, creating tension in the dressing room.

Babcock took the Columbus Blue Jackets job in July 2023. He resigned on Sept. 17, 2023, before coaching a game after reports that he had asked players to show personal photos from their phones during individual meetings.

The NHL Players’ Association investigated the situation. Babcock said his continued presence would become a distraction for the organization.

Former Detroit forward Johan Franzen also criticized Babcock publicly in 2019. Franzen called him a great coach but said he was the worst person he had met.

Those incidents make Babcock’s appointment in Edmonton a calculated risk. The Oilers believe his hockey knowledge can help them contend. They also need him to foster a healthy environment and avoid the issues that derailed his previous NHL stops.

Draisaitl said the team’s leaders did not make the decision without serious conversations.

“We had some great meetings with him and then, yeah, it just kind of took off from there,” Draisaitl said.

Oilers Enter A Defining Season

The Oilers are no longer a young team trying to prove it belongs. They have reached the Final, won major playoff series, and watched championship chances slip away.

That experience changes the standard.

Draisaitl said Edmonton has had coaches who were more player-friendly. He appreciated what those coaches brought at different moments. Still, he believes the team now needs another voice and a tougher level of demand.

“We have had some coaches that are very player-friendly, I would say,” Draisaitl said. “At the time that was needed and that was great for us, but teams go through different phases, right?”

The Oilers have entered a phase defined by urgency.

McDavid and Draisaitl give Edmonton a chance every season. The team’s Stanley Cup odds reflect that reality. But potential does not win a championship. The Oilers need sharper defensive habits, dependable goaltending, and a roster willing to embrace uncomfortable coaching when the stakes rise.

Babcock arrives with a proven record and a difficult history. Draisaitl sees a coach who can push Edmonton toward its ultimate goal.

The Oilers will spend the next several months determining whether that belief can carry them back to the Stanley Cup Final.