Sidney Crosby Praises Mike Babcock Ahead of Oilers Season

Babcock coached Crosby at both the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Olympics, with Canada capturing gold at both tournaments. Crosby scored the iconic “Golden Goal” against the United States in 2010 before serving as Canada’s captain in Sochi four years later.

Their partnership continued at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where Babcock again coached Canada and Crosby served as captain. Canada won the tournament, while Crosby led all players with 10 points in six games and was named tournament MVP.

Perhaps the best example of their relationship came during the 2014 Olympics. Crosby once approached Babcock after practice seeking clarification on the team’s defensive-zone structure because he wanted to ensure both he and his teammates understood exactly what the coaching staff expected. That attention to detail fits perfectly with Crosby’s latest comments.

What Oilers Fans Should Expect From Babcock

The biggest change could be structure and accountability. Babcock has already indicated that Edmonton needs to become less reliant on a handful of stars and establish meaningful roles throughout the lineup. General manager Stan Bowman echoed that sentiment when Babcock was introduced, saying the Oilers had become too dependent on a small group of players last season. That could mean more defined responsibilities for Edmonton’s bottom six and fewer situations where Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are asked to carry an overwhelming workload.

Zach Hyman, who played five seasons under Babcock in Toronto, has offered a similar assessment to Crosby’s. Hyman described Babcock as demanding, detailed and extremely clear about what each player is expected to do, adding that his teams will be prepared. There will understandably be scrutiny surrounding Babcock given the controversies from his previous NHL stops. But strictly from a coaching perspective, Crosby’s comments reinforce why Edmonton was interested.

For an Oilers team firmly in its Stanley Cup window, Babcock’s organization, matchup management and clearly defined roles could be exactly what Edmonton believes it needs to finally get over the hump.