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As Mike Babcock readies himself to take on his old franchise this Saturday for the first time, he isn’t looking back at his exit from Toronto.
When questioned on Friday regarding the upcoming 7 p.m. ET matchup against the visiting Maple Leafs, the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers downplayed the duration that has elapsed since his firing.
“It feels like a century ago at this point, doesn’t it?” Babcock remarked following practice. “I mean, even the Beatles eventually split, so you simply move forward.”
Currently in his debut campaign with Edmonton, Babcock previously managed the Maple Leafs starting in 2015 before being let go in November 2019 amid a six-game winless skid.
During his time behind the bench, Toronto qualified for the postseason on three occasions, though they were repeatedly eliminated in the opening round by Washington in 2017, as well as Boston in both 2018 and 2019.
While conceding those playoff disappointments, Babcock expressed continued pride in his stint with Toronto, highlighting his contribution to nurturing emerging talents like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly.
“Our roster lacked veteran experience, and ultimately we fell short when postseason play arrived, which is precisely why I moved on,” he noted.
He commended the development of his ex-players, making special mention of Matthews.
“Watching his evolution across the league and seeing how exceptional he has become is always gratifying,” Babcock stated. “If memory serves, he netted four goals during his debut performance, yet he has expanded his game enormously since then.”
‘I treasure my years’ in Toronto
Turning his attention to Nylander, he remembered how the winger frequently spent extensive time engaging with kids during organization functions.
“I hold my tenure there in high regard. I thoroughly enjoyed my time,” he shared.
For his part, Matthews acknowledges Babcock for instilling a strong grasp of defensive responsibilities during the initial stage of his career in the NHL.
“A substantial emphasis was placed on defensive details,” Matthews observed following Toronto’s Friday session. “We studied extensive film featuring players like [Henrik] Zetterberg, [Patrice] Bergeron, and [Sidney] Crosby.”
Matthews admitted that as a teenage rookie, he hadn’t fully recognized how crucial defensive positioning and spatial awareness were.
“That really seemed to be his core message to me, particularly throughout my opening seasons,” he said.
Thus far, Babcock’s comeback to NHL bench duties has yielded positive outcomes.
His Edmonton team commands the Pacific Division boasting an 8-1-1 mark, whereas the Leafs hold fourth place in the Atlantic with a 6-4-2 ledger while carrying a three-game winning streak.
Following an opening-night defeat in overtime against Vancouver, Edmonton has claimed victory in eight out of their last nine outings.
‘Direct and straightforward’
Connor McDavid, captain of the Oilers, indicated that the roster has embraced Babcock’s direct instructional approach, even when his critiques are blunt.
“He’s called us out on occasion, which was necessary, and he’s offered praise at other times as well,” McDavid commented Friday. “He speaks with complete honesty, which is precisely what the room requires.”
Amassing 31 points over 10 contests, McDavid noted that Edmonton continues to refine its adaptation to Babcock’s scheme, maintaining a long-term focus on playoff hockey.
“Our goal is to construct a playing style designed to succeed not just in autumn, but when spring playoff contention arrives,” he said.
McDavid anticipates an energetic crowd this Saturday as Toronto enters Rogers Place.
“It’s fantastic when Toronto supporters fill our arena, creating a noisy environment where both fanbases clash,” he stated. “It generates a thrilling dynamic and guarantees an entertaining contest.”
Regardless of their impressive early stretch, Babcock emphasized that his priority lies in daily growth rather than being consumed by seasonal projections.
“My objective is simply to refine our game consistently while appreciating the process,” he remarked. “I consider myself in an outstanding position where I can enjoy the work every single day.”
In roster news, Edmonton moved netminder Devon Levi to injured reserve on Friday due to an unspecified ailment. Concurrently, the club recalled goaltender Matt Tomkins on an emergency basis from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Tristan Jarry is slated to get the starting nod in goal on Saturday.
