![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Draisaitl-224x300.jpg\")
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Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).<\/p>\n
Leon Draisaitl acknowledged Babcock\u2019s brief tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets three years ago. However, he said the Oilers\u2019 leadership group had an \u201chonest conversation\u201d with Babcock about the circumstances behind his decision to step down as Jackets coach.<\/p>\n
The Blue Jackets hired Babcock in the summer of 2023. However, he stepped down before coaching a game for them after it was reported he asked players to share personal photos from their phones. <\/p>\n
While Babcock hasn\u2019t coached in three years, Draisaitl believes he\u2019s the right coach to improve the Oilers. He said he\u2019s \u201cvery excited\u201d to work with Babcock and to learn from him.<\/p>\n
Oilers captain Connor McDavid said that he, Draisaitl, and defenseman Evan Bouchard want to be pushed to be better, and he believes Babcock can do that. Hyman, who played for Babcock during his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, said he and his teammates want to win and believe hiring Babcock gives them the best chance to do so.<\/p>\n
SPECTOR\u2019S NOTE: Babcock\u2019s abrupt departure from the Blue Jackets brought back the stories of his bullying players during his tenure with the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.<\/p>\n
Babcock claims he\u2019s learned his lesson and changed his ways. If so, his hiring could be a positive move, though he\u2019ll have his hands full trying to overcome their shaky goaltending and defensive depth issues.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, things could get ugly if Babcock hasn\u2019t changed. Oilers stars such as Draisaitl, McDavid, Hyman and Bouchard won\u2019t have to worry about that. It\u2019s the members of the supporting cast who could be singled out. <\/p>\n
SPORTSNET<\/a>: Minnesota Wild center Nick Foligno understands the pull of playing with family members. He and brother Marcus were reunited this year when the Wild acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks before the March trade deadline.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, he believes teammate Quinn Hughes should forego the idea of joining his brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes, in New Jersey for a chance to win the Stanley Cup with the Wild.<\/p>\n \u201cThat part always works itself out,\u201d Foligno told The Athletic. \u201cYou want to team up when it\u2019s a good situation, and it matters. Hopefully, he understands that and realizes this is a great team right now and has a window to win, and he can see that through.\u201d<\/p>\n Foligno pointed out that the Hughes brothers are still young and have plenty of time to play together.<\/p>\n SPECTOR\u2019S NOTE: Hughes has been dogged by speculation regarding a reunion with his brothers for over a year. He\u2019s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July, but indicated at the end of this season that he\u2019s open to signing an extension with the Wild.<\/p>\n Last month, Wild owner Craig Leipold indicated that his team would re-sign Hughes. However, that was before Leo Carlsson\u2019s new contract gave the Anaheim Ducks\u2019 center the highest average annual value in NHL history ($18 million).<\/p>\n Hughes could agree with Foligno that staying in Minnesota gives him a great chance to win the Stanley Cup. Whether the Wild can afford to keep him remains to be seen.<\/p>\n DAILY FACEOFF<\/a>: Mike Gould recently listed five breakout candidates who changed teams this summer.<\/p>\n They include forward Mavrik Bourque, who the Dallas Stars traded to the Nashville Predators. Winger William Eklund could be another after being dealt to the Ottawa Senators by the San Jose Sharks. So could defenseman Kaedan Korczak, who was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Vegas Golden Knights.<\/p>\n Forward Connor McMichael could also be a breakout player after being shipped by the Washington Capitals to the St. Louis Blues as part of the Jordan Kyrou trade. Defenseman Simon Nemec is another candidate following his trade to the Calgary Flames by the New Jersey Devils.<\/p>\n THE ATHLETIC<\/a>: Joel Ward could be on track to become the second Black head coach in NHL history. The first was Dirk Graham with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1998-99.<\/p>\n Ward spent the past six seasons as an assistant coach with the Vegas Golden Knights before being named head coach of their AHL affiliate in Henderson, Nevada, last month.<\/p>\n Former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy and New York Islanders coach Peter DeBoer believe Ward has what it takes to become an NHL head coach.<\/p>\n Cassidy said he leaned on Ward\u2019s experience as an NHL player, watching him grow from providing individual instruction to players to holding the entire dressing room\u2019s attention with his voice. DeBoer said he saw Ward as a future coach when the latter played for him with the San Jose Sharks.<\/p>\n Cassidy and DeBoer also believe that Ward is doing the right thing by taking a head-coaching role in the AHL despite his years as an NHL assistant coach. They say it\u2019s the best preparation for an NHL head-coaching career. <\/p>\n