Even Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl might not be enough to offset a Mike Babcock hire, at least according to one NHL agent.
Jason Gregor shared a text he received when he asked about the Oilers coaching rumor. The response was telling.
"The opportunity to play with McDavid or Draisaitl is diminished with the potential to be coached by Babcock," the agent wrote. He called it a valid concern voiced by a few of his clients.
That's not noise. That's a market-level warning, with players quietly telling their representatives they'd hesitate.
And it lands on a situation that was already messy.
Gregor's report puts a number on the worry, with multiple clients raising it.
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Babcock's reputation could cost Edmonton in free agency
Remember where this stands. Babcock is tangled in an NHLPA-requested investigation over allegations he invaded players' privacy in Columbus. Those allegations are unproven and under review.
Now add a recruiting concern on top of the legal cloud. Edmonton's whole pitch to free agents is its stars and its window. An agent saying that pull is diminished should set off alarms.
Here's why it cuts deep. The Oilers need to add around McDavid and Draisaitl this summer, especially once they clear cap space by moving Darnell Nurse.
If a coach makes the destination less appealing, that's a real cost. Players talk, agents talk, and reputations travel fast in a small league.
The cumulative perception is the problem, fair or not. The old Mitch Marner ranking story, the Columbus allegations, the union stepping in. It all stacks.
Here's my read, with the caveat it deserves. The allegations haven't been proven, and Babcock has defenders, with Zach Hyman vouching for him through Steve Simmons.
But Stan Bowman has to weigh more than wins now. If a hire makes it harder to build around the best player alive, the cost may outweigh whatever Babcock brings behind the bench.
With the league reportedly wanting a quick ruling and Bruce Cassidy blocked from Edmonton by Vegas, Bowman's options are tight. An agent flagging a recruiting hit is exactly the kind of thing that should give him pause.
Should the Oilers walk away from Babcock to protect their free-agent appeal?
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