Connor McDavid's Oilers are seeing a different side of head coach Mike Babcock after comments that few would have expected from him years ago.
Following Edmonton's reported blowout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Babcock delivered a surprisingly candid assessment of his team's performance, putting the responsibility squarely on himself.
"They were more competitive than us, they were quicker than us, they were better," Babcock said, according to The Mug NHL.
Then came the admission that really stood out.
"Jim Hiller had his group playing harder than I had my group, so that's on me."
-
For anyone familiar with Babcock's coaching history, those final words carry considerable weight. This is a coach whose demanding approach and sometimes controversial relationships with players have followed him throughout his career.
Babcock proves he's not his old self with postgame comments after Leafs loss
During his years with the Maple Leafs, Babcock developed a reputation as a hard-nosed coach who expected complete accountability from his players. His methods eventually came under intense scrutiny.
His departure from Toronto and subsequent controversy surrounding his brief tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets left major questions about whether his coaching philosophy could adapt to today's NHL.
That's what makes his latest remarks so interesting. Rather than questioning his players' effort without acknowledging his own responsibility, Babcock openly credited Toronto's coaching staff.
And he didn't stop there. He admitted that the opposing bench had done a better job preparing its players to compete.
That's a noticeably different message from the authoritarian image that defined much of his earlier coaching career.
For McDavid and the Oilers' locker room, that kind of public accountability could matter. Players are expected to answer for their mistakes, but hearing the head coach accept responsibility sends its own message.
Of course, a single postgame interview doesn't erase years of controversy or establish that Babcock has completely changed.
But if this approach becomes consistent, Edmonton could be getting a more self-aware version of a coach who has spent decades demanding excellence from others.
Has Mike Babcock genuinely changed his coaching approach for the better?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Tanner Jeannot goes toe to toe with Sharks enforcer in heavyweight bout
