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Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have publicly thrown their weight behind Mike Babcock following his appointment as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. However, former NHL defenseman Jason Demers argues that this show of support may have inadvertently heightened the burden on the team's top performers.
During an appearance on the Oilers Nation Everyday podcast with Tyler Yaremchuk, Demers expressed his continued doubts about the coaching decision. "I can't get behind the Mike Babcock signing. I just can't," Demers stated. "I don't care what the top guys say."
Demers acknowledged that McDavid and Draisaitl needed to be on board with the hire. "At the end of the day, those are the guys that have to be comfortable with the signing," he said. "They are. So now that it's done and it's over, let's see what Babcock can do."
The former blueliner also questioned whether Babcock has evolved since his last NHL stint. "If he's learned anything, and he clearly didn't really show any of that in the press conference," Demers remarked. "Let's see if he's learned something in terms of being a coach and somebody that can come in and get the most out of these guys."
The Oilers turned to Babcock after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that concluded with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks. Prior to his hiring, the NHL had investigated his conduct following his departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, but the league subsequently cleared him to return to coaching.
Key Analysis
McDavid, Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman all voiced their support after meeting with Babcock, emphasizing his experience and his potential to shore up the team's defensive structure. Demers found one aspect of their comments particularly striking. "A few of the comments worried me about them saying they want somebody that can hold them accountable defensively," he said. "When you are the best players in the world, arguably, you should be able to hold yourself accountable."
Still, he understood why Edmonton's leaders might welcome external enforcement. "I get that you don't want to have to police yourself and be a coach on top of being a player," he added.
Demers believes those endorsements have shifted responsibility squarely onto the players. "They've almost put more pressure on themselves because I think no one's really going to catch flak if this doesn't work other than the players, because they really signed off on it," he explained.
That dynamic makes the 2026-27 season even more consequential. If Babcock succeeds, McDavid and Draisaitl will be credited for backing the right coach. If Edmonton stumbles again, their public support will remain a lingering topic of discussion.
Originally reported by yahoo.