In his latest blog, Gene
Principe blogs about the similar paths of Todd McLellan and Mike Babcock
Wednesday, 02.10.2016
On Thursday night, Edmonton will kick off a six-game
homestand. The half-dozen games they have at Rexall Place from February 11-23
will equal the same amount they had from December 29-January 10. This lineup of
action in the Alberta capital ties a season high of hockey at the arena
situated on Wayne Gretzky Drive. It involves three teams from the Central
Division (Winnipeg, Minnesota, Colorado) one from the Pacific (Anaheim) and two
from the other conference (Ottawa and Toronto). With 14 wins at home this
season, which is only one away from the 15 they had all of last season, this
should prove to be an entertaining two weeks.
The game I'm looking forward to the most happens first. Toronto comes to town, which brings with it a unique brand of excitement, entertainment and circus-like atmosphere. There's always something going on when the Maple Leafs wander out West. This year is no different with the mega move they made with Ottawa that involved their Edmonton-born captain Dion Phaneuf. There was also the Nazem Kadri throat slash gesture directed at the captain from Calgary. I'm sure one or two or 32 people will want to talk to Connor McDavid about the childhood team he grew up watching and will play against for the first time. However, I’m interested to see the clash of the coaches on the respective benches.
It will be the second meeting this season of two men with career paths that have crossed over and led them to the task of rejuvenating a pair of Canadian franchises. The journey for both began in the spring when Mike Babcock and Todd McLellan departed from their long-time teams. One said, “so long” to Detroit, while the other waved goodbye to San Jose.
The first to land was Babcock in Toronto. Not long after, it was McLellan in Edmonton. So began the task of two Saskatchewan-born coaches to take their success from previous stops and bring it to their most recent change of address.
They grew up in the same province, but because of their handful of years difference in age Mike Babcock and Todd McLellan didn't play hockey against each other. That didn't mean they didn't know who the other was. Players of some success on the ice but both eventually better suited to be off it. Each left home to find his way in the coaching ranks. After criss-crossing leagues, they finally ended up in the same place— Detroit.
Mike Babcock got the head coaching job and he hired Todd McLellan to be his assistant. Todd was working in Minnesota's organization as their AHL coach in Houston. He won a Calder Cup and now Babcock wanted him to help Detroit win a Stanley Cup. They did so in 2008.
I remember Todd talking at the start of the season about the transition that took place for him when he went to the ‘Wings. From head coach to assistant coach, he wasn't the big boss anymore. He had to stand back while Mike took over the team. They worked well together, so well that McLellan branched out on his own for the job in San Jose. Over the years they have met many times, like they will Thursday night. Sometimes the teacher and sometimes the pupil has come out on top. Now they find themselves side-by-side in the standings and in the race to be the best.
Two dedicated, successful coaches who won't stop working until they find the winning ways they cultivated as coaches on other teams. I'm sure they'll have a word with each other and share a laugh or two. It's been a tough season for both but they are too proud as people and too good as coaches not to lead their clubs back to where they once were.
The game I'm looking forward to the most happens first. Toronto comes to town, which brings with it a unique brand of excitement, entertainment and circus-like atmosphere. There's always something going on when the Maple Leafs wander out West. This year is no different with the mega move they made with Ottawa that involved their Edmonton-born captain Dion Phaneuf. There was also the Nazem Kadri throat slash gesture directed at the captain from Calgary. I'm sure one or two or 32 people will want to talk to Connor McDavid about the childhood team he grew up watching and will play against for the first time. However, I’m interested to see the clash of the coaches on the respective benches.
It will be the second meeting this season of two men with career paths that have crossed over and led them to the task of rejuvenating a pair of Canadian franchises. The journey for both began in the spring when Mike Babcock and Todd McLellan departed from their long-time teams. One said, “so long” to Detroit, while the other waved goodbye to San Jose.
The first to land was Babcock in Toronto. Not long after, it was McLellan in Edmonton. So began the task of two Saskatchewan-born coaches to take their success from previous stops and bring it to their most recent change of address.
They grew up in the same province, but because of their handful of years difference in age Mike Babcock and Todd McLellan didn't play hockey against each other. That didn't mean they didn't know who the other was. Players of some success on the ice but both eventually better suited to be off it. Each left home to find his way in the coaching ranks. After criss-crossing leagues, they finally ended up in the same place— Detroit.
Mike Babcock got the head coaching job and he hired Todd McLellan to be his assistant. Todd was working in Minnesota's organization as their AHL coach in Houston. He won a Calder Cup and now Babcock wanted him to help Detroit win a Stanley Cup. They did so in 2008.
I remember Todd talking at the start of the season about the transition that took place for him when he went to the ‘Wings. From head coach to assistant coach, he wasn't the big boss anymore. He had to stand back while Mike took over the team. They worked well together, so well that McLellan branched out on his own for the job in San Jose. Over the years they have met many times, like they will Thursday night. Sometimes the teacher and sometimes the pupil has come out on top. Now they find themselves side-by-side in the standings and in the race to be the best.
Two dedicated, successful coaches who won't stop working until they find the winning ways they cultivated as coaches on other teams. I'm sure they'll have a word with each other and share a laugh or two. It's been a tough season for both but they are too proud as people and too good as coaches not to lead their clubs back to where they once were.
Just a bit of fact checking. Todd McClellan
was hired by the Oilers on May 19th and was, howbeit briefly, the most highly
paid coach in the NHL. On May 20th Mike Babcock took over that designation when
he was hired by the Maple Leafs. It was my theory at the time that he was
hoping for an offer from the Oilers, thus his dithering. They are both great
coaches but I am very happy with the one we got.
Very disappointed in McLellan so far, I
thought the Oil could at least be .500 and not the flat out worst team in the
league. When will this team ever start caring and actually try?!? 3 goals in 3
games with all this 'offensive talent'. It's offensive that they suck so bad.
Giving up 15 in the last 3 games, the worst team on the road by a country mile.
Every player should be up for trade bait minus Connor and maybe Leon. Nurse has
been brought in a bit early too, but it's not like he has any competition for a
top six spot anyway. Davidson has been ok too. But the rest need a serious
shake up. PC sleeps well at night and doesn't seem to bothered that they have
taken yet another step backwards.
Might want to take a step back and look at
a different perspective. Oilers are slated to finish with more points this year
than last year. They are in more games than last year where they gave up early
on themselves. They are playing actually pretty good for having a shaky defence
as well. Overall their team is structured better than last year, and with some
consitency behind the bench, I think the Oilers will be far more improved. Not
to mention they have not had McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins, and Eberle all in the
lineup together at the same time. If the entire team was healthy for the vast
majority of the year, maybe then they would be sitting around the .500 mark.
They have the most man games lost due to injury this year. So John, as a matter
of fact. They have actually taken a significant step forward this year. You
look for excuses to bash the team instead of signs of optimism.
Dustin Trydal so you're happy huh? Biggest
blowout in a decade or so in Brooklyn. They didn't play too bad against NJ, but
Montreal and NYI was nothing short of pathetic. That's on the players and the
coach. He could have benched some of them, but losing is accepted here it seems.
Based on your theory of improvement the other bad teams have all improved at a
better rate then, still leaving Edmonton dead last. Hard to be positive after a
decade of crap on ice. But every time I get more optimistic they play awful for
a stretch. Injuries hurt, yes, but other teams have a lot of games lost...See
More
How many games this year have the Oilers
had where they were completely blown out? Not many compared to last year. This
last weekend was an absolute write off. There is no excuse for how poor they
played. But overall, they have at least played better. If the Oilers can find
themselves a top d for next year, and with Brossoit and Talbot as their goalies
next year, I can see the Oilers improving a lot more from this year. Let's not
forget also that defence usually take longer to develop with a couple
exceptions. Nurse was thrown in there because they didn't have much for solid
options to play other than him. Also Edmonton has a much younger d-core than
any other team in the league. So there will be some growing pains over the
course of the next year or so, maybe less if they can land that top defensemen
everyone is looking for.
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