Edmonton Oilers players have publicly backed the appointment of Mike Babcock as head coach, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the team after a thorough NHL review cleared him to return.
Captain Connor McDavid praised Babcock's track record, which includes a Stanley Cup title and Olympic gold medals, calling it a "great opportunity" for the team.
"He's the perfect fit," McDavid said.
"He knows what he's about as a coach, and it's our job as players to be ready to go."
Leon Draisaitl confirmed that the team's leadership group met with Babcock before his hiring to address past controversies, noting that the conversation was "very important" to clear the air.
"We had an honest conversation about it, and he was very honest about it," Draisaitl said.
"It's time to move on and look forward to the start of the year."
Zach Hyman, who played under Babcock in Toronto, described him as a "phenomenal coach" who set a strong foundation for young players.
"I think he's a phenomenal coach; I think extremely highly of him," Hyman said. He also expressed satisfaction with the joint NHL and NHLPA investigation that cleared Babcock.
Babcock replaces Kris Knoblauch, who was dismissed after the Oilers lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Edmonton finished second in the Pacific Division with a 41-30-11 record.
The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final in the past two seasons but lost both times to the Florida Panthers.
Hyman acknowledged the team's inconsistent regular season but maintained belief in their postseason potential.
"I thought we could be way better, but it was a very up-and-down year," he said.
"We still believed that we were a good team that could get hot and win because we've been there before."
The Oilers also added assistant coach D. J.
Smith to the staff and made roster changes, including trading defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks.
McDavid expressed mixed emotions about Nurse's departure, calling him a key figure for the team but also welcoming new additions.
"It's disappointing to lose someone like Darnell, but it's part of the business," McDavid said.
Hyman related to Nurse's transition, recalling his own move from Toronto to Edmonton, and said Nurse has a great opportunity with a young Sharks team.
Players are now focused on the upcoming season, utilizing the extended offseason to recover from consecutive deep playoff runs.
