Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have spent years chasing the one accomplishment that continues to elude them despite individual greatness. After an unexpected first-round playoff exit, the Edmonton Oilers decided that staying comfortable was no longer an option, leading them to hand Mike Babcock the job behind the bench.
As questions continue to swirl outside the organization, the mood inside Edmonton’s locker room appears far different. This became even clearer when one of the franchise’s biggest stars explained why the team welcomes the challenge ahead.
Leon Draisaitl Explains Why Oilers Players Welcome Mike Babcock’s Demanding Style
Draisaitl made it clear that the Oilers’ leadership group understands exactly what comes with hiring Babcock, and they are embracing it instead of fearing it.
Speaking with Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, Draisaitl said the atmosphere inside the dressing room has been overwhelmingly positive despite the outside criticism surrounding Babcock’s return to the NHL.
“To me, it seems like everyone is excited. Everyone’s looking forward to knowing that it will be a challenge,” Draisaitl said.
“Babs will challenge us. Babs will demand the most out of us. But at the end of the day, when you want to get to where we want to get to, you need to demand the most out of every single player, out of every single coach, out of our management group. Every single person in our organization just has to demand a little more from each other. I am not worried about Babs doing that.”
His comments reinforce what Connor McDavid shared after the coaching hire.
McDavid acknowledged that accepting tougher coaching will not always be easy, especially once the season begins, but insisted the leadership group asked for exactly that kind of accountability. He added that if/when Babcock eventually sits him for a shift, “it’ll be deserved,” and said it was “time” for Edmonton to be pushed by a coach again.
For the Oilers, this mindset reflects a larger organizational shift. After consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses in 2024 and 2025, followed by a first-round exit against Anaheim in 2026, management believed the team needed a stronger structure and greater accountability rather than another familiar approach.
General manager Stan Bowman consulted McDavid, Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman before hiring Babcock, while the NHL also completed a review into Babcock’s past and determined there was no basis to prevent his return.
Draisaitl believes that responsibility starts with the team’s biggest names.
“That starts with Connor, that starts with me,” he said. “Babs will be hard on us, but I want that, I’m looking for that. I want to get better. I want to become a better hockey player all-around, and I want to help our team win in even more ways than I have.”
These remarks also align with Edmonton’s broader vision under Babcock. Along with associate coach D.J. Smith, the Oilers plan to implement a more demanding defensive system while distributing responsibilities more evenly throughout the lineup.
The goal is to reduce the burden on McDavid and Draisaitl, strengthen the team’s depth, and build a more disciplined roster capable of surviving a long playoff run.
Whether this approach finally delivers the Stanley Cup remains to be seen. But if Draisaitl’s comments are any indication, Edmonton’s locker room believes the toughest road may also be the one that gives them their best chance to finish the job.
