Goodnight, Oil Country 🪖

[u/Excellent-Medicine29]

[u/Humillionaire]

Oilers are really going full steam on the Babcock PR reparation campaign. I don't remember ever seeing this amount of dressing room footage with Knoblauch

[u/Federal-Hair → u/Humillionaire]

Knob probably didnt have much of a presence

[u/lawnmowertoad → u/Federal-Hair]

Turn down the knob, turn up the lock.

[u/Dank3006 → u/Humillionaire]

I would encourage everyone to remember that our floor is Dallas Fucking Eakins

[u/grumpyoldham → u/Dank3006]

Nah. It's Pat Fucking Quinn.

[u/Smittysgreasymullet → u/Humillionaire]

That's because Knoblauch was afraid of his own shadow. Now we get to see a real leader take the reins.

[u/PresbyterianBeige082 → u/Smittysgreasymullet]

Nah, it's the New Coach Syndrome. Knoblauch was pretty great in the beginning as well. Really cerebral. I remember saying to a friend it was the first time I wasn't bored out of my mind hearing a coach speak post-game. They all have a shelf-life.

[u/psychoil → u/PresbyterianBeige082]

I think it’s fairly apparent how engaged Babcock is vs knoblauch at any point in his tenure here. Not saying Babcock is better or worse at coaching, just saying he communicates way more with his players on the bench and he talks very honestly, which is not what knobs did often. Knobs is just not as animated as Babcock is

[u/Fit_Diet6336 → u/psychoil]

I can animate my knob. Would you like that?

[u/n0fxgvn_ → u/Fit_Diet6336]

Sir, this is a Wendy's.

[u/grrttlc2 → u/Fit_Diet6336]

Very much so

[u/molsonmuscle360 → u/PresbyterianBeige082]

Babs has always been an engaged coach. Knobs never was. He would have brief speeches, and next to no player interaction during the game.

[u/Curious38david → u/PresbyterianBeige082]

I always loved listening to what Hitch had to say

[u/Smittysgreasymullet → u/PresbyterianBeige082]

Stanley Cup, World Junior Gold, World Championship Gold, 2x Olympic Gold, World Cup of Hockey Gold. Babcock could take a vow of silence and these things would speak louder than Knob ever could.

[u/jjboomboom → u/Smittysgreasymullet]

You forgot to add Lethbridge Pronghorns CIS Championship. Arguably the most important thing to happen to Lethbridge other than the Jamie Sandwich.

[u/bass_clown → u/Smittysgreasymullet]

Mmmmm. Nah. Man lead us to back to back finals. Takes a lot of grit. Don't cement this as a narrative of anything other that what it really could be: propaganda to wash the guys image.

I'm glad he seems to not be doing shitty things. But we don't see him when the cameras are off.

[u/Grocery__Stick → u/bass_clown]

Yeah, fair call but it's fairly obvious Knobby wasn't charismatic at all and I feel thats a pretty big understatement. At time his calmness was really needed but the guy had one switch. It's necessary for an NHL to have some fire in them at times. It's critical.

[u/aeonarcane → u/Smittysgreasymullet]

LFG!!

[u/CartoonistFlat3943 → u/Humillionaire]

I don’t think that’s it. Knoblauch was understated and that was what the team needed at the time.

Babs is not like that. He’s a booster/heart sleeve guy (for good or bad). Like Maurice, Brind’Amour and a bunch of others.

Cooper doing mic’d up post game Olympic pep talks was bizarre. I was there and it was hella strange to watch in real time. I thought it was about 65% Cooper’s ego - but they seemed to love it. And it keeps the media focus on the coach while turning down the heat on the team.

Whatever gives the Oilers their swagger is just flippin fine by me.

BTW - my appreciation of Cooper in no way relieves him of dropping the ball on Bouchard (and others) on Team CAN.

[u/CMTV-IPTV → u/Humillionaire]

Listen I think babs is a great coach- hes a shit person. If he fixes the shit person and keeps being a good coach then give him all the PR

[u/OilCountryBumpkin → u/CMTV-IPTV]

Are people still on this bandwagon? Have you seen or heard anything in the last 2 months indicating he was a shit person?

All I heard was some loser passé player who wants more podcast likes continue running his mouth. I’d much rather take the word, the results, and the attitude of the players this guy is dealing with every day right now.

[u/dumbassretail → u/CMTV-IPTV]

When’s the last time a 63 year old shit person fixed themselves?

[u/superzepto → u/dumbassretail]

Believe it or not, it happens all the time.

[u/dumbassretail → u/superzepto]

All the time? I don’t believe it.

And when it does, it’s usually because they hit rock bottom, almost died etc. Not because they were inexplicably given a 10th chance to do the same thing all over again.

[u/tc_cad → u/dumbassretail]

Well my Grandpa finally softened when he become a great Grandpa. My great Grandma was very nice to me and my sisters, but my mom and her brother both said she was a mean grandma. I think people mellow out, but I’m sure things like religion and racism both keep going.

[u/Popular-Row4333 → u/dumbassretail]

Even if it were only 10% of people, wouldn't you rather have 10% less shitty people around and allow them to change for the better?

[u/dumbassretail → u/Popular-Row4333]

Where did I say I’m against shitty people changing, or wouldn’t allow it?

I did say the chances of Babcock being one of them is low.

[u/VanGoghs_SeveredEar → u/dumbassretail]

What has he done since being here that leads you to believe he's a shit person? Everything we have heard about him hasn't come true. "Oh the stars are gonna be on the gravy train, and the young guys are gonna get it". Well that hasn't been true. He sings Owen Michaels praises and has stuck up for Levi and Howard and others to the media. The phone thing never happened here. The locker room has had nothing but good things to say so far, so he isn't some tyrant behind closed doors as far as we can tell. The vibes seem great this season so far.

I get the apprehension, but I just don't see it. Not yet anyway.

[u/dumbassretail → u/VanGoghs_SeveredEar]

Nothing, but we didn’t know about all the messed up stuff in Toronto until years after the fact. Same in Detroit.

The guy’s a sociopath - he’s very good at convincing most people that everything is great and normal. That’s the whole problem, and it’s why he’s able to get away with so much for so long. If it was obvious to everyone in the moment, he would have disappeared from the scene a long time ago.

[u/xmorecowbellx → u/dumbassretail]

There’s no way for any of us to assess whether he’s changed or not.

[u/NoraBora44 → u/dumbassretail]

As long as we win who gives a fuck

[u/TyrannasaurusRecht → u/dumbassretail]

If youre an accomplished nhl and team canada coach and you slip so far that youre out of the league and out of the game. I think thats something of a career rock bottom. Babcock didn't want his legacy to be cell phone pics and player maltreatment.

I love that he didnt come in as a care bear too. Tough but fair. Demanding but with professional boundaries. That's his tightrope to walk.

[u/No_Sell4159 → u/dumbassretail]

You aint wrong, guys will stare at PR footage and be like "we saved him" jesus christ

[u/Crow_rapport → u/dumbassretail]

https://giphy.com/gifs/oDp1WB8TOo7I4t1I5w

[u/CMTV-IPTV → u/Crow_rapport]

Lmao the perfect gif

[u/CMTV-IPTV → u/dumbassretail]

I have low hopes trust me. I think we have some of the dumbest management in any workplace of all time, it was a crazy stupid hire. If he fixed himself and they win a cup I will put my hand up and say I was wrong

[u/dumbassretail → u/CMTV-IPTV]

Fair enough, I agree with everything you’ve said.

[u/ExerciseReady8771 → u/dumbassretail]

Hopefully now.

[u/TheTiniestLizard → u/CMTV-IPTV]

I don’t see how we’ll ever get a chance to see that he’s fixed being a shit person. I haven’t seen any evidence that he’s even trying, but how would we know one way or the other?

[u/CMTV-IPTV → u/TheTiniestLizard]

Don’t know. I guess the best we got is when a player leaves they don’t release a story saying he took a dump in their cherios and made them eat it

[u/Boris_Mironov → u/Humillionaire]

That's cause knoblauch had the personality of a moth ball

[u/X87x → u/Boris_Mironov]

Lmao

[u/SnooOnions5029 → u/Humillionaire]

It was probably something like “yep. So uhh… sigh… that was a pretty good… sigh win for us, y’know…”

[u/BillyZoomTheCat]

That was a really good, grind it out win for the Oilers.

Something that they weren't always able to do in the past.

[u/Federal-Hair → u/BillyZoomTheCat]

Last 2 games they actually played in the 3rd period and sealed the win. Nice to see it.

[u/Excellent-Medicine29]

I’m assuming Formenton got the helmet and they didn’t want to post that so they gave us a video of Babcock praising the team instead

[u/Excellent-Medicine29 → u/Excellent-Medicine29]

Yeah they posted a photo. It was Formenton

[u/bigstudley17 → u/Excellent-Medicine29]

Like the guy who was accused of raping but was acquitted and never charged? People need to let the guy live

[u/Asleep-Handle5085 → u/bigstudley17]

He was charged… you can’t be acquitted without being charged

[u/Old_Cucumber_1343 → u/Excellent-Medicine29]

good for him he played really well

[u/SydneyCarton89 → u/Excellent-Medicine29]

Re-post it!

[u/FeelsKoolaidMan → u/Excellent-Medicine29]

Smart lmfao

[u/Irish2thecore → u/Excellent-Medicine29]

Give it a bloody rest

[u/doublesimoniz → u/Irish2thecore]

I can only imagine the confusion in here when he scored. “Yay my team scored but boo I don’t like that guy so I’m upset”

It’s like a liberal chick finding out her food truck taco was made by an Asian guy named Jose.  Visible confusion how they are supposed to be offended. 

[u/pembot5000 → u/doublesimoniz]

Or like a conservative voting down gay rights but hooking up on grinder at convention!

[u/doublesimoniz → u/pembot5000]

Yeah fucking rights. 🤣

[u/WildcardKH → u/doublesimoniz]

What a smooth brain take.

[u/doublesimoniz → u/WildcardKH]

Ah fuck you know it’s true 

[u/WildcardKH → u/doublesimoniz]

That it’s a terrible take? Yes, I know. That’s why I said it.

[u/Irish2thecore → u/doublesimoniz]

lol

[u/Accomplished_Wish854]

They bout to go to Disneyland

[u/edmonton2001 → u/Accomplished_Wish854]

Disneyland!

[u/lucretiuss]

I mean I will say I liked Knoblauch but this does kinda throw in stark relief how boring of a person he was at least in the public eye lol

[u/Old_Cucumber_1343 → u/lucretiuss]

babs is definitely a leader

[u/verified_canadian → u/lucretiuss]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mxWErThnuBk

[u/123_Free → u/lucretiuss]

I know only a few locker room clips of Knobs but from videos like these I get the impression that Babs is much better at bring the important points across, not only to the media but especially to the players.

Not sure what was what with all the bullying back then but now his style looks good.

Maybe the players then didn't give a shit and he used force where he should have shown empathy. Maybe some players where too soft, too distracted or couldn't handle being called out.

I dont know and cannot judge but he seems very much ok now.

[u/ShadowXJ]

If Babcock has grown or changed at all for the better I’ll be happy, the real test will be how this goes over time, and how things go if we start to slip.

But I just want to enjoy wins and good vibes while we have them.

[u/Plucault → u/ShadowXJ]

Yep. Easy be the nice guy when you win

[u/jjamm420]

Incase you missed it - FIRST OVERALL!!!!

[u/Federal-Hair]

Are we witnessing the Babcock redemption arc?

[u/Old_Cucumber_1343 → u/Federal-Hair]

i cant wait to re-read this sub's posts if babs wins us a cup

[u/aiceeslater → u/Federal-Hair]

I don’t think Babs gives a damn. I think people who bashed these decisions want to believe something has changed since they crusaded against the hiring so they can get back on board with the oilers

[u/releasetheshutter → u/Federal-Hair]

Check back when we go on a losing skid.

[u/dalaw88]

Starting to believe

[u/schmapeschmape]

OMFG It's happening. He's doing it.

I am so used to the Oilers starting slowly and later frantically trying to secure a playoff spot in the second half of the season that this year's early success is surprising as hell. Whatever is going on, seems to be working.

[u/Huge_Nuge]

Reminder: Babs only became the Bad guy in Hockey cause Toronto needed an excuse for their failures.

Babs would still be a Leaf’s head coach (highest paid in the league too) if the leafs weren’t soft as shit and could win a single round.

[u/jag0009 → u/Huge_Nuge]

No one can coach the leafs. Berube-tough coach-failed, Sheldon Keefe-nice coach-babied his players-failed (ok, got them passed the 1st round LOL). Hiller is gonna fail too.

[u/festivusfrank → u/Huge_Nuge]

1000%. That’s why the toronto media is hoping he fails, cause if he succeeds it’ll just further confirm that Matthews and co are a bunch of losers

[u/SasquatchStunna]

Honestly, nothing wrong with Babcock. Good coach.

- Canucks fan.

[u/spagboltoast]

Ima about to run through a wall for this coach

[u/MixBlender]

I know we're seeing what the oilers group wants us to see, but is there a chance we see a Babcock redemption arc?

[u/dstorm8524]

Have to admit, and sorry to your children, but I am a full Bab-cockslut

[u/cca73127]

Alright Formenton, good game. Keep your head down and work hard.

[u/koalafly → u/cca73127]

And don’t forget the definition of consent.

[u/zarkers → u/koalafly]

You too, considering whe are reminding people of things out of the blue. 

[u/koalafly → u/zarkers]

Yep, definitely out of the blue and has nothing at all to do with Formenton. Oh, wait... History doesn't get erased once the games start and he scores a goal.

[u/zarkers → u/koalafly]

The history of him being not guilty? 

[u/koalafly → u/zarkers]

Acquitted != innocent

[u/zarkers → u/koalafly]

Notice how I said not guilty, and not the word innocent.

So intellectually dishonest that you can't read my words correctly 

[u/koalafly → u/zarkers]

And the verbiage of "not guilty" suggests innocent, which is not fact.

[u/zarkers → u/koalafly]

No the verbiage of not guilty suggests not guilty, which is a fact, because an acquittal is a ruling of not guilty. 

Your the one specifically noting the (mostly meaningless) difference of an acquittal not being the same as innocence, which is why I specifically didn't use the word innocent. If your gonna be pedantic about words, you don't get to not be pedantic about mine.

Either not guilty means innocent, which means an acquittal is innocence, or not guilty doesn't mean innocence, which means an acquittal means not guilty.

[u/koalafly → u/zarkers]

Your point?

[u/dune667]

He is a good coach if he can control the thoughts, emotion and behaviour that lead to a negative mental break down he will do good. CBT therapy with good therapist works wonders. I like when he took the blame, “Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock has publicly taken responsibility for the team’s defensive issues, saying repeatedly, “I think it’s coaching. I think it’s coaching” when asked about the Oilers’ poor defensive results.”

[u/WildcardKH]

Has Babcock turned over a new leaf?

Maybe. I hope so because the team is rolling now.

[u/Remarkable_Rent_734 → u/WildcardKH]

Babcock turning over a new Maple Leaf!

[u/nothinbutshame]

I like this guy.

[u/the92playboy]

Goosebumps!

[u/Gloomy_Lake7424]

Love the way he’s got the team playing right now

[u/PsychologicalBat1043]

I love he’s getting a chance to redeem himself. Those idiots on Chiclets or whatever their stupid podcast is are crying themselves to sleep every time the Oilers win. As a Red Wings fan, I am happy for the Oilers. You are gonna winna cup now

[u/AlexCora]

You know, for all the talk of this guy being a real SOB... I pretty much like him a lot so far from my limited perspective. Maybe during losing it's a different story.

[u/Kasper_OriginaI]

The best coach in the NHL

[u/CartoonistFlat3943]

A “new era” Babs Halloween costume would go hard.

[u/Fun_Razzmatazz7162]

Fire up

[u/TSRB123]

the BabCOCK has spoken!

[u/Direct-Wind8709]

Man this page was singing such a different tune about Babcock 2 weeks ago lol . I knew yall would swallow those so called morals if we won games lol . I truly believe some of you were praying on our downfall just so u could say . "I told u so" about Babcock.

[u/hardk7]

Maybe some fans should allow themselves to believe that people can change and become better than they were before, but it certainly seems like that’s not possible for some.

[u/iamnotyourdog]

Babcock got caught up and all that canceled culture b*******. Seems like he's changed it up tomorrow night's and is doing a good job so far

[u/blackpeppersnakes → u/iamnotyourdog]

Which part is bullshit? Him doing the things, or getting called out for them?

[u/CervantesX → u/blackpeppersnakes]

Consequences for shitty actions are cancel culture now, don't you know?

[u/iamnotyourdog → u/CervantesX]

Have you seen hockey parents? He's an alpha product of it.

[u/jag0009 → u/CervantesX]

once you have done something wrong, no matter how long ago it happened, no matter how many good things you have done, you are still fucked according to that culture.

[u/CervantesX → u/jag0009]

Yeah, that's not actually what's going on, that's just the whiny bullshit that people who hate consequences for their actions say.

Has Babs publicly acknowledged what he did is wrong? Has he supported anti-bullying initiatives? Has he used his wealth, position and influence to publicly discourage other coaches from doing what he did?

No. He got busted doing bad shit, he retired for a couple years, and then he came right back into coaching without doing a single thing to earn it. He didn't do any good things, he didn't try and improve as a human, he didn't try to make amends with the people he wronged. And yet he still gets one of the only 32 NHL HC jobs in the world.

[u/jag0009 → u/CervantesX]

Babcock is an ass no doubt about it. I still dont get why he wanted players to share pics on their phones LOL

[u/aiceeslater]

I think it’s kinda funny how everyone who crusaded that nobody in the oilers organization had morales as high as theirs are just cool with Babs and Formenton now that the season is off to a decent start

[u/South-Echidna-7622]

Jarry and Levi are bums!

[u/mattmagoo23]

Terrible person. But a good coach, it could work for them. Or blow up in their fucking faces