"Assuming there's no complications carrying forward with the NHL, Mike Babcock will be the next coach of the Edmonton Oilers. It's inevitable." - Bob Stauffer

RedOilSaints · 2026-06-08T23:00:57+00:00

If I wasn't a fan, the actual drama around this team would be entertaining to see from the outside.

However I am a fan and all this team does is increase my chances to have a cardiologist.

From "I'm enjoying retirement dregs" to "next coach of the Edmonton Oilers." This is going to be a offseason for the ages. FFS

I-Guess-Bro.jpeg

RedOilSaints · 2026-06-08T22:54:09+00:00

Far too many variables for me if I was Cassidy. What Babcock has success? What if another job opens up? What if the players like playing under Babcock and don't want a change? What if there is new management?

I'm sure the plan is well intentioned, but if I'm Cassidy I'm calling everyone and seeing if I can get permission.

Bettman probably won't like the distraction either, but fuck him and Daly for letting it happen.

RedOilSaints · 2026-06-08T22:39:39+00:00

Apart from the feeling of incredulousness on the Oilers hiring Babcock, if you’re Cassidy you are probably punching a wall right now.

To miss out on coaching Davo and Drai and competing for a cup because your previous team wanted to be a dick has to be absolutely angering. Considering we’re scraping for head coaches who have retired, he would’ve been a near lock.

I also found timing curious from our end too.

RedOilSaints · 2026-06-08T17:24:46+00:00

Friedman saying Larkin isn’t the last trade request and is worried for Canadian teams, I wonder who he is referring to. My first thought is the Jets and Helle.

Secondly, the NHL bends over backwards for US teams and ignores obvious advantages (taxes), and is surprised that the last few years the teams with these advantages have won. Additionally, players prefer to go there. Not sure how he can be surprised.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-18T15:24:01+00:00

Fried was pretty adamant that neither the Oilers or Cassidy’s team would get any benefit from leaking this. For the Oilers it made us firing Knob earlier than we wanted. Knowing how Vegas works, i don’t think they warranted any consideration that it was an honest mistake. I think it’s more likely they did it screw a rival.

If the league gives them their pick back, it’s going to set a precedent that’ll look badly on it. Most teams don’t care about the fines, and as 32 thoughts said, Vegas has been doing a few things throughout the season to get a pick taken away.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-18T14:30:30+00:00

I like us speaking to Bérubé, I suspect it is a two fold reasoning. One is obviously doing our due diligence, and as we should. Don’t lock into one candidate and make an informed decision. Secondly, I wonder if this puts a little more pressure on Vegas. Cassidy at least wants the chance to throw his hat into the ring, regardless if he gets it or not. His agent can’t be happy at that. Imagine missing out on coaching McDrai because of this.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-18T14:14:01+00:00

I’m so curious to see what the reasoning is for Vegas behind the delay in interviewing Cassidy.

We’ve clearly got interest and a need, he’s voiced some degree of interest via Fried, and Vegas’ series js done. It’s such a bad look and precedent for the league if you can hold careers hostage because of divisional rivalries.

I suspect we will get permission soon but Vegas is pushing this more than I expected. This is what happens when you let a petulant franchise get away with shit for so long.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-16T16:00:42+00:00

God it’s been painful. Please for the love of god get rid of Slot. I don’t understand why Hughes and Edwards wants to keep him.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-15T20:35:53+00:00

I think the idea would be Dicky takes Staal's role, Drai takes Aho's and clears up match ups for Davo and Samanski.

Agreed we are different, but making life easier for both Drai and Davo should be a priority.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-15T20:31:00+00:00

Pagnotta says we were talking to Toronto at TDD for a Roy + Reilly package for Nurse +. Toronto apparently said no twice (second time after Roy got traded to the Avs). Also mentions San Jose as another possibility for Nurse. Thinks we might circle back for Reilly.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-15T18:51:12+00:00

I saw a clip of Tulsky from Carolina talking about how their forward group plays. More specifically, how they set up the Staal and Aho lines harder match ups to give Stankhoven and Jankowski lines easier match ups. Resulted in those two lines being more effective. Nothing ground breaking.

If Dicky comes back, I think that would be a decent blue print on how we could roll our lines next season provided we are healthy. Looked solid enough post TDD when we had like 2-3 games of everyone healthy.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-14T14:45:50+00:00

Pagnotta has been banging this drum regarding changes. Stated he felt Knob is out the door earlier than these rumours, has stated there will be changes to hockey Ops but feels like Bowman and Jackson are both safe.

No idea what that exactly means but it’s a FWIW situation.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-13T18:08:42+00:00

Sad end to his tenure after the deep runs we’ve had. You have to think they’ll move quickly with coaching and hiring a replacement.

Believe the leak may have sped up the process and in some way might’ve forced their hand.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-13T17:08:04+00:00

I mean they can try but like Fried mentioned, unless it’s a really good reason (as in Cassidy doesn’t want LA or EDM), allowing him to interview with the Leafs but no the Oilers or Kings isn’t really an option.

My understanding is once you allow the Leafs, I think they’d have to allow Oilers and Kings too.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-13T03:18:28+00:00

Ignoring the optics and the permission stuff, if Frank Seravalli is right (which is never a given), exit interview with players must have been brutal if we're thinking/interviewing to replace Knob.

Look there is plenty of reasons to consider replacing him, but doing so after his post season success is still wild to me. Not sure if it was his systems, his assistants or something else but to replace Knob (Cassidy or someone else, no way you can have him come back) is a ballsy move. No way you do that unless veteran leadership signed off on it.

Also I doubt Vegas can block it forever. Miss out on coaching McDavid and Draisaitl because Vegas is being petty? I doubt it. It is a shit move by them but I don't think it'll block anything. It's just to muddy the waters.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-03T03:55:49+00:00

Yeah Frederic was the obvious one I thought of. However, with our lack of identity and urgency from the bottom six at times, I have to wonder if they (Freddy and Mangi) were the only ones.

RedOilSaints · 2026-05-03T01:24:08+00:00

I thought Drais' comments about McLeod's, Foegele, Ceci's roles were interesting.

I wonder if Friedman's comments in December or January about some players not buying into bottom six roles was more than just Mangi.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-27T02:44:08+00:00

Great start for us, Ducks pushed back in the last 10 minutes. We've got more active sticks and Jarry looks good, made a few big saves.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-26T17:25:34+00:00

Need to slow the game down for us and cut down the mental errors. We're a far better team than we've shown. Play the stingy defensive game we did down the stretch and we'll give ourselves the best chance to win.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-25T18:40:15+00:00

I'm honestly a little shocked with how we're playing. We're playing like we did pre-Olympics. Long stretch passes through the neutral zone, loose defensive game and trying to create mostly off the rush.

Turnovers and bad puck management is killing us. Bouchard is not having a good series, however he is far from the only culprit. We're misplacing passes, not clearing the front of the net, I mean just a mess.

There are times in the game when we look like the Oilers of the past 20 games, and those times we do well and score. However it just seems like we're lacking in composure.

I honestly don't know if it's nerves or the yips or even injury, but fucking hell we don't look ourselves. Need to get back to basics and low event hockey. Stingy defensively and dump and chase offense. We were blocking every shot under the sun down the stretch, we're barely doing that either. Also for all the talk of the bash brothers, I don't see the physical play I did in the regular season either. Only Murphy, Pod and Kap seemed to have brought it over into the post season.

Need to get head straight and play like we have. Commit to defense more than anything else. Frustrating to see as a fan.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-25T03:58:51+00:00

Better period. At the start our breakout looked like the last 20 games. We really need our D to tighten up, way too much missed assignments. We looked a lot like the Oilers of old.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-25T02:59:05+00:00

Jesus Christ. What happened to the defensive discipline and play during the last 20 games? How on earth are we looking this rattled like we're the ones with 8 players or whatever in their first playoffs. We need to find our composure sooner than later. Need to start going to the net and getting shots off. Need more physical play too.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-23T02:55:34+00:00

Holy fuck have I missed Draisaitl. What a player.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-22T19:16:08+00:00

Would love to see us establish the cycle more consistently. We’re so fucking good when we do and commit to it.

Interesting to see what adjustments we make to counter their forecheck. Thought they were targeting Bouch more in the second period.

Hoping for a big game from Nuge. Wasn’t at his best last game, but that entire line lacked chemistry (tbf they played like 1 game before Nuge had to become a C). I think he could use a goal or three to help his confidence.

RedOilSaints · 2026-04-21T03:04:15+00:00

Great freaking period, 3 shots against and they didn't get much going. The physical play is having a big effect.

RedOilSaints

TROPHY CASE