Mike Babcock was asked about showing up four minutes late to Oilers practice today, and TSN says the Edmonton coach did not take it quietly.
The question came from TSN's Ryan Rishaug, and it landed on a day when the Oilers have bigger things to worry about. They host the Anaheim Ducks tonight, coming off a shootout loss in New Jersey on Tuesday.
TSN reported that Babcock jokingly called out Rishaug over the question, telling him that the more problems you create, the more clicks you get.
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Babcock added that he and Rishaug both know that, and that it was time to get through the rest of it. The coach's exact words were bleeped in the post, so the full line stays with TSN.
The tone was light. TSN's post ended with a laughing emoji, and nothing in it suggests real tension between the two.
But the timing is worth a look. Edmonton is 11-2-3 and sits 1st in the Pacific Division, so a few minutes on the clock is not exactly a crisis.
Oilers get ready for Ducks without the usual lineup calm
The real hockey questions are in the crease and the lineup. Babcock's explanation for Matt Tomkins starting came earlier today, when he said Tristan Jarry is sick.
That means a backup gets the net against Anaheim. For a team that lost its last game 4-3 in a shootout, it is a spot where the details matter.
The road record is the story of the Oilers' season so far. They are 7-0-1 away from home, but only 4-2-2 at Rogers Place, so tonight's home date is a chance to fix that.
The forward group is also under the microscope. Frank Seravalli reported earlier this week that Babcock pushing for a tougher forward group has the front office's attention, and Stan Bowman is listening.
Edmonton has scored 67 goals and allowed 48 so far, a +19 goal differential that ranks among the best in the league. A coach who is 4 minutes late is the least of anyone's concerns when the standings look like that.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Edmonton Oilers | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 25 | +19 |
| 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 22 | +9 |
| 3. Seattle Kraken | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 19 | +1 |
| 4. Anaheim Ducks | 15 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 15 | -3 |
| 5. Calgary Flames | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 15 | -16 |
| 6. San Jose Sharks | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 15 | -17 |
| 7. Los Angeles Kings | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 12 | -4 |
| 8. Vancouver Canucks | 17 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 7 | -26 |
Babcock can joke all he wants. If the Oilers drop a home game to Anaheim with their backup in net, the next question from the media will not get a laugh.
Is Mike Babcock's handling of the media a distraction for the Oilers?
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