The Hockey News site editor Caleb Kerney discusses Leon Draisaitl's performance last season and how that indicates he will surpass his goal total in 2023-24.

Grand opening, grand closing. The Mike Babcock experiment for the Columbus Blue Jackets is now over. On July 1st 2023 Babcock was announced as the new head coach for the Blue Jackets. He was the coach for two and a half months.

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Babcock is not known to be a player's coach. He is hard on them, demands a lot and does not have the best bedside manner. To say that the Edmonton Oilers dodged a potential catastrophe by hiring Jay Woodcroft instead - is proving to be the understatement of the summer.

Jay Woodcroft celebrating a playoff win vs the Los Angeles Kings.

Woodcroft paid his dues working for coaches like Todd McLellan and Babcock himself. He spent time in the American Hockey League building up the young players on the Oilers farm team. He is now entering his second full season with the team looking to lead them to the Stanley Cup.

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Others describe Woodcroft's approach as "a cerebral player's coach". He isn't loud or flashy, but has an intense desire to win. That desire to win does not come before the well being of his players, or their understanding of what he is trying to implement. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan McLeod and Evan Bouchard are all flourishing under his system.

Regardless of what could have been with Babcock the Oilers are 76-32-12 in 120 games since Woodcroft took over the head coaching position. The Oilers have struck gold in comparison to the mess that has been created for the Blue Jackets.

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Babcock Resignation Proves Oilers' Made the Right Call