Mike Babcock Praises Connor McDavid’s Defensive Habits as Oilers Star Sets Offensive Pace

Connor McDavid’s scoring pace has drawn plenty of attention, but Edmonton Oilers coach Mike Babcock sees another change that could matter just as much over a full season: the work McDavid is doing away from the puck. Babcock says the captain is getting sharper at the defensive and forechecking details that help the team play within its structure.

That’s a revealing assessment during McDavid’s first 15 games under Babcock. The superstar is producing at a record-breaking pace, yet the coach’s praise went to habits that don’t always produce a point or make a highlight reel. Babcock has a close view of those shifts, and his message is that McDavid’s contribution is growing beyond the spectacular offensive plays everyone already expects.

Asked whether he had run out of ways to describe McDavid’s start, Babcock redirected the conversation toward what he asks his star to do defensively:

“Well, what he’s doing is the things I ask, and those things that you people that cover the game don’t care about, right? Like, I want him to stop on defence. I want him to be on the forecheck in the right spots. I want him to track right. I want him to get skin when he’s coming back and slow people down. So those are the things that he’s getting better at, where we need him offensively in the middle.”

The details behind Babcock’s praise

Those instructions describe a connected set of responsibilities. Stopping on defence means completing the recovery instead of turning a change of possession into a race back toward the play. Getting into the right forechecking spots gives teammates support as Edmonton tries to pressure the puck. Tracking back and slowing opponents can buy the Oilers time to recover their shape.

None of that takes McDavid away from the part of the ice where he can do the most damage. Babcock specifically wants him in the middle offensively, where his speed and playmaking can drive the attack. The point is to help the team get organized when it doesn’t have the puck, then let McDavid use his instincts when Edmonton does.

There’s a practical reason a coach might stress those small details with a star who already creates so much. A team can’t count on every shift becoming an offensive rush. When a chance ends or possession changes, the next few seconds still matter. A forward who tracks responsibly can help limit the opponent’s time and space, and may give his own team a better chance to regain the puck and attack again.

Babcock also made clear that structure has to leave room for McDavid’s individual game. “Now he’s got to play his game and do what he does, because he is who he is,” the coach said. He added that the Oilers need to follow their team structure over the long term and find their individual games within it. In his view, McDavid has been “spectacular” at that and continues to improve every day.

A more complete game alongside the points

The timing makes the development especially interesting. McDavid is already on pace for the best offensive season of his NHL career, according to the source, while Babcock is praising his attention to details that don’t appear in the scoring totals. That combination suggests the coach isn’t asking his captain to trade offense for defensive responsibility. He wants the habits to coexist.

McDavid had said before the season that he wanted to become a more well-rounded player, and Babcock says he’s already seeing progress. The coach’s comments offer an early indication of how he measures that growth: not just by what happens when McDavid has the puck, but by how he responds when the Oilers lose it and how reliably he gets into the positions the team asks of him.

That approach also keeps the expectations clear. McDavid is expected to play his own game, and Edmonton needs his creativity and production. At the same time, the team’s structure applies to its best player, too. For a club looking for sustained success, having its top offensive force commit to the same defensive responsibilities as the rest of the group can make the overall plan more dependable.

It’s still early in the season, so Babcock’s assessment is a snapshot rather than a verdict on how the Oilers will perform over the long haul. But the distinction he draws is useful: the scoring pace is visible, while the positioning and recovery work take a closer look to notice. If McDavid keeps adding those habits without losing his offensive impact, Edmonton will have reason to value his start for more than the points.

For now, Babcock’s strongest endorsement is that McDavid is learning to fit his game into the team’s structure while continuing to be himself. The next thing to watch is whether that balance holds as the schedule goes on: the offense is already arriving, and the coach is looking for the details to become just as consistent.

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