Oilers Check NHLPA Before Babcock Talk Heats Up

Edmonton is at least doing its homework before it gets anywhere near a Mike Babcock decision. The Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA ahead of a possible move, which tells you this is not some casual in-house brainstorming session. Around this league, that kind of call usually means people in the room know the question is bigger than the bench. If Edmonton keeps kicking this around, the hockey ops crowd will be watching every word, because one name can still stir up a lot of old baggage.