Is Misha Donskov Mike Babcock’s Safety Net in Edmonton?

When the Edmonton Oilers announced that Misha Donskov was joining Mike Babcock's coaching staff as a consultant, the first reaction was probably pretty simple: Okay, another hockey guy in the room. But the more I think about it, the more interesting the hire becomes.

Because Donskov isn't just some consultant Babcock stumbled across. He is someone Babcock specifically wanted. Oilers GM Stan Bowman said Babcock pushed for Donskov's involvement, and the two have known each other for about a decade after working together with Team Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Donskov has even described Babcock as a mentor. That changes the story.

Maybe Babcock Is Building Himself a Safety Net.

I don't mean that in a negative way. Babcock doesn't need somebody to tell him how to coach. He's won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medals and a World Cup. His résumé is impressive.

But he's also 63 and returning to an NHL bench after several years away. And he's walking into a pretty unusual situation in Edmonton. The Oilers aren't rebuilding. They're not looking for patience. They've got Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and they've already been to the Stanley Cup Final twice in the last three years. There isn't much room for a learning curve.

So maybe Babcock is doing something smart. He's bringing in people he trusts while also adding voices who have seen the game from different angles.

Are the Oilers Building a Cushion for Babcock, Just in Case?

D.J. Smith is already on the staff as associate coach, having previously worked under Babcock in Toronto. Now Donskov joins the group, though only on selected days each month, as he continues his Hockey Canada responsibilities. And Donskov brings something different.

He's been around Babcock, but he's also worked with Bruce Cassidy in Vegas, Peter DeBoer in Dallas and Jon Cooper with Team Canada. He has been part of Stanley Cup-winning and international championship environments. That's a pretty good person to have sitting in the room when you're trying to figure out why something isn't working.

The Best Coaches Don't Have to Have Every Answer.

This is the part I find most interesting. We sometimes think great coaches are supposed to walk into a room with all the answers. Maybe the better coaches are the ones who know when they need another opinion.

Babcock has always had strong ideas about how hockey should be played. That's part of what made him successful. It's also part of what made his later years in Toronto so complicated. Maybe this time he's approaching things a little differently.

Donskov isn't there every day. He isn't taking over the bench. He isn't another voice competing with Babcock. He's a resource. And perhaps that's exactly what Babcock wants.

The Oilers May Be Giving Babcock Something He Didn't Have Before.

The Oilers don't need a coaching staff full of people who agree with everything the head coach says. They need enough experience in the room to challenge ideas, recognize problems early and help keep a long season from becoming one long argument between what the coach wants and what the players can actually do.

Maybe Misha Donskov isn't simply another consultant. Maybe he's part of Mike Babcock's safety net. And if Babcock is smart enough to build that safety net before he needs it, Edmonton might be better for it.