Mike Babcock Q&A: Many uncertainties, but optimism prevails with Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are still two weeks until NHL training camps open, but most of the Blue Jackets are already taking daily morning skates in Nationwide Arena. There is optimism for the coming season, sure, but there’s nothing like a new coach to bring guys back to town early.

Mike Babcock was hired by the Blue Jackets on July 1, bringing a veteran presence to a club that is trying to form its many promising pieces into a cohesive, competitive lineup.

For the past several seasons, The Athletic has sat down with the Blue Jackets’ coach before training camp for a wide-ranging interview. It started with John Tortorella many years ago, continued with Brad Larsen the last two seasons, and now moves on to Babcock, who is 12th on the NHL’s all-time coaching list with 700 wins.

Babcock not only is coming from outside the organization, but he’s been outside the NHL for 3 1/2 seasons. That gives this year’s training camp an added dose of uncertainty and excitement, as every player will be evaluated by a new set of eyes.

The Blue Jackets had the second-worst record in the league last season, but they’ve had a momentous offseason, highlighted by the drafting of future No. 1 center Adam Fantilli, and the acquisition of veteran defensemen Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson.

Babcock has as many questions, as most Blue Jackets fans do, but he also has some strong opinions and valuable insights. Enjoy.

What have the two months been like since you were formally introduced as the Blue Jackets’ coach?

It’s summer, but we’ve been able to meet a fair bit as a coaching staff. I’ve been able to talk with just about every player and meet tons of them in person, which has been a real positive. We’ve been able to decide, based on what worked last year, the structure for our team. Now, that can still be tweaked based on the personnel we have, but (taking) a real hard look at what works best in the National Hockey League and what leads to winning. We’ve been able to see that and adjust and make it our own. I needed a place to live (smiles) and I moved in (Sunday), which was kinda nice. My wife will come and go this season, so that’ll be a positive. Just getting to know everybody, I think, has been a big thing, from the equipment guys to the medical science guys, our own coaches, and the scouts. You get a better feel for each other. I’ve been coming in a day a week and we’ve been doing Zooms and they’ve been coming to me. Well, now we’re here. There’s always that excitement when you’ve got lots of guys on the ice like we had today, and instead of pretending you know who they are, you actually get to see it.

Are you an NFL guy or a college guy?

You know what, Ann Arbor is 12 minutes from my house. I had two daughters go to Michigan. Now, the people of Ohio State won’t like that, but I like to go to a game a year at the University of Michigan, for sure, just for the fact that, as a life experience, it’s incredible. We’ve kinda become Lions fans over the years, too, and the great thing about the NFL … the NFL has it figured out better than every league because they have (17) games. It’s the easiest league in the world to be a fan of. You just have to get together on the weekend and tailgate. You can make a commitment to your team for that many games. Try doing that with baseball. I actually love the NFL better on TV than I do live, but hockey is the greatest game in the world live. If you’re not a fan, you don’t have a clue watching TV what’s going on, and then you come to a game and it’s real.

You own two farms, one of them down near Cincinnati. You’ve talked about how much you like being there. Will you be able to spend time there during the season?

It’s only 90 minutes away. If we have an off day, you jump in the car, you’re at the place before you know it. Everybody can do what they want with their life, but I really think it’s important to have things you love to do besides your job, because you have to get away from your job. It clears your mind. For me, I love being on the farm. I don’t know (how to explain it), I just do. It gives me joy being out there. The other day I came in here with the coaches until noon and then went down to the farm and got some mowing in and did the corn. I got back to Michigan at 10:30 at night.

Now that’s a day.

Yeah, but it’s fun, too. To me, it’s pure joy, so a good way on your off day to keep your activity up.

Is this a corn year or a bean year?

This is a corn year on one side and bean on the other. It’s two years bean, one year corn. We shifted on one this year. It’s interesting … your farm looks way different with corn on it than with beans. It’s unbelievable how high it is. This is field corn. I even ate a couple cobs the other day just fresh, just grabbed it. Just snapped it and ate it. I thought it was pretty good. (My friend) said, ‘You’re not eating that stuff, are ya?’ I said, sure I am. I thought it was great. It was not even close to being sweet.

You’re only now becoming a full-fledged resident, but have you found any favorite places yet in Columbus or the area?

I went to (Lindey’s) in German Village. I thought that place was great. There’s a street taco place (Agave & Rye) up on High Street near the Hilton, and that street taco is to die for. I’ve had it three times already. I just think it’s unbelievable. We’ll get around and see a lot of places, because my wife and I enjoy that. I went to a great sushi place on High St. The stuff was fresh as can be. We’re gonna get to know the area pretty good.

You gave each of your assistant coaches a project this summer. Can you tell me more about that?

We’ve done all those. We basically each did a research project on what leads to winning in the NHL in all different areas. We used our analytics people, our coaches … we wanted to decide how we were going to play. To me, it’s great when the analytics matches to your eye and smell test. I haven’t been in the league for 3 1/2 years. I’ve coached hockey (in that time), but I haven’t been in the league, and the bottom line is, you have to know all the nuances, everything that’s gone on, and you have to decide what’s best for your group. That’s what we’ve tried to do. We’re way more comfortable than when I first arrived and we first started meeting. Over that period, we’ve got up to speed and we’re talking the same language, knowing what each other wants.

You have a lot of players coming to camp who are seen as NHL players, guys on one-way contracts, etc. Is that a great situation from a coach’s perspective, knowing that you’re going to have intense competition?

That’s really important. The other thing is, and you decide if you like this or not … I basically don’t have an opinion on these guys I’m going to watch. They get a chance to decide who plays on the power play, who gets the minutes, who plays with who, etc. Just play. In camp, we’re going to start with three teams and then were going to go two teams and then one team. In the old days, it was a napkin where you’d jot your forward lines. Now it’s in your phone. That’s where mine are (now). Well, that’s gonna be so far out of whack it’s not even funny. You just have no idea. Like today, I watched some guys skate this morning, and I had no idea Peeker (defenseman Andrew Peeke) could skate that good. He’s a way better skater than I thought, I couldn’t believe it. Not only is he big and works and all that, but he can skate. What I’m saying is, I’m going to get to know them all a lot better quickly. The (general) manager has to worry about contracts; I don’t. I’m just going to watch, share what I think, and we’ll go from there. The best thing about camp is that it goes long enough that it’s hard to slip by.

So your preseason games are more important this season than they might be in a typical year?

One hundred percent. Normally, you know everything because you’ve been through three playoff runs with ‘em and you know everything about them. There’s not going to be an NHL group and an AHL group. Everybody’s going to be together before we divide them up. Everybody who thinks they’re on the team gets to be a top-line player because there’s three teams. So you get to show right away from the get-go. Here it is. Don’t tell me you never got on the power play or the penalty kill. Here it is.

The depth chart at center has changed dramatically this summer with the drafting of Adam Fantilli and the arrival of Dmitry Voronkov from Russia. You now have six or seven candidates to play in the middle. Who is most likely to shift to the wing?

Great, great question. My answer is, I don’t know. I would like two guys on every line who can play down low in their zone, the 200-footers. That’s something Pavel Datsyuk always said. ‘Mike, how can I be with the puck below the goal line and be the first guy back (defensively)? The math doesn’t add up.’ That’s a good rule. We’re going to see who’s best in the faceoff circle, who’s best on the ice. We’re going to have groups together that work. They can decide who is the center on the line. If you’re down first, play down (in the zone). You know what I mean?

What are safe expectations for Adam Fantilli in his rookie season?

Good kid, good family, worker, immensely talented, good size … but you see every year when the draft comes, and every year players are taken and three years later you say, ‘Who went first, or second, or third ?’ I don’t know (what to expect from him). But am I betting on him? Yes. Saying all that, let’s not get in a big hurry. You know what I mean? But he’s going to get every opportunity and more to get after it, and we’re going to do everything we can to help him be the best he can be.

Same question for Dmitry Voronkov … do you know what you can expect from him?

Haven’t seen him yet, but (laughing) we had a heck of FaceTime the other day. He started with his interpreter and that didn’t last very long. So I got my friend Sam from Detroit on the phone and he was a real help. Sam got us organized. He’s had some immigration problems, but I think he’s showing up right away here. Saying that, I don’t know what to expect. But anybody who’s that big, that talented, scores goals in the KHL and played in the Olympics … obviously he’s a piece. Now, is that piece Day 1? Is it 40 games in? Twenty? I don’t know the answer. Is he a wing or a center? Don’t know. The biggest thing is, when you haven’t been over here and you don’t understand one word, that takes even longer for you. The other guys are learning a lot, too, but it’s like overload for him.

Another young guy you’re bringing along is Cole Sillinger, who backtracked a bit last season. How does he get back on track?

I just know this guy works. This guy has hockey sense. He’s a competitor. So let’s get to work. That’s how I look at it. Go to work.

The addition of Provorov and Severson on the back end…

Home run.

…and with the return to health of Werenski, you now have a dramatically improved back end. How do you see that all fitting together?

Werenski has gone to work. When you see him, he’s a man. He’s in shape. That’s a man ready to take a step. Provy is a real player. Sever is a real player. Goody (Erik Gubranson) is a man. So suddenly your goaltending just got way better. In fairness to the goaltender, if you get organized and you play with structure … that’s the hardest position in the world (goaltender) when it’s not going good, because you don’t know ever where the puck is coming from.

Are you working out pairs already in your head, too?

I have thoughts on that, but just some ideas. Nothing settled. Nothing close. I saw half of each group’s (captain) skate this morning. Most of the guys are around, but I don’t know anything yet. The first three days of training camp are kids hockey, then we’re going to start playing exhibition games and after four games, I’m going to have a better feel.

How much have you talked with Elvis Merlikins this summer? You’ve certainly surrounded him with a different cast, which is maybe a good first step.

I feel like (new goaltening coach) Nik Backstrom is going to do an unbelievable job. He’s a man. There’s no fooling around. He’s a worker. We’ve talked to Elvis lots. He’s met with us, met with a strength coach, we went to visit him … now it’s him finding his game and getting confidence in his game. The only way you find confidence in your game is if you do your work in the offseason. You get ultra-prepared and feeling good about yourself. We’re going to look after our part, and he’s got to look after his part. That’s the challenge for him. But I’m big believer that you bet on yourself and believe in yourself and it’s amazing how things happen.

Patrik Laine has had some moments, certainly, with the Blue Jackets, but there’s still a sense that he hasn’t put together a full, productive season since he was traded to Columbus. What have your interactions been like with Laine?

Patty’s been really good in every interaction I’ve had with him. Patty’s not happy with his last couple of years. He wants his bounce and his swagger and everything back.

I was intrigued that Fantilli is living with Laine, at least initially, when Fantilli came to Columbus earlier this month.

Fantilli’s a third (overall) pick. (Laine’s) a second pick. They have a lot of things in common. Adam is a worker, and Patty’s done a good job of coming back to town early to work on his game. There’s lots of good things going on there. I don’t know what’s going to happen (with living arrangements) if Adam makes the team. This is something that’s good for now, though. Patrick Marleau always talked about being around the veteran players and learning from them, spending time with them. He lived with Kelly Hrudey. Other guys have done that, too, of course. It’s good. It was a real help to him.

This is your fourth NHL job after Anaheim, Detroit and Toronto. Is this Columbus job similar to any of those situations?

I’d say this reminds me more of Anaheim than either of the other two. The environment, the hope. That one seems the most (similar). This is different than Detroit, for sure. Toronto is a totally different thing as a Canadian city, a Canadian market … totally different. This reminds me, yeah, of Anaheim.

The Blue Jackets have built a strong following and really rooted themselves in central Ohio, despite never having taken the city on a long playoff run. Only once have they made it past the first round. How motivated are you to be the coach — part of the group — that makes that happen?

Oh, for sure. I don’t know if that’s right away. It’s not even fair, really. You’ve asked me a lot of questions where somehwere in the answer is ‘I don’t know.’ But I like the opportunity. I like what we’ve done in the offseason. I like the attitude of our guys. You look at it … there are some guys here who I think, with some help, can really have an impact on it. We also know New York (the Rangers) are in our division. And Jersey is in our division. Carolina’s there. You know what I’m saying? But here’s what I can promise you: we’re coming to work. That, to me, is what I do. We’re ultra-organized and we’re coming to work on a nightly basis and we’re walking out of the rink every night proud. That doesn’t mean we’ve won every night, but we’re gonna give you something to watch.