It would be a stretch to say that Pat Quinn’s approach is ‘my way or the highway’ but on day two of Edmonton Oilers camp the coach wasn’t happy with the way things were going so he stopped practice.
“I told them you can’t cheat because then things don’t get done properly” said Quinn. “It’s not right to keep making the same mistakes over and over again.”.
It’s early into his tenure but Quinn has been very visible in talking to players, interrupting drills when necessary and making his message clear. “You can’t let things go if they are being done wrong. It’s stupid to not learn from continuing to make the same mistakes,” said the 66-year old coach.
The Oilers, who were broken up into two groups Monday, scrimmaged as well as practiced. That’s all that’s planned for Nikolai Khabibulin in the early part of the pre-season. Quinn and Khabibulin will meet to discuss how many games the number one netminder wants to play this season his first in Edmonton after signing a four year-$15.8 million deal this summer.
“There’s no better feeling than having a calming influence in net” said Shawn Horcoff. “It just puts everyone on the bench at ease.” That praise comes warranted as last year Khabibulin’s goals against average was third in the league and his save percentage sixth. He also led Chicago to the conference final and in 2004 backstopped Tampa to the Stanley Cup.
“You are never going to be perfect, but the more you play in those kinds of games the more comfortable you get and the experience helps,” said Khabibulin.
“I know he didn’t win the Conn Smythe [in 2004] but to me he’s the main reason [the Lightning] won the Cup,” said Quinn.
For Khabibulin this is a return to his NHL roots as he started his career in Western Cànada with the Winnipeg Jets. “I love playing in Canada. To me it’s like being a soccer player in England. I think it’s great.”
Which is what the Oilers are hoping the 36-year old goaltender will be this season.