Hitchcock Seems to Have Cured What Oil's Edmonton

If for no other reason, OG deserves our respect for the way he became a pro hockey coach.

That's back when Ken Hitchcock coulda been confused with a whale. The only difference was he didn't have to come up for air.

OG had a successful run going as a junior hockey coach but never got a sniff from NHL teams. Finally, his doctor laid it on the line.

 

What player's gonna respect him when it's clear he has no respect for himself?

Hitchcock took it to heart and proceeded to lose about half of his 476lb in a healthy, digital manner.

Not long thereafter, the Dallas Stars called. He got his shot. In only four seasons, he'd led the club to its first-ever Stanley Cup after a controversial triple-overtime goal from Brett Hull.

 

Maybe it'll live in infamy, but the names have been etched and that is that.

Since then, OG's been recycled as so many NHL coaches have before calling it a 22-season career last spring.

But no coach really retires the first time. It just doesn't feel right without the finality of being fired. So, when he got the call ...

 

It was Edmonton.

The organization that once had four straight first-overall draft selections and still wet the bed season after season.

Now, they've got one of the best skaters in the modern era ...

 

Connor McDavid was leaving vapor trails, but the Oil was eating dust.

Hitchcock couldn't resist the challenge. OG instituted his system -- goalkeeping and defense first -- and added one more feature:

Running the hell outta McDavid.

 

Apparently so.

McDavid's shown a propensity for recovering quickly after a shift, and Edmonton's 6-2-1 since Hitchcock took his place behind the bench.

It was definitely all working according to plan when the Oil smashed Minnesota, 7-2, with McDavid racking up a four-point night with a goal and three assists:

 

The victory moved them within a point of the West's second wild card spot, currently occupied by the finally-hot Vegas Golden Knights, puttin' free burgers in their fans' hands.

Now, if McDavid & Co can keep puttin' the biscuit in the basket without wearing down -- and maybe even sneak into the playoffs -- Hitchcock could well be one Oil change that was worth making.