Edmonton Oilers consulting NHLPA about potentially hiring Mike Babcock as head coach

The Edmonton Oilers' hunt for a new head coach has taken a surprising and contentious turn. According to TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger, the organization is in active discussions with the NHL Players' Association to determine whether any outstanding objections need to be addressed before they can move forward with hiring Mike Babcock as their next bench boss. If a formal investigation is deemed necessary, the NHL itself would reportedly oversee the process. So far, the NHLPA has declined to comment publicly on the matter.

The 63-year-old Babcock has not coached a regular season NHL game since being dismissed by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2019-20 campaign. His attempted comeback with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 ended before it truly began, as he resigned amid allegations that he had asked players to show him personal photos on their cell phones during introductory meetings. One of the most troubling incidents reportedly involved a meeting held away from team facilities during which Babcock spent "several minutes" scrolling through a player's phone. The NHLPA launched an investigation at the time, and Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen publicly acknowledged that hiring Babcock had been "a mistake."

A decorated but complicated coaching legacy

There is no denying the weight of Babcock's resume. Over the course of 1,301 career NHL games behind the bench with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs, he compiled a record of 700-418-164 with 19 ties, good for a .604 points percentage. He guided the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup championship in 2008 and returned to the Final the following year. On the international stage, he coached Team Canada to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in Vancouver (2010) and Sochi (2014), and also won gold at the World Junior Championship, Men's World Championship, and World Cup of Hockey.

Yet his accomplishments have been overshadowed in recent years by troubling accounts from former players. After his firing in Toronto, stories emerged about public humiliation tactics and fractured relationships with younger players. The narrative around Babcock shifted from that of a demanding winner to a cautionary example of coaching methods that no longer fit the modern NHL locker room. When speculation about the Oilers' interest first surfaced in late May, Babcock himself told reporters he was "retired."

Edmonton parted ways with Kris Knoblauch last month following a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks. That result was a significant step backward for a franchise that had reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of Knoblauch's first two seasons at the helm. General manager Stan Bowman quickly set his sights on former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, who was widely considered the top target. However, Vegas has refused to grant the Oilers permission to speak with Cassidy, who remains under contract despite being fired by the Golden Knights earlier in the season.

What comes next for Edmonton

With the Cassidy option apparently stalled and the Los Angeles Kings removing another candidate from the market by hiring Peter Laviolette on Monday, the Oilers appear to be pivoting toward Babcock. TSN insider Pierre LeBrun added another layer to the story, noting that he would not be surprised if DJ Smith ended up joining Babcock's staff should the hire go through. Smith, who served as interim head coach of the Kings this past season, lost out on the full-time position when Laviolette was brought in.

There is also an interesting personal connection worth noting. Late last week, Babcock's son was hired as head coach of the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, a team that is partially owned by Oilers forward Zach Hyman.

The road to bringing Babcock back to an NHL bench is far from straightforward. The league and the players' union will need to determine whether the circumstances surrounding his departure from Columbus have been sufficiently resolved, or whether further investigation is warranted. For a franchise built around the prime years of Connor McDraisaitl and company, the Oilers are clearly willing to explore every avenue to find the right coach. Whether the hockey world and, more importantly, the players themselves are ready to accept Babcock back behind the bench remains the biggest question of all.