Just when you thought Mike Babcock was controversial, this name emerges in Edmonton

Just when it seemed the Edmonton Oilers’ coaching search couldn’t get any more surprising, another unexpected name has entered the conversation.

For weeks, speculation has centered around controversial veteran coach Mike Babcock and how the NHL is investigating to review his conduct during a controversial 2023 stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. But according to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Edmonton may soon have to consider a very different, and equally controversial option.

Speaking on Frankly Hockey, Seravalli suggested that if the Oilers are unable to land Bruce Cassidy and with Peter Laviolette already off the market, fans should prepare themselves for the possibility of Darryl Sutter.

“If not Bruce Cassidy, if not Mike Babcock, [Peter Laviolette’s] already gone, prepare yourself for the possibility of Darryl Sutter,” Seravalli said. “You’re gonna have to get creative now if you’re the Oilers.”

The suggestion immediately raised eyebrows.

Sutter, 67, has not coached in the NHL since being dismissed by the Calgary Flames in 2023. Despite owning one of the most accomplished résumés of his generation, including two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings and more than 700 career wins, his final years behind an NHL bench were marked by controversy and growing tension with players.

During his second stint in Calgary, reports surfaced of significant friction between Sutter and members of the Flames locker room. His demanding, old-school coaching style drew criticism from both players and observers, and multiple reports suggested relationships within the organization had deteriorated before his eventual dismissal.

Still, there is no denying his track record.

Sutter has consistently won throughout his NHL career and has built a reputation as a coach capable of quickly changing a team’s culture.

Whether that’s exactly what Connor McDavid and the Oilers need right now is another question entirely.

But if Seravalli is right, Edmonton’s coaching search may be about to take another fascinating turn.