Oilers President Jeff Jackson forced to make a statement on Mike Babcock

The Edmonton Oilers are heading into the 2026-27 season with a lot of questions swirling around the organization, and arguably none bigger than the one behind the bench. After a disappointing first-round exit last spring at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, the franchise made one of the most polarizing coaching hires in recent NHL memory. And now, with the regular season just days away, the man running the show upstairs has finally broken his silence on how things are going.

Jeff Jackson, the Oilers' CEO of hockey operations, spoke on Tuesday ahead of the NHL's board of governors meetings and had nothing but glowing things to say about Mike Babcock, who was brought in as head coach this offseason. Jackson described himself as "super impressed" with Babcock, assistant D.J. Smith, and the rest of the newly assembled coaching staff, noting that the energy around the team during the opening week of training camp has been palpable.

The Elephant in the Room

Let's not pretend this is just any coaching hire. Babcock hadn't been behind an NHL bench since stepping down as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets back in 2023 before ever coaching a single game with the club. That resignation followed a report from the Spittin' Chiclets podcast alleging that Babcock had asked players to share personal photos from their phones. Both the NHL and the NHLPA launched investigations into the matter, and Babcock was ultimately cleared in June.

Still, the hiring drew immediate backlash. Oilers legend Mark Messier publicly stated he was "just horrified" by the decision. It was never going to be a quiet transition, and the organization clearly knew that going in. According to Jackson, the team conducted extensive interviews with both management and the leadership group inside the locker room before pulling the trigger on Babcock.

Jackson's comments suggest the club is fully committed to this direction. He praised the coaching staff's approach, saying it will be "a bit more inclusive" so that every player feels like they have a defined role and a sense of importance. He even pointed to the Carolina Hurricanes as a model for that kind of team-wide buy-in, calling it a core focus heading into the new campaign.

The Pressure Is Real

The stakes in Edmonton could not be higher. This is a team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in both 2024 and 2025 but stumbled badly last season, finishing 41-30-11 before being bounced in the first round. Connor McDavid has just two years remaining on his current deal at a $12.5 million cap hit, and the window to win with him at that number is closing fast.

Jackson acknowledged the weight of expectations but embraced it. He said the team's guys are "as focused as they've ever been" and expressed confidence that the roster is deeper than it has been in recent years. Whether that depth and this new coaching philosophy can translate to a deep playoff run remains to be seen.

The Babcock era officially kicks off next Tuesday when the Oilers host the Vancouver Canucks in their regular season opener. All eyes will be on Edmonton to see if Jackson's confidence is well-placed or if this gamble ends up being one the organization regrets.