Oilers working with the NHL and NHLPA to hire Mike Babcock

According to a report from TSN insider Darren Dreger, the Edmonton Oilers are consulting with the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) and, presumably, the NHL to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock as their head coach.

From Dreger:

The Oilers, of course, have been without a head coach since firing Kris Knoblauch earlier this offseason. The Oilers reportedly tried to hire former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, but have been unable to get permission from Vegas to negotiate with Cassidy.

Now, it appears that Oilers GM Stan Bowman is turning the page on Cassidy and is now turning his focus to Babcock.

Babcock, of course, is one of the most accomplished and polarizing coaches in modern NHL history. Over a coaching career spanning parts of 17 NHL seasons, Babcock compiled more than 700 regular-season victories, won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, captured two Olympic gold medals as head coach of Canada men's national ice hockey team in 2010 and 2014, and earned a reputation as one of hockey's most demanding bench bosses.

Babcock first gained prominence with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, leading the franchise to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final. His greatest success came in Detroit, where he coached a powerhouse roster featuring stars such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Under Babcock, the Red Wings remained perennial contenders and won the Stanley Cup in 2008.

In 2015, Babcock signed a lucrative contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was tasked with overseeing the club's rebuild. He helped guide a young core led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander to three consecutive playoff appearances. However, Toronto failed to advance beyond the first round, and a disappointing 9-10-4 start to the 2019-20 season ultimately led to his dismissal.

While the poor results were the official reason for his firing, reports that surfaced afterward painted a picture of a coach who had lost the dressing room. Former players criticized Babcock's management style, with stories emerging about public humiliation tactics and strained relationships with younger players. Those revelations significantly damaged his reputation around the league.

After nearly four years away from coaching, Babcock was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023. His tenure lasted less than three months and ended before he coached a single regular-season game. Allegations surfaced that Babcock had asked players to show him personal photos on their cell phones as part of introductory meetings. The situation prompted an investigation by the NHL Players' Association. Following the investigation, Babcock resigned, and Blue Jackets management publicly admitted that hiring him had been a mistake.

Today, Babcock's legacy remains complicated. His résumé virtually guarantees discussion when Hall of Fame debates arise, but his coaching achievements are now inseparable from the controversies that ended his tenures in both Toronto and Columbus. Once regarded as one of hockey's premier coaches, Babcock's career ultimately became a cautionary tale about how leadership methods that once succeeded in the NHL no longer fit the modern game.