One Oilers player says he'll leave the team if they hire Mike Babcock

Reports have been running rampant on social media the last 24 hours with rumors that the Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of hiring controversial head coach Mike Babcock.

Multiple insiders have reported that the Oilers' leadership group of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm have all been consulted on the potential hiring and are in support of it.

But a report today seems to indicate that not every member of the Oilers is in support of Babcock's hiring. Last night Joshua Marshall of the Oilers focused 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast reported that he had personally spoken with an Oilers player who said, “I can’t support the hiring of Mike and if he does become our Head Coach I will sit down with my agent to discuss my options going forward.”

Now, it's worth reporting that no other NHL insiders are reporting this and Marshall himself seems to be the source of this report. So... take that for what it's worth.

Regardless, you have to imagine that there are at least a few members of the Oilers who are apprehensive about Babcock's hiring. Stay tuned for more details on that front.