The Edmonton Oilers have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach, the team announced on Tuesday.
Babcock has not coached in the NHL since the 2019-20 season when he was fired after 23 games while behind the bench for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 63-year-old replaces Kris Knoblauch, who led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals and was fired in May after three seasons.
The Columbus Blue Jackets had hired Babcock in 2023, but his tenure with the organization lasted 78 days. An NHL Players’ Association investigation into claims that he invaded players’ privacy by asking to see photos on their cellphones led to his resignation.
The NHLPA was reportedly consulted on the hire to ensure there were no objections to Babcock returning to an NHL bench.
Prior to the Oilers hiring Babcock, the 63-year-old coach had to be cleared by the NHL following an investigation into his resignation from the Blue Jackets.
“The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock’s tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith. Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League,” the NHL said in a statement on Thursday.
The NHLPA released its own statement saying, “While we found the allegations of Mike Babcock’s conduct as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach very concerning, the League has decided that there is no current basis on which to restrict his employment.”
Babcock’s coaching tactics and player management style have long been under scrutiny. Following his dismissal in Toronto, it was reported that while coaching the Maple Leafs Babcock asked then-rookie Mitch Marner to rank players on the team from hardest- to least-hardest workers. Those results were then shared with teammates by the head coach.
Oilers leadership, including captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, were reportedly sought out for their feedback on hiring Babcock. According to Sportsnet, Babcock met with players and owner Daryl Katz.
The Oilers will be Babcock’s fourth NHL team that he’s coached. After two seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, which included a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2003, he moved on to the Detroit Red Wings. In 10 seasons with the franchise, the Red Wings went to back-to-back Cup Finals, winning in 2008 and losing in a Game 7 a year later.
In 16 full seasons as an NHL head coach, Babcock, who has 700 career NHL wins as a head coach, has only missed the Stanley Cup playoffs twice. He also not won a playoff series since 2013.
Internationally, he’s coached Canada to a pair of Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014, a IIHF World Championship and World Junior Championship, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The Oilers had sought to get permission to speak to former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, but were rebuffed as Cassidy remains under contract with Vegas through next season.
After back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers, the Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division this past season and were knocked out in the First Round by the Anaheim Ducks. There is desperation in Edmonton to win with McDavid beginning a two-year contract extension next season before he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency.
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