Babcock Named Oilers Head Coach

Mike Babcock is the new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced on Tuesday.

He has not coached in the NHL since the 2019-20 season. 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. Knoblauch was fired in May after three seasons.

The Columbus Blue Jackets had hired Babcock in 2023, but his tenure only lasted 78 days. An NHL Players’ Association investigation into claims that he invaded players’ privacy led to his resignation. He had asked for players to show him pictures on their phones.

The NHLPA was reportedly consulted on the hire to ensure there were no objections to him returning to an NHL bench. Prior to the Oilers hiring him. 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 June 18th.

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, he asked then-rookie Mitch Marner to rank the team’s players from hardest-working to least-hard-working. The head coach then shared those results with teammates.

Oilers leadership, including captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, was reportedly sought out for their feedback on hiring Babcock. According to Sportsnet, the veteran coach met with players and ownership.

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.