NHL Clears Babcock; Oilers Set to Hire Cup Coach
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- The NHL cleared Mike Babcock to coach again, announcing Thursday that its investigation into his Columbus Blue Jackets tenure found "no current basis to restrict his employment in the League."
- The NHLPA had requested the review after Babcock resigned from Columbus in September 2023 — less than three months into the job — following criticism over his requests to view personal photos on players' phones.
- The investigation included several Zoom interviews with former Blue Jackets players, sources told ESPN.
- The Edmonton Oilers intend to hire Babcock, with several veteran players on the roster supportive, per sources; the 63-year-old won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and has coached 700 career games.
- The Oilers' first coaching target was Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights refused to grant permission to their divisional rival; Cassidy is under contract with a noncompete clause through next season.
- The Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch in May after a first-round playoff loss to the Ducks, and the next hire would be the franchise's sixth head coach since Connor McDavid's rookie season.
Why it matters: The Oilers, who fired Kris Knoblauch after a first-round exit, are positioned to land Babcock after being blocked from interviewing divisional rival Bruce Cassidy. If hired, Babcock would become Edmonton's sixth head coach since Connor McDavid's rookie year — a level of turnover that highlights how the franchise is still searching for the right fit around its superstar center.
