Mike Babcock Met With Oilers Players and It Got Heated Fast

Mike Babcock hasn’t officially been introduced as the Edmonton Oilers head coach yet. But he’s already made it clear he’s not here to make friends.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Babcock recently sat down with three Oilers players after the NHL completed its review process. And it wasn’t exactly a meet-and-greet. Friedman described it on the 32 Thoughts podcast as “some meeting” where the players “really grilled him hard.” Babcock fired right back.

He reportedly addressed the elephant in the room directly. The Oilers have a generational talent in Connor McDavid, a superstar in Leon Draisaitl, and they still can’t get over the hump. Babcock told the players that their own shortcomings are a big reason why. He didn’t sugarcoat it.

“I heard he spoke to them about their own role in the fact the Oilers hadn’t won yet very bluntly,” Friedman said.

This is a franchise that came within one goal of a Stanley Cup in 2024, losing Game 7 to the Florida Panthers after erasing a 3-0 series deficit. Then they lost to the Panthers again in 2025, this time in six games. And this spring, they got bounced in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks. That stretch cost Kris Knoblauch his job. The writing has been on the wall for weeks.

Babcock’s name has been floating around as the replacement, and it’s expected to become official later this week. The team hasn’t confirmed anything, but nobody in the hockey world is surprised. The question is whether Babcock can actually pull this off.

A polarizing hire with a track record

Let’s be real. A lot of people thought Babcock’s NHL coaching career was over. He was forced to resign from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 before coaching a single game. That came amid allegations about his treatment of players, which the NHL investigated. The league found no violations, but the damage to his reputation was done.

Still, the 63-year-old has a resume that’s hard to ignore. A Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. Two Olympic gold medals with Canada. Over 700 career wins. He’s known for being demanding, intense, and willing to hold even the biggest stars accountable. That’s exactly what a team like Edmonton might need after years of falling short.

But it’s also a risky move. Babcock’s style has worn thin in previous stops. Players have pushed back. And if things go badly in Edmonton, as Friedman put it, “a lot of reputations are going down here.” Including the front office that hired him.

“I don’t know if Mike Babcock ever thought he’d get this chance again,” Friedman added. “I hope he recognizes the opportunity, and I hope he does this the right way.”

For now, Babcock is wasting no time setting the tone. If his first meeting with Oilers players is any indication, this isn’t going to be a soft reboot. It’s going to be uncomfortable, confrontational, and maybe exactly what this team needs.