The Edmonton Oilers were the last team in the NHL without a head coach. That might change as early as next week.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the league has finished its review into Mike Babcock. That was the final hurdle standing between the veteran coach and a return to the bench. With the review done, Edmonton is expected to move into formal contract negotiations with Babcock immediately.
“Now that the league has cleared Mike Babcock, word is the Oilers will formally begin the process of hiring him — contract negotiations, etc,” Friedman reported Thursday. “Assuming no snags, timeline appears to be early next week.”
A controversial name for a franchise under pressure
Babcock hasn’t coached since the 2019-20 season when the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him. He was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 but resigned before ever coaching a game. The reason? Reports surfaced that he asked players to show him private photos from their phones. That incident triggered the NHL investigation that just wrapped up.
Now at 63, Babcock remains one of the most decorated coaches of his era. He won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He won Olympic gold with Canada twice. He has over 700 career NHL wins. But his reputation has taken real hits in recent years, and the scrutiny isn’t going away just because the league gave him a green light.
The Oilers know this. They’re proceeding anyway.
Why Edmonton is going all in on a polarizing hire
Edmonton’s season ended in disappointment again. They bowed out in the first round of the 2026 playoffs to the Anaheim Ducks. That’s not good enough for a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their primes. Management clearly wants someone with a proven track record. Babcock fits that description even if he also comes with baggage.
The team hasn’t formally confirmed anything. But the reports are consistent and the timeline is tight. The Oilers want this done before free agency opens. That makes sense from a planning standpoint. A coach needs time to shape the roster.
If Babcock is officially introduced early next week as expected, the hockey world will have plenty to say about it. Some will argue he deserves a second chance. Others will point to the Columbus situation and ask why any team would risk it. Edmonton seems comfortable rolling the dice.
The real question is whether Babcock can handle the pressure of a Stanley Cup or bust season in 2026-27. Because that’s what awaits him in Edmonton. Anything short of a deep playoff run will be treated as failure. And with Babcock’s history, the spotlight will be brighter than ever.
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