Report: One Oilers Player To Request A Trade If Babcock Hiring Made Official
It seems like a done deal at this point. All the reports have the Edmonton Oilers' leadership group (i.e. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl et al.) behind the impending hire of controversial head coach Mike Babcock.
But that doesn't mean that everyone on the team is okay with it. The 2 Mutts podcast reports that one Oilers player made it sound like he'd request a trade if/when Babs is brought in.
We chatted with one @EdmontonOilers player tonight on the possibility of hiring Mike Babcock and this player said that “I can’t support the hiring of Mike and if he does become our Head Coach I will sit down with my agent to discuss my options going forward”
— 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast (@2MuttsHockeyPod) June 9, 2026
A story to follow. https://t.co/hrPvDaWzHt
"We chatted with one Oilers player tonight on the possibility of hiring Mike Babcock, and this player said that 'I can’t support the hiring of Mike, and if he does become our Head Coach, I will sit down with my agent to discuss my options going forward'.”
All that is apparently being waited on at this point is the NHL & NHLPA clearing the move, and Babcock would then be announced as the new head coach.
The 63-year-old bench boss had already met with Oilers owner Daryl Katz.
Babcock has been one of the most polarizing names in the coaching fraternity for a couple of decades. His last job, in 2023 with the Columbus Blue Jackets, ended in disgrace after just two months before the season even began, after allegations that he violated players' privacy by asking to view personal photos on players' cellphones.
There were plenty of other transgressions as well, from his time with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. They included belittling of players (see Marner, Mitch, and Commodore, Mike).
What the Babcock move means for Bruce Cassidy
This move by the Oilers, along with the LA Kings' hiring of Peter Laviolette this week, could also be a sign that teams have gotten word that the Vegas Golden Knights have no intention of ever granting permission to rival clubs in their division to speak with fired bench boss Bruce Cassidy. He still has one year remaining on his contract, and is owed $5M by the Knights. They let him go with a handful of games remaining in the regular season but have continued to refuse to allow other teams to talk with him about a job.
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