Shocking Report: Edmonton Oilers Potentially On Verge of Hiring Mike Babcock

In what would constitute a shocking change of direction behind the bench, the Edmonton Oilers are doing some checks behind the scenes to see if they are free for a potential hire of controversial head coach Mike Babcock.

Sources: The Edmtn Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock. Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 8, 2026

Insider Darren Dreger reports that the Oil are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved first surrounding Mike Babcock's last tumultuous attempt at an NHL job.

In 2023, Babcock was forced to resign from the Columbus Blue Jackets before he even began his first season there amid allegations of invading players' privacy due to reports of his asking to see their cell phone pictures and other information.

The mercurial head coach certainly has had plenty of success to go along with his controversies, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup title in 2008, and being behind the bench for Team Canada's Gold Medal victories at both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

But the last game he actually coached in the NHL was in November of 2019 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. At that point, he was fired with four years remaining on his contract.

He lasted just two months in the summer of '23 with Columbus before the cell phone controversy emerged, and he resigned.

Elliotte Friedman added on Monday that Babcock has spoken directly with Oilers owner Darryl Katz. Pierre LeBrun has added on TSN's Overdrive that Edmonton players are "on board" if the team decides to hire Babcock.

The Oilers have been thought to be waiting for permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with fired coach Bruce Cassidy, but no such permission has been granted, and it's unclear if it ever will be.

Edmonton fired Kris Knoblauch after they were ousted in the first round of this year's playoffs, amid rumors that surfaced that they asked Vegas for the Cassidy permission while Knoblauch still held the job.