Mike Babcock tapped as next Oilers head coach
The seven-time Stanley Cup-winning coach will lead Edmonton's bid for a championship after seven years away from the NHL.
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Mike Babcock is the Edmonton Oilers' next head coach. The hire comes after days of speculation and was confirmed by a club insider Monday, pending NLHPA approval.
Babcock's resume is substantial: a Stanley Cup win with Detroit, multiple playoff runs, and success at every competitive level he's coached. But he hasn't been behind an NHL bench since 2019, and the move has drawn scrutiny over past player-personnel issues during his time in Toronto and Columbus — concerns he will need to address if the fit is to work.
The Oilers' on-ice leadership group, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, were consulted on the hire and signed off, according to reporting. Stan Bowman and ownership also met with Babcock before making the decision.
The question now is whether Babcock's game strategy remains relevant to modern hockey. That should become apparent quickly once training camp opens. What seems certain: the Oilers' front office believes his veteran presence and track record of extracting excellence from elite talent — something his predecessor Kris Knoblauch struggled to do — is what the roster needs.