Oilers hire Mike Babcock as head coach
Longtime NHL coach takes Edmonton bench after nearly four years away; DJ Smith joins as associate coach.
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The Edmonton Oilers have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach, bringing the experienced coach back to the NHL after a four-year absence.
Babcock, 63, was last in the league before the 2023 season when he resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets before coaching a regular-season game, following allegations about his handling of player privacy. Both the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association had to approve the hire. "Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favourable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League," the NHL stated.
DJ Smith, a former NHL head coach with extensive experience behind the bench, is joining as associate coach. Babcock's track record includes a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008, two Olympic gold medals coaching Canada, and 1,301 career regular-season games across Anaheim, Detroit, and Toronto.
The Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch last month after the team lost to Anaheim in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Social media reaction to the hire split between optimism—some praising Babcock's ability to hold players accountable—and concern about his coaching history and treatment of players.