Mike Babcock Is Back in the NHL and the Oilers' Risky Bet Has the League Talking

Okay, you guys aren't gonna believe this! The NHL just cleared Mike Babcock to return to coaching. Yeah, *that* Mike Babcock. And guess who's ready to snap him up? None other than the Edmonton Oilers. After all the drama, the guy who left the Columbus Blue Jackets less than three months into his gig over concerning reports about asking players for personal photos is back. Wild, right? This is the kind of news that sends shockwaves, meaning the Oilers are making a *huge* gamble.

The NHL Clears the Air, But the NHLPA Has Questions

The league's decision wasn't out of nowhere, though. The NHL had to do its due diligence after the Columbus mess in September 2023. Remember those reports about him trying to snoop through players' phones? The NHL Players' Association even pushed for an investigation, especially when whispers started that the Oilers were sniffing around Babcock. They did a bunch of Zoom interviews with former Blue Jackets players too. But in the end, the NHL's statement was clear: "Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League." The NHLPA, however, wasn't quite as rosy. They acknowledged the decision but added, "While we found the allegations of Mike Babcock's conduct as the Columbus Blue Jackets' head coach very concerning, the League has decided that there is no current basis on which to restrict his employment. Moving forward, we expect that Mr. Babcock will uphold the high standards required of NHL

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head coaches." That's a big "but," if you ask me. It tells you everything about the tightrope this guy's walking.

The Oilers' Roller Coaster Continues with a Controversial Coach

So, with the green light, sources say the Oilers are all in. They intend to hire Babcock, and even some veteran players on the Edmonton roster are reportedly on board. Interesting, because their initial target was Bruce Cassidy. But the Vegas Golden Knights shut that down hard, refusing permission to their division rival since Cassidy's under contract with Vegas, complete with a noncompete clause. Babcock, 63, brings a serious resume, for better or worse. He's coached 700 games across the Ducks, Red Wings, and Maple Leafs, even winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. His last Toronto gig ended sour, getting fired in November 2019 after a 9-10-4 start. He got the Maple Leafs to three straight playoff berths, but they never made it past the first round. For the Oilers, this is huge. They just fired Kris Knoblauch in May after a first-round loss to the Ducks. If Babcock takes over, he'd be their *sixth* head coach since Connor McDavid's rookie season. That's wild turnover, showing just how high the stakes are for this franchise. So, there it is. Mike Babcock is officially back, and the Oilers are clearly betting big on him. Will he turn things around for Edmonton, or will his controversial past haunt him? This is going to be one to watch, folks. It's a high-stakes play, and frankly, I'm not sure anyone knows how it's gonna shake out. Get ready for some drama, because the NHL just got a whole lot more interesting.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.