Edmonton Reportedly Closing In On Mike Babcock Hire, NHLPA Review Could Follow

The Edmonton Oilers are nearing a deal to make Mike Babcock their next head coach, according to ESPN, which reported Monday that the club is “closing in” on a contract agreement, citing multiple sources. The move is not yet complete, however, and it is drawing unusual scrutiny because Edmonton has consulted the NHL Players’ Association about Babcock’s status following his 2023 resignation in Columbus.

There has been no public announcement from the Oilers or the NHL that Babcock has been hired or that a contract has been signed. TSN insider Darren Dreger first reported that Edmonton was checking with the NHLPA about whether there were any objections that would need to be addressed before a hire. ESPN later reported that the union confirmed the Oilers had reached out about Babcock’s status and whether any investigations remained open. Current reporting from ESPN and Sportsnet says any hire would still require a green light from the NHL and NHLPA and could prompt additional review.

That extra vetting is central to the story because Babcock’s last NHL hiring ended before it began. Babcock, then hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2023, resigned on Sept. 17, 2023, without coaching a regular-season game after the NHLPA looked into allegations that he had asked players to show personal photos on their phones. Reporting at the time said some players were uncomfortable with those interactions. The day after Babcock stepped down, Blue Jackets president John Davidson said of Columbus’ decision to hire him: “We went through a process earlier this summer prior to hiring Mike Babcock as our head coach. But we got it wrong, and that’s on us.”

For Edmonton, the search is a current one, not a distant possibility. The Oilers are replacing Kris Knoblauch, who was fired May 14 after the season ended, according to NHL.com and team reporting. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has reported that Edmonton consulted its core leadership group during the process and that Babcock has spoken with or met members of the Oilers’ leadership group. Friedman also reported that Babcock spoke directly with owner Daryl Katz.

If the deal is completed, the Oilers would be hiring one of the most accomplished coaches of his era — and one of the most scrutinized. Babcock, 63, won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and has 700 NHL regular-season coaching wins, which ESPN said ranks 12th all-time. He has also coached Anaheim, Detroit and Toronto, and is a member of hockey’s Triple Gold Club, a distinction for winning the Stanley Cup and gold at the Olympics and world championships.

But his record is not the only issue in Edmonton’s process. The reporting around the Oilers’ talks has focused as much on the approval path as on the negotiations themselves. Dreger reported that the team was consulting the players’ union before moving forward, and ESPN said the NHLPA confirmed that contact. Sportsnet and ESPN have both reported that any formal hire would still need clearance from league and union bodies.

For now, the Oilers appear to be deep into the process of hiring Babcock, but the deal remains just that: a reported near-agreement, not a finalized appointment. Until Edmonton announces a contract and the required league and union review is complete, the coaching search remains unresolved.