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A New Hard-Nosed, Stanley Cup-Winning HC Linked to the Oilers

Enter Darryl Sutter Into the Mix for Head Coach of the Edmonton Oilers?

by
Jackson Weber
June 11, 2026

The Edmonton Oilers coaching search has become somewhat of a mess, and while they appeared to have narrowed it down to Mike Babcock, the NHL’s investigation into what exactly went on in Columbus back in 2023 may very well put a wrench in those plans.

So where do the Oilers go from here?

Bruce Cassidy seems unlikely, the odds of Babcock working out are dwindling, and Peter Laviolette is now in Los Angeles. As a result, the options are becoming limited, which has insider Frank Seravalli wondering about one other veteran, hard-nosed head coach with two Stanley Cups on his resume: Darryl Sutter.

Seravalli said:

“Which then is like, so who? If not Cassidy, if not Babcock, Lavvy’s already gone. Prepare yourself for the possibility of Darryl Sutter. I’m just saying you’re going to have to get creative now if you’re the Edmonton Oilers…

That’d be the guy I’d be calling today just to get him warmed up in the bullpen. Alberta guy through and through. Remember in 2022, in that Battle of Alberta when the Flames lost to the Oilers, he said to Connor McDavid in the handshake line, ‘Go do it for Alberta.’ There’d be a ton of pride there. Two-time Stanley Cup winner,”

The 67-year-old Sutter has been out of the league since 2022-23 after spending parts of three seasons behind the bench for the Calgary Flames. He, of course, previously led the Los Angeles Kings to Stanley Cups in 2011-12 and again in 2013-14 during his six-year run as head coach.

Darryl Sutter Flames coach Tkachuk — Darryl Sutter Oilers

While Sutter would be a fascinating hire that could ruffle some feathers, it wouldn’t come with nearly as much chaos and scrutiny as a potential hiring of Babcock.

It remains to be seen whether he has any interest in returning to the NHL after three full years away from the game. However, the opportunity to coach Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton while attempting to get the Oilers over the hump and win a Stanley Cup would have to be tantalizing for the Viking, Alberta native.

Next: Insider Says “Significant” Issue Likely To Surface In Babcock Investigation