Did Berube’s Unexpected Decision Lead to the Oilers’ Pivot to Hiring Babcock?

Craig Berube says he took himself out of the running for the Edmonton Oilers’ head coaching job — and it wasn’t because the interview went badly. There was talk he really wanted the job in Edmonton, so it’s odd to hear him say that it was his choice to pull himself from the running.

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The former Toronto Maple Leafs coach interviewed with Edmonton after the Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch, going through an extended process with GM Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson. Speaking on “Leafs Morning Take,” Berube said the conversation was genuinely positive, but the search took more time than he was comfortable with, so he decided to withdraw his name rather than keep waiting. Edmonton ultimately hired Mike Babcock, another former Leafs coach, instead.

“It was good. I had a great conversation with Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson for quite some time, and went through the process. It just got dragged out too long, so I just took myself out of it,” Berube said.

Given that he didn’t know Bowman or Jackson prior to the interview, Berube added that meeting new people in the process wasn’t a waste of time. He assumed that their paths in hockey might cross again down the road. “It’s always good to meet people, and they get to know you and get to know what you’re like and what your process is like, your identity, and how you want your team to play.”

He also made clear he isn’t done coaching. Despite a quiet summer without a bench to report to, Berube said he’s eager to get back behind an NHL team and still has plenty left to give — and he’ll be watching for the next opportunity when a team makes a coaching change.

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