NHLPA Has Dirt on Babcock, Oilers Might Bail as NHL Conducts Investigation

The Edmonton Oilers’ path to hiring Mike Babcock just got a lot bumpier on Tuesday. According to reports, the NHL is moving ahead with its investigation on the former Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Anaheim Ducks coach. In light of the events in Columbus, the league has granted the NHLPA’s request.

This could create a situation where the Oilers back away from their pursuit.

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Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast:

“I don’t think the Players Association has a choice here if they want to show that they have any teeth and that they are mindful of the players. They have to step in and say, “Hold on.” I was told—and I didn’t realize this—but I was told that at issue, and the reason the Players Association is adamant about this, is that when Babcock resigned in Columbus, the NHL was about to do an investigation into everything that happened there. Babcock just resigned. He said, “Look, it’s not worth it,” whatever his rationale was—he resigned.”

The feeling now seems to be that Babcock resigned for a reason. Whatever it was that was uncovered in the unoffical review of Babcock’s antics, he probably didn’t want it out there.

Frank Seravalli reports, “If the Oilers elect to continue down the path with Mike Babcock, sources say the NHLPA is in receipt of “significant” additional claims from their own investigation with players that were not publicly reported in 2023. Those claims were presented to NHL prior to his resignation.”

Seravalli adds, “Furthermore, sources indicate that asking players to see photos is NOT what ultimately resulted in Babcock’s resignation. It was the subsequent (unknown) allegation reported below that cost Babcock his job in”

The counter-argument here is that Babcock is not afraid of whatever is on record being made public. If he was, he wouldn’t have shown interest in the Oilers job, or any NHL coaching job for that matter. He would have had to know the NHLPA would ask the league to look into things, resulting in findings surfacing. If he was worried, the easy thing to do would be to stay retired.

The mentality of the NHLPA is, “Hold on a second. There was supposed to be an investigation that never happened because Babcock resigned. Now we want it to happen. He shouldn’t be able to come back without that investigation.” As such, the league will investigate, and however long that process takes, it may force the Oilers into a difficult decision: pursue this knowing that the truth coming out may look awful, or drop this and go another direction.

The Oilers might back away from this.

Friedman said, “I just can’t see the Oilers moving forward with the hiring if they know this is coming.”

Next: The Oilers May Make Their Biggest Gamble Yet