Oilers Fans Won’t Believe the Latest Name Tied to Their Coaching Search

Just when the NHL world thought that the Los Angeles Kings’ hiring of Peter Laviolette was going to be the biggest coaching news of the day, the Edmonton Oilers decided to one-up them with a rumor about a potential lead in their search for a head coach. With Laviolette out of the running and Bruce Cassidy still left in limbo by the Vegas Golden Knights, the Oilers could be looking at Mike Babcock, according to Darren Dreger via X, formerly Twitter.

“Sources: The Edmtn Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock. Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required,” Dreger reported.

After some controversial moments as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Babcock resigned, and it seemed unlikely he would ever earn another team’s trust with the role. He spent some time working with the University of Saskatchewan to stay in the game, but his name hadn’t been making the rounds in any coaching conversations. With the Oilers now looking into his services, it seems like desperate times call for desperate measures.

With the Oilers on the clock with Connor McDavid’s future and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl also holding their feet to the fire at the end of the season, Stan Bowman understands that his next head coach has to be a good one. While no one is doubting Babcock’s resume, it’ll be up to him to prove that he has changed enough to lead an NHL organization. If he implements the same tactics to lead McDavid and Draisaitl, and it creates some tensions, it could be the final straw for them with the Oilers.

It would certainly be a shock to see Babcock back in the NHL, especially knowing that he was starting to get comfortable in retirement. However, among the coaches currently making the rounds as candidates, he may be the one with the most experience working with a team of stars after his time with the great Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs rosters, as well as Canadian Olympic teams.

Mike Babcock has no shortage of success in his career, and with the Oilers starting to look like a success-or-bust team with their core, this would be a move that pushes all of Bowman’s chips in the middle.

Next: Oilers Could Get Creative with Coaching Choice Amid Cassidy Uncertainty