Overview
- The Oilers announced on Tuesday that Mike Babcock is their new head coach, and the team also named D.J. Smith as an associate coach.
- The hiring followed an NHL review completed on June 18 that the league said found no current basis to restrict Babcock’s employment stemming from his 2023 stint in Columbus.
- Edmonton’s decision was greenlit after private meetings between Babcock and team leaders Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, with McDavid publicly expressing support.
- Former players and critics renewed strong objections to the hire, citing past allegations that Babcock invaded player privacy in Columbus and used abrasive, sometimes demeaning, methods in prior jobs.
- The Oilers say the move is driven by urgency to win now with McDavid and Draisaitl under short-term deals, a constrained market for coaches, and the risk that team culture, player retention and public perception could be affected.