Overview
- Multiple outlets reported Monday that the Oilers have asked the NHL Players’ Association whether there are objections that must be resolved before pursuing Mike Babcock as head coach.
- Reporters say Babcock has spoken with owner Daryl Katz and met with members of the team’s leadership group, and those talks reportedly produced no formal player objections.
- Several insiders told media the club is near a deal, but any hire would require NHL and NHLPA clearance and could prompt further review of the 2023 investigation that ended Babcock’s brief Columbus tenure.
- The possibility of hiring Babcock has drawn immediate public and media backlash and one single-source report said an unnamed Oilers player might consider seeking a trade if Babcock is hired.
- Edmonton’s fast-tracked search was narrowed by blocked interviews for other candidates and pressure to maximize Connor McDavid’s prime, which helps explain why management is weighing a high-profile but controversial coach.