The Edmonton Oilers are the gift that keeps on giving. After turning themselves into a full-blown soap opera in an episode that included firing Kris Knoblauch (whose three-year extension will kick in this summer) and tussling with their rivals, the Vegas Golden Knights, over Bruce Cassidy, Edmonton’s brass has finally settled on a name to serve as the 19th head coach in franchise history.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mike Babcock, the newest head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, a man who will be tasked with delivering the holy grail of hockey before Connor McDavid runs down his two-year, $25 million contract.
How NHL Fans Reacted to Oilers Hiring Mike Babcock
The Oilers’ interest in Babcock stemmed directly from the Golden Knights refusing to give Edmonton permission to interview Bruce Cassidy, who was fired towards the end of the regular season. With options few and far between, and the brass wanting a veteran presence as bench boss, the Oilers turned to Babcock.
Last week, the NHL wrapped up its investigation into Babcock’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Columbus Blue Jackets tenure, clearing the way for Edmonton to bring him on board.
Reaction to Babcock taking over in Oil Country was swift, pointed, brutal, and, honestly, a little funny.
The @EdmontonOilers have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach 🔵🟠 pic.twitter.com/AniyZMVA5D
— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2026
“We are laughing,” wrote Russell Morgan.
“Thanks for taking that discount, McDavid,” added Ryan Mead, host of Blueshirts Breakaway. Daily Faceoff’s Jonny Lazarus pointed out, “The drama of this offseason has already been insane, and we’re not even at the Draft yet.
Adam Gretz believes the move’s doomed from the beginning. “I think this is going to be a spectacular failure,” he wrote on X.
“This season’s about to be wild,” added Drew Livingstone.
With a 90-74 record across 164 games in 14 postseason appearances, Babcock ranks 10th all-time in wins. That pedigree is what Edmonton is betting on, but then again, Babcock hasn’t won a playoff series since 2013, and hasn’t coached in the league since 2019.
While he did win a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, that roster was loaded with multiple Hall of Famers. His twin Olympic gold medals with Team Canada also came with rosters loaded with ridiculous talent.
The Oilers, on the other hand, have more than a few teething issues to tend to before the new season rolls around.
Why The Oilers Are On The Clock
It’s no secret that the Oilers are feeling the heat this summer. Connor McDavid’s bargain-basement $12.5M AAV contract kicks in this year, which means when the coming season draws to a close, he will be eligible to sign an extension.
The NHL’s top dog clearly left money on the table to give Stan Bowman some room to maneuver in an effort to load up on this year’s iteration of the roster. So far, Bowman has handed out extensions to Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson, locking up some depth.
They’re still crying out for some depth scoring and blueline help, especially with Darnell Nurse expected to be traded. They have even bigger questions in goal, given how the Tristan Jarry gamble played out.
Bowman has his work cut out for him this summer, and considering this is the biggest gamble Edmonton has taken in years, the coming season will be the epitome of a make-or-break year for the Oilers.
