The Edmonton Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock as the franchise’s 19th head coach is already one of the most talked-about moves of the NHL offseason.
Babcock replaces Kris Knoblauch, who was dismissed after Edmonton’s disappointing first-round playoff exit to the Anaheim Ducks. Now, the veteran coach takes over a roster headlined by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with one clear expectation: bring the Stanley Cup to Edmonton.
While the Oilers believe Babcock is the coach who can finally get them over the hump, not everyone is convinced the move will work.
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Babcock hasn’t coached an NHL game since being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in November 2019. His attempted comeback with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 ended before training camp after controversy erupted over allegations that he asked to look through players’ personal cell phones.
Before officially hiring him, Edmonton waited until the NHL Players’ Association reviewed the incident and cleared him.
The Oilers also made sure their leadership group was comfortable with the decision. Before finalizing the hire, management consulted Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, who previously played under Babcock in Toronto. All three supported the move, believing Babcock’s demanding, structured coaching style could help the team take the next step.
That approach, however, raised concerns for former NHL executive and Hall of Famer Brian Burke.
When asked if he was on board with involving the locker room’s leadership group in the hiring process, Burke gave a blunt response: “No.”
Burke explained that while star players have always had influence behind the scenes, publicly linking them to the hiring creates unnecessary pressure if the team struggles.
“These players, star players, have always had input, whether they wanted it or not. This has been pronounced so. Players have been named and taken credit for what happened, backing this change and saying we want accountability. As soon as they go 0-4 at some point, they start sending out players who aren’t in that group.
“It’s going to be ugly. I don’t like it, but like I said, give it a chance,” Burke said.
His concern wasn’t necessarily about Babcock himself, but about the spotlight now placed on Edmonton’s leadership group if the coaching change fails to produce immediate results.
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High Risk, High Reward
Whether fans love or dislike Babcock, his résumé speaks for itself. He owns more than 700 NHL regular-season victories and guided the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 2008.
Edmonton is betting that his structured defensive system and demanding coaching style can turn one of hockey’s most talented rosters into a championship team after several years of falling just short.
During his introductory press conference, Babcock acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding his return and addressed questions about his coaching style.
“There’s going to be lots of hard communication. But as long as that communication is straightforward, and behind closed doors and respectful of one another, we have a chance to improve the organization and get better,” Babcock said.
The hockey world will be watching Edmonton with a microscope. Whether this gamble results in a Stanley Cup parade or an absolute locker room disaster will define the next decade of Oilers history.
