Mike Babcock could be back in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, as the NHL is investigating if there's a potential restriction on him returning as a head coach.
Babcock hasn't been in the NHL since being unceremoniously resigning for misconduct unbecoming of a head coach which included delving into the personal lives of players. He's currently being scouted by the Edmonton Oilers but it seems like they need to wait for the NHL to finish their potential investigation into whether or not he's even allowed back.
Babcock was hired in 2023 to help lead the Columbus Blue Jackets but then resigned shortly after due to previous allegations about his conduct as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He asked to see personal photos of players lives, then also asked Mitch Marner to list who he believed his best and worst teammates were - a big no-no when it comes to ethics in professional sports.
The Oilers are consulting the NHLPA and there may be a league investigation before Mike Babcock is hired
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Edmonton Oilers have reached out to the NHL for clarification if they are able to conduct an interview to potentially hire Mike Babcock as head coach with Dreger noting an investigation needs to happen first:
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.
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Suffice to say, fans and the rest of hockey media are absolutely stunned with this development:
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Babcock is certainly a coach who comes with a variety of positives and negatives. He's one of the most successful coaches in the modern era, well-respected for his lineup management and being able to motivate and intensify the lineup.
Babcock's last tenure ended in resignation after multiple allegations surfaced over his conduct in the locker room
But he's also incredibly brash, hard-headed, and controversial. He plays by his own book and it's cost him jobs in the past (ie. Columbus). Babcock is someone who can absolutely help the Oilers but is it at the cost of destroying the locker room culture in the process?
We saw how detrimental that was to Toronto as it very well could have soured relationships with certain players. It's not the matter that Babcock was now gone but more the fact that they let this behaviour go one for so long.
Edmonton already has a lot of pressure to win now because of Connor McDavid, and now you're going to put him in a locker room with a coach who has a history of questioning the motives of his star players? Are you trying to fast track his departure? It's a move that has an air of desperation around it.
Of all the coaches you could search for in the NHL, Mike Babcock's name was legitimately one of the last ones on anyone's list, let alone if he's on there to begin with.
But now he's potentially back behind the bench yet again - I guess we'll see if time heals all wounds when it comes to Babcock's legacy.
Should Mike Babcockbe hired as an NHL coach?
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