Hyman Backs Babcock
Oilers' Zach Hyman Defends Mike Babcock Coaching Hire Amid Past Controversies
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Key Points
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Hyman said he had a 'great experience' with Babcock in Toronto and called him 'phenomenal to me as a young player' with 'incredible' teaching ability, noting the Oilers group is excited to have him command the room.
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Babcock's Toronto tenure ended when he was fired midway through the 2019-20 season, and he departed the Leafs in 2021.
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His 2023 stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets ended with his resignation before the season after reports he asked players to share personal photos from their mobile devices.
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Edmonton has previously reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025, underscoring the franchise's enduring playoff aspirations.
Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman is standing behind the team's controversial decision to hire Mike Babcock as head coach, saying he had a "great experience" playing under him in Toronto. Hyman called Babcock "phenomenal to me as a young player" and praised his "incredible" teaching ability, according to TSN.
The hire has drawn immediate scrutiny. Babcock was fired by Toronto midway through the 2019-20 season. He then resigned from Columbus in 2023 before coaching a single game, after reports surfaced that he asked players to share personal photos from their phones, Marker Zone reported.
Hyman Says Players Did Their Homework on Babcock
Hyman did not wave away concerns about Babcock's past. Instead, he said players talked to peers around the league before getting comfortable with the hire. "The guys did their due diligence," he told reporters. The Oilers group is now "excited" to have Babcock command the room, per TSN.
The NHL and NHLPA both conducted reviews before Babcock was cleared to coach again. Edmonton leaned on that process as a key reason to move forward. The organization views the hire as a way to stabilize the dressing room and raise the team's performance level, Head Topics reported.
Babcock's Troubled History Clouds His Return
Babcock's last two NHL stops ended badly. Toronto fired him partway through the 2019-20 season after a long run of tension with players. He left the Leafs organization fully in 2021. Two years later, Columbus hired him — then lost him before he coached even one regular-season game.
The Columbus exit came after a report that Babcock had asked players to show him personal photos on their phones. He resigned immediately. That incident stuck in public memory and is the main reason his Oilers hire drew backlash right away, according to Marker Zone.
Oilers Rebound After a Rough 2025 Season
Edmonton is coming off a painful year. The Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division with a 41-30 record and were knocked out in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach Kris Knoblauch was fired after the early exit, opening the door for a big change behind the bench, per Heavy.
The team reached the Stanley Cup Finals in both 2024 and 2025, so expectations remain sky-high. Bringing in Babcock is a direct response to a franchise that wants to push back to the top of the Western Conference and win a championship, TSN reported.
Hyman Believes Babcock Can Push Oilers Over the Hump
Hyman's endorsement carries weight. He played under Babcock in Toronto as a young forward and says that experience shaped his game. He believes the teaching ability Babcock showed him back then is exactly what Edmonton's roster needs right now to take the next step, Head Topics reported.
Some concerns about Babcock still linger publicly, and Hyman acknowledged that. But his message was clear: the players are in. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the charge, Edmonton is betting that Babcock's experience and command can turn a first-round exit into a Stanley Cup run.
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