Oilers Coaching Controversy
NHL Clears Mike Babcock to Coach Edmonton Oilers, Prompting Widespread Social Media Criticism
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The NHL officially cleared controversial coach Mike Babcock on June 18, 2026, opening the door for the Edmonton Oilers to hire him. The league said its investigation found "no current basis to restrict his employment," according to Sportsnet. The decision sparked immediate backlash across hockey media and social platforms.
The Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch earlier in May despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, according to Edmonton Journal. General Manager Stan Bowman then pursued Babcock as a "stern" voice to fix what management described as culture issues. The hashtag #PleaseDoNotHireBabcock trended in Edmonton almost immediately after the clearance news broke.
Babcock's Troubled History That Triggered the Investigation
Babcock won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 and holds a career regular-season record of 700-418-164, one of the best in NHL history, per TSN. But his return to coaching has never been clean. In Toronto, he forced rookie Mitch Marner to rank teammates by work ethic and then shared that list with veterans. Former Detroit player Johan Franzen called him "the worst person I have ever met."
His most recent job ended fast. The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Babcock on July 1, 2023. He resigned just 78 days later, before coaching a single game, after a scandal involving him asking players to show him personal photos on their phones, according to Daily Hive. The NHLPA determined those requests crossed professional boundaries. That episode is what triggered the union's demand for a full investigation when Edmonton came calling.
NHLPA Pushed Back Hard but Could Not Block the Hire
The NHLPA formally asked the NHL to investigate Babcock on June 10, 2026. The union wanted a review of his Columbus tenure and other undisclosed claims before any hire could move forward, per TSN. By June 16, the probe had expanded to include Babcock's treatment of star player Patrik Laine in Columbus, according to reports by Andy Strickland.
NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh made clear the union's limits. "It's the GM, the president, the owner who hires a coach, not the players," Walsh said on SiriusXM NHL Radio. The union cannot legally block the hire. But Walsh signaled Babcock would face "zero-tolerance" scrutiny if he takes the job. Player agents were less measured — Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that several agents told him they would advise clients to block trades to Edmonton if Babcock is hired.
McDavid's Future Now Hangs Over the Entire Decision
Connor McDavid is the central figure in all of this. He earns $12.5 million per year and has two years left on his current extension. ESPN's Greg Wyshynski called the potential hire a "dangerous mistake," warning that Babcock's history of psychological tactics could alienate the team's core stars. McDavid was reportedly part of early meetings with Babcock, but his true feelings on the hire remain unclear.
Analyst Thomas Drance warned that if the Babcock experiment fails, McDavid could seek a trade to a more stable environment. The Oilers have used 10 head coaches in the last 15 years, per RMNB. The Rogers Place arena was at 100% capacity all season, showing fans are still all-in. But agents have already started calling Edmonton a "no-go zone" for certain veterans, according to Dose.ca.
Hockey World Calls the NHL's Ruling a 'Bad Decision'
Reaction online was swift and largely negative. Fans and analysts questioned why the Oilers fired a coach who reached two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals only to pursue someone with Babcock's baggage. CityNews noted that fans expressed "fresh panic" at the prospect. Many pointed out the timing — the Oilers were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks on April 30, just 49 days before the clearance ruling.
Oilersnation argued the modern game has passed Babcock by and that his style is "incompatible with today's athlete." Management's view is the opposite — they see him as a proven winner who can provide structure. The NHL's statement offered no middle ground. The league said, even judged in the "light least favorable" to Babcock, there is "no current basis" to keep him out, per the NHL's official public relations office. The next move belongs to Stan Bowman.
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