On Tuesday afternoon, the Edmonton Oilers officially announced the hiring of Mike Babcock as their next head coach. They also brought in D.J. Smith, the former head coach of the Ottawa Senators, who most recently served as the interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, to join his staff as an assistant coach.
Babcock arrives in Edmonton with a coaching résumé that is difficult to overlook at any level.
He not only led the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008, but also guided teams to the Stanley Cup Final three times as a head coach (with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2003 and again with Detroit in 2009). He has also captured Olympic gold medals in both the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Games as head coach of Team Canada, adding more cache to his career accolades.
And regardless of his past controversies, the Oilers clearly feel that Babcock is the right man for the job as they look not only to return to the Stanley Cup Final but also to get the job done this time after consecutive heartbreaking losses in 2024 and 2025 to the Florida Panthers. Additionally, GM Stan Bowman is doing what he feels is necessary to maximize the team’s chances of winning while Connor McDavid remains under contract for the next two seasons.
“There’s going to be lots of hard communication,” Babcock said in his introductory press conference on Tuesday via NHL.com. “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.
“Obviously, a lot of things have changed since when I talked about ’02. It’s ’26 today, the League’s changed, the players changed and you have to change and grow as a coach. You just have to. I know from experience what won in the Olympics (in Vancouver) in 2010, what couldn’t win in Sochi in 2014. You have to adjust, you have to get better. You have to change. And that’s the process that starts here tomorrow.”
The Oilers have their next head coach, but there is still one critical move that they must make if they are to make good on maximizing Babcock’s time behind their bench and the remaining time left on McDavid’s contract.
The Oilers and GM Stan Bowman must upgrade their goaltending
Once again, this most recent season, the Oilers were confronted with the familiar issue that their goaltending simply hasn’t been strong enough to push them over the top. In December, they made a significant move to address the position, sending Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Tristan Jarry, who had also endured struggles of his own and was even placed on waivers last season.
Jarry had a difficult stretch with the Oilers and was even scratched for the opening games of the series as the team turned to Connor Ingram in net, though he was unable to steady things despite his efforts. In the end, Jarry was tagged with three of the four losses while posting a 3.86 goals-against average, and his lone appearance came in Edmonton’s 4–3 overtime defeat in Game 4.
With Babcock now in place behind the Oilers’ bench, the focus shifts to Stan Bowman, who must start charting a clear path toward upgrading the team’s goaltending situation. Several potential targets have already been floated, including St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington, who has continued to show he can perform at a high level when supported by stronger talent, as seen during his appearances for Team Canada at the 2024 Four Nations Face-Off and again at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Binnington has also previously been teammates with Connor McDavid during both of those international tournaments.
While it remains a long shot, current Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who famously led Team USA to an upset victory over Canada in Olympic play, is reportedly on the trading block as well. Whether he would be willing to entertain a move to northern Alberta still remains to be seen at this point. Additionally, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault has also been mentioned as another intriguing candidate for the Oilers to consider seriously moving forward.
One thing is certain, however. The Oilers’ chances of making a deep postseason run would be significantly hampered if they enter the upcoming season with Tristan Jarry as their unquestioned starting goaltender. Edmonton owes it to McDavid and the core roster to provide the strongest possible chance to win while he is still in his prime with the organization, and beginning the season with Jarry atop the depth chart simply does not accomplish that goal.
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