Following their loss in the Western Conference Semifinal at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, the Edmonton Oilers terminated head coach Kris Knoblauch along with assistant coach Mark Stuart.
Despite having been behind the bench for each of Edmonton’s last two runs to the Stanley Cup Final, Oilers GM Stan Bowman felt a change in leadership was needed. But the direction they’re going in is one not many would have guessed.
Former NHL head coach Mike Babcock, who stirred up controversy from his alleged actions upon taking the head coaching position with the Columbus Blue Jackets that eventually led to his resignation without ever coaching a single game with them, is the frontrunner to land the Oilers’ position. According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the NHL is now beginning a full investigation into what led to Babcock’s departure from Columbus.
“Now that the Stanley Cup Final is complete, the NHL will officially begin its investigation into Mike Babcock’s 2023 resignation from Columbus,” Friedman wrote via Sportsnet. “Sources indicate there will be multiple parties interviewed as part of the process. At issue is whether there will be any further penalty or if the Oilers will be free to hire him.”
Babcock is a former Stanley Cup-winning head coach with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, and also won Olympic gold medals as head coach of Team Canada in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. But his past alleged behavior towards players from both franchises has since come under heavy scrutiny, and his reported actions upon taking the head coaching position with the Blue Jackets will be the source of the now fully underway investigation by the NHL
Whether or not the Oilers eventually hire Babcock remains to be seen.
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