The Edmonton Oilers are the last National Hockey League team without a head coach, but they appear to be closing in on a new bench boss — albeit in controversial fashion.
According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, the NHL has completed its review involving Mike Babcock, removing what was viewed as the final major obstacle to his return to coaching.
With the league’s review now complete, the Oilers are expected to formally begin the process of hiring Babcock, including negotiating the terms of a contract.
“Now that the league has cleared Mike Babcock, word is the Oilers will formally begin the process of hiring him — contract negotiations, etc,” Friedman reported on Thursday.
“Assuming no snags, timeline appears to be early next week.”
The development marks a significant step toward what would be one of the most talked-about coaching hires in recent memory. While nothing has been finalized, all indications suggest Edmonton is preparing to move quickly in an effort to complete the deal before the start of free agency.
Babcock has been heavily connected to the Oilers throughout their coaching search. The 63-year-old remains one of the most accomplished coaches of his generation, winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 while also capturing two Olympic gold medals with Canada and compiling more than 700 career NHL victories.
Still, he hasn’t coached since 2019-20 after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was hired to coach the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, but resigned before the campaign started after reports that he asked players to share private images from their phones.
After another Oilers season ended short of expectations — a first-round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks in 2026 — management appears determined to bring in a coach with extensive experience and a proven track record of winning at the highest level.
The potential hiring is also certain to generate debate across the hockey world given Babcock’s history and the scrutiny that has followed him in recent years. Nevertheless, the Oilers appear comfortable moving forward after the league completed its review.
Barring any unexpected setbacks, Babcock could be officially introduced as the next head coach of the Oilers sometime early next week, if Friedman’s reporting is accurate.
If the hiring proceeds according to plan, and Babcock does indeed take over behind Edmonton’s bench, it’ll be intriguing to see if he can live up to the Stanley Cup or bust expectations the franchise has in 2026-27.
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