Oilers Name Mike Babcock Head Coach, Returning to NHL After 7 Years

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23

Edmonton officially hired Mike Babcock as head coach, bringing the Stanley Cup- and Olympic gold-winning coach back behind an NHL bench for the first time since 2019.
The return revives one of hockey’s most polarizing figures: Babcock resigned from Columbus in 2023 before coaching a game after allegations he asked players to show personal phone photos.
The NHL later investigated and cleared him to coach again, removing the formal barrier to his comeback with an Oilers team coming off a disappointing 2025-26 season.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl now become the immediate test of whether Babcock’s hard-edged style can reset Edmonton quickly enough to restore Stanley Cup expectations.
McDavid’s 2-year extension adds pressure to the move, with the franchise’s long-term direction tied to whether this coaching gamble can convince its superstar core to stay.