Here is a sentence I never thought I would put together: After being fired as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets before the team even held its first practice, Mike Babcock is reportedly set to be hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
Yes, you read that right. Mike Babcock. That Mike Babcock.
The very same guy who was hired by the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2023-only to be out the door before the first day of training camp as a result of an off-ice scandal. The very same Mike Babcock who cost this team its long-time general manager just a few months later.
What happened?
I'm still not certain on all of the details, but in case you missed it, here is the rundown.
Babcock was hired by the Blue Jackets because the team had regressed heavily under then-head coach Brad Larsen. It wasn't all Lars' fault, as they were digging into a rebuild. But, someone had to pay the price.
At that point, the team had "bottomed out" and "earned" a high pick at the draft, selecting Adam Fantilli with the third overall pick. There was a buzz about the organization because it was rumored that one of the winningest head coaches in NHL history was coming to town.
The Jackets made it official on July 1st, 2023. The day after his contract had expired with the Toronto Maple Leafs, they pounced, signing Babcock as their next head coach. In hindsight, it was the absolute wrong move-as was admitted by the organization.
Despite his record of success, there were a lot of question marks surrounding Babcock. His handling of former players such as Johan Franzen and Mike Modano were highly discussed, in particular. It seemed that for every victory, came some kind of behind the scenes controversy.
Of course, this is Columbus. So, when things go wrong, they go comically wrong. That's exactly what happened. Babcock would never even coach a single Blue Jackets game.
As he was set to begin training camp, he started meeting with the players. His exercise to get to know them: perusing through their camera roll in their cell phones. Many players had no problem with this. In fact, most of them appreciated the coach trying to get to know them.
Except for at least one young player. Reportedly, Babcock took his phone into another room and spent a substantial period of time going through his phone before returning it and kicking him out of the house without a promised meal.
That's all it took for the crap to hit the proverbial fan. The incident leaked to Paul Bissonnette of Spittin Chiclets fame, and the rest is history.
The Oilers are hiring him?
That Blue Jackets scandal seems like an eternity ago, but it was only three years. Now, the Edmonton Oilers are zeroing in on Babcock as their next head coach. I would love to say that I'm shocked to see it, but I'm honestly not.
Bob Stauffer: 100% Mike Babcock is the Oilers guy...from ownership, to management, to the players, he is the selection - Oilers Now (6/8)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 8, 2026
This is the NHL. There are only 32 head coaching positions available. So, of course this job is going to get handed back to one of the league's good old boys. Why would we expect any different from Edmonton GM Stan Bowman, who is himself well established in that group?
After all, being in that group is the only reason Bowman has a job at this point, anyhow. Despite having the best hockey player on the planet, he still can't assemble a Stanley Cup winner. In time, I believe he will go down as one of the worst GMs in this era of the NHL.
Maybe hiring Babcock will change that. I wouldn't bet on it, though.
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