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Oilers officially hire Mike Babcock after NHL investigation
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- Oilers officially hire Mike Babcock after NHL investigation
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The Edmonton Oilers have had 18 head coaches since the franchise moved from the World Hockey Association to the National Hockey League in 1979-80 — and Mike Babcock is now the 19th .
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The hiring had been expected since the NHL completed its review of Babcock last week, and the Oilers made it official on Tuesday morning.
Babcock arrives in Edmonton with one of the most decorated coaching résumés in modern hockey. Over parts of 17 NHL seasons, the 63-year-old compiled a 700-418-183 record while capturing a Stanley Cup championship with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He also guided Team Canada to Olympic gold medals in both 2010 and 2014.
The Oilers were the NHL's final team without a head coach this offseason, and with Babcock now officially in place, every club has a bench boss for the 2026-27 campaign.
Babcock has not coached in the NHL since being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2019-20 season. He was later hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, but stepped down before coaching a game after reports surfaced that he had asked players to share personal photos from their phones.
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Despite that controversy, Edmonton's front office clearly believes Babcock can help a team that has repeatedly fallen just short of its ultimate goal.
The Oilers reached consecutive Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025 before suffering a disappointing first-round exit against the Anaheim Ducks this spring. That result ultimately led to the dismissal of Kris Knoblauch and intensified the pressure on management to find a coach capable of maximizing a roster built around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl .
Babcock has already begun establishing expectations.
According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, the veteran coach recently met with several Oilers players and delivered a direct message regarding their role in the franchise's continued pursuit of a championship.
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That approach is consistent with the demanding coaching style that has defined Babcock's career.
It's Stanley Cup or bust for Babcock and the Oilers, and after coming oh-so-close multiple times in the McDavid era, Edmonton is betting that one of sport's most successful coaches can finally get them back to hockey's peak for the first time since 1990.
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