NHLPA wants NHL to conduct full investigation of Mike Babcock: Sources (original) (raw)

The Edmonton Oilers are interested in hiring Mike Babcock, who resigned as coach of the Blue Jackets in 2023 amid allegations that he asked players to share personal photos on their phones. Kyle Robertson / USA Today

The NHL Players’ Association informed the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday that it will want a full investigation of what went down in Columbus with Mike Babcock if the NHL team intends to go ahead with hiring the veteran head coach, according to multiple league sources.

The NHL would run that investigation. However, as of Tuesday evening, the NHL hadn’t yet heard from the Oilers on how the team wanted to proceed. Which is to say, the NHL will only go ahead with the investigation if the Oilers tell the league they absolutely want to go ahead and hire Babcock.

So that decision by the Oilers remains.

Babcock last coached an NHL game in November 2019 for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs fired Babcock following a scuffling 9-10-4 start that season. He was just over four years into an eight-year contract. He was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2023 but resigned two months later after allegations surfaced on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast that he asked players to share personal photos on their phones with him.

The NHLPA is involved in the process of Babcock’s potential return because of the allegations brought forward by Blue Jackets players three years ago. At that point in time, there would have been an investigation had Babcock stayed on as coach in Columbus, but he chose to resign instead and the investigation never happened.

The Oilers are searching for a replacement for Kris Knoblauch, who was fired in May after a first-round loss to the Anaheim Ducks. They lost in the Stanley Cup Final with Knoblauch behind the bench the previous two seasons.

Babcock coached the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup win in 2008. He also guided Team Canada to gold medal victories at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

Jun 10, 2026

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