NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL announced Thursday that it has wrapped up its investigation into Mike Babcock’s stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets and determined he is eligible to be hired by the Edmonton Oilers.
The league opened the review at the request of the NHL Players’ Association after Edmonton expressed interest in bringing Babcock back to the bench. In an official statement, the NHL said that even when viewing the circumstances in the least favorable way possible, there was no justification for preventing him from being employed.
Whether Edmonton will formally announce Babcock as their new head coach — and when that might happen — remains to be seen. The team has been searching for a new coach after parting ways with Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff elimination, which came on the heels of two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
Babcock, 63, has been away from NHL coaching since 2019, when Toronto let him go 23 games into his fifth season leading the team. He returned to the league when the Blue Jackets brought him on board on July 1, 2023, but he stepped down that September after controversy erupted over his practice of asking players to share personal photos with him as a way to get acquainted — a move widely criticized as an invasion of their privacy.
The NHLPA issued a statement describing the original allegations as “very concerning” and added, “Moving forward, we expect that Mr. Babcock will uphold the high standards required of NHL head coaches.”
The NHL had initially shelved its investigation when Babcock resigned from Columbus. The inquiry was revived this week after the Stanley Cup Final concluded.
Babcock’s coaching resume includes leading Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008 and two additional trips to the final. He also guided Canada to Olympic gold medals in both 2010 and 2014.
