- Dreger reports Edmonton is consulting the NHLPA before any Babcock hire
- The check ties back to Babcock’s 2023 Columbus exit over player privacy allegations
- Read below for what Pierre LeBrun says about DJ Smith joining the staff
The Edmonton Oilers are serious about Mike Babcock. Serious enough that they’ve already gone to the players’ union about it.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Monday that Edmonton is consulting with the NHLPA to see if any objections need to be cleared before the team can hire Babcock. Dreger added that if an investigation ends up being warranted, the NHL would run it.
Here’s Dreger with the report:
The reason the union even enters the conversation goes back to 2023. Babcock resigned in Columbus before coaching a single regular-season game, amid allegations that he asked players to share personal photos off their phones. The NHLPA looked into it at the time.
Pierre LeBrun added a wrinkle on who might come with him:
LeBrun said he wouldn’t be surprised to see DJ Smith back on Babcock’s staff if the hire goes through. Smith worked under Babcock in Toronto before landing his own head coaching job in Ottawa.
Babcock’s resume is one of the best in the sport. He won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 and back-to-back Olympic golds with Canada in 2010 and 2014.
The endings are the problem. Toronto fired him in November 2019, and the stories about how he treated players trailed him out the door. Columbus never even got him to opening night.
Edmonton has been hunting for a new bench boss all offseason, and the coaching carousel has already spun through a long list of names. Adding Babcock would be the loudest swing of the bunch.
The Oilers can’t make a move until the NHLPA weighs in. That answer comes before Babcock coaches anyone in Edmonton.
