Oilers Hire Mike Babcock as Head Coach Amid Backlash

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June 23, 2026

Oilers Hire Mike Babcock as Head Coach Amid Backlash

The Edmonton Oilers hired Mike Babcock as head coach on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Edmonton hired Babcock days after the NHL cleared Babcock to coach again. The move ends a nearly three-year absence from an NHL bench for Babcock.

Why Edmonton Bet on a Controversial 700-Game Winner

Edmonton named Mike Babcock head coach on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Babcock replaces Kris Knoblauch, fired in May 2026. The Oilers also hired D.J. Smith as an assistant coach. Smith recently served as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

The NHL Players’ Association requested the Babcock investigation this offseason. The league found no basis to restrict Babcock’s employment. Babcock resigned from Columbus in September 2023 before coaching a game. That exit followed reports Babcock asked players to share personal phone photos.

Mike Babcock owns 700 regular-season wins across three NHL franchises. Babcock won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. Babcock guided Detroit to the playoffs in all 10 of his Detroit seasons. Toronto fired Babcock after a 9-10-4 start in 2019-20.

Babcock owns a rare coaching quadruple of major titles. Babcock won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, a World Championship and a World Cup of Hockey. Babcock won Olympic gold for Canada in 2010 and 2014. Babcock is the 10th coach Edmonton has hired in 15 years.

Edmonton first pursued Bruce Cassidy for the head coach job. Vegas won the 2023 Stanley Cup under Cassidy. The Golden Knights blocked Edmonton from interviewing Cassidy this offseason. That refusal pushed Edmonton toward Mike Babcock instead.

Babcock is the sixth Edmonton coach since the team drafted Connor McDavid first overall in 2015. Babcock is the eighth coach for Leon Draisaitl, drafted third in 2014. The coaching churn underlines Edmonton’s urgency to finally win. D.J. Smith began his coaching career under Babcock in Toronto.

Edmonton wants Babcock to deliver its first Stanley Cup since 1990. The Oilers also want Babcock to convince Connor McDavid to stay long term. McDavid signed a two-year extension starting after the 2027-28 season. Some former players criticized Babcock, with Daniel Winnik calling Babcock a bully.

Knoblauch led Edmonton to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025. The Oilers then lost in the first round this season. Knoblauch was set to begin a three-year extension this July. Babcock, age 63, must restore that contender form fast. Edmonton opens the 2026-27 season under heavy expectations. Babcock inherits a roster led by McDavid and Draisaitl.