Babcock’s Return Could Backfire for Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly eyeing Mike Babcock as head coach, but backlash is mounting. Babcock resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets in September 2023 amid privacy scandals involving cell phone photos — the NHL was about to investigate before he stepped down. Now, the NHLPA is pushing for any hiring to pause until a full review is complete, with insiders hinting at unreported player complaints. For a team chasing a championship with stars like McDavid and Draisaitl, bringing in a coach with this baggage could be a distraction and career gamble. Former exec Pierre McGuire warns that if anything negative surfaces from Columbus, he’d strongly advise against it — especially given Babcock’s long absence from the NHL since 2019 and the high stakes for a team with a short window to win. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8c36b8bdeafc03fa