Now that the Stanley Cup Final is complete, the NHL will officially begin its investigation into Mike Babcock’s 2023 resignation from Columbus.
Sources indicate there will be multiple parties interviewed as part of the process. At issue is whether there will be any further penalty or if the Oilers will be free to hire him.
In their search for a new head coach, Edmonton targeted experience, a winning history and someone who wouldn’t be afraid to dictate to the team’s superstar leadership.
To this point denied permission to speak to Bruce Cassidy, the Oilers decided to include Babcock as part of their search. He met with ownership and the front office, and later, according to multiple sources, he was one of two contenders who met face-to-face with a small group of players in Toronto. (Peter Laviolette, eventually hired in Los Angeles, was the other.)
A few executives and players around the league have indicated Oilers management and players contacted them for feedback on Babcock.
At that point, the organization contacted the league and the players involved contacted the NHLPA to ask if there was anything blocking them from hiring him.
The union, in particular, reacted negatively, and there were multiple conversations where it voiced objections. However, those members of the Oilers leadership group were satisfied by what they’d heard from other players and Babcock directly. They were prepared to move ahead with the hiring, if allowed.
(One thing those Oilers players who met with Babcock should do is explain to teammates what convinced them this should be a legit option.)
There were reports of issues beyond looking at players’ phones that got Babcock into trouble in Columbus. When he resigned then, the NHL and NHLPA dropped the matter, but sources indicate there was at least one other conversation that caused concern.
One of the initial challenges here is that some Blue Jackets players and staff members from back then initially indicated they had no desire to re-live what happened three years ago and didn’t want to participate. So we will see how the investigation handles that, or if anyone moves past that reluctance.
Several agents of Edmonton players who were not involved in direct conversations with Babcock also voiced concerns, adding they didn’t like the idea of clients being traded there, either.
The Oilers appear willing to wait to see the conclusions of this investigation before ruling out Babcock as a contender. Now that the playoffs are over, there is also Vegas’s decision on Cassidy. Will they grant permission for the Oilers, or anyone else, to talk to him?
Right now, the only other opening is Toronto.
