The NHL’s June 18 statement cleared Mike Babcock for league employment, paving the way for the Oilers to install the 63-year-old as their 19th coach five weeks after firing Kris Knoblauch.
Timeline from resignation to rehire
The Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch on May 12 after a first-round playoff exit. Five weeks later the NHL concluded its review. The league’s June 18 statement read that no current basis existed to restrict Babcock’s employment. Edmonton finalized the contract two days afterward.
Babcock had resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 17, 2023, after 62 days without coaching a game. The Spittin’ Chiclets Podcast had alleged he requested players share phone photos. The NHLPA later forwarded additional 2023 claims, though details remain unreported.
Former players Mike Commodore, Johan Franzen and Daniel Winnik publicly criticized Babcock’s treatment of players across multiple teams. Bruce Boudreau told The Hockey News on June 10 that Babcock’s on-ice work remained strong while his interpersonal approach required adjustment.
D.J. Smith joined as associate coach. Smith posted an 11-6-6 record as interim Kings head coach in 2024-25 and a 131-154-32 mark with Ottawa from 2019 to 2024.
Babcock’s documented record
Babcock remains the only coach in the Triple Gold Club, having won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008, Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, and multiple world titles. His NHL regular-season record stands at 1,284-794-238 across 21 seasons.
The Oilers last reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2024. They enter 2026-27 with a roster featuring Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl under long-term contracts.
Babcock and Smith will hold an introductory availability at 12 p.m. MT on June 23. The first regular-season game is scheduled for October 9.
Staff continuity and expectations
Smith previously worked on Babcock’s Toronto staff from 2015 to 2019. The pair now reunite in Edmonton with a mandate to improve special-teams efficiency after the 2025-26 unit ranked 18th in the league.
The hiring marks Babcock’s fourth NHL head-coaching stop. Previous tenures produced 0.623, 0.589 and 0.512 points percentages in Detroit, Toronto and Columbus respectively.
No direct quotes appear in the NHL statement beyond the June 18 clearance language. The Oilers organization issued no additional numerical targets for the upcoming season.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.