NHL investigating Mike Babcock before Oilers can hire him, after NHLPA request
Posted June 10, 2026 1:43 pm.
Last Updated June 10, 2026 1:44 pm.
Mike Babcock still has to clear some hurdles before he can be a head coach again.
The NHL is moving ahead with a full investigation into Babcock’s departure from Columbus before the Edmonton Oilers can hire him, sources confirmed to Sportsnet on Wednesday.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday that the NHLPA asked the NHL to do the investigation.
READ: Edmonton Oilers discussing potential hire of Mike Babcock with NHLPA
According to Friedman’s sources, at issue is the fact that the league was prepared to investigate what happened with the Blue Jackets until Babcock resigned in September of 2023. Once he stepped down, it never happened. The union’s current position is that this should happen — and conclusions reached — before he could be eligible now.
Babcock, 63, was last in the NHL prior to the 2023 season when he resigned as coach of the Blue Jackets before coaching a regular-season game after Spittin’ Chiclets podcaster and former NHLer Paul Bissonnette accused him of improperly viewing players’ smartphones.
According to multiple sources, one of the most serious concerns was a meeting that occurred away from team facilities that included “several minutes” of looking through a phone.
Babcock has coached 1,301 career regular-season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks. He also has 164 post-season games under his belt.
He won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.
