The Edmonton Oilers have hired Mike Babcock as their new coach. This comes after the NHL cleared him following an investigation into his actions during his aborted 2023 stint in Columbus.
Background and Experience
Babcock has a wealth of experience, having coached Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008. He also guided Canada to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
However, Babcock’s past has been marred by controversy. He stepped down from the Blue Jackets’ job before training camp in September 2023 after taking the job on July 1. At the time, Babcock’s requests for personal photos from players drew criticism as an invasion of privacy.
Former players have spoken out about Babcock’s old-school tendencies, which some have described as bullying. Despite this, the NHL found nothing to prevent him from being employed by a team.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
