NHL investigation into Mike Babcock nears conclusion as Edmonton Oilers coaching decision looms
The NHL is reportedly pushing to conclude its investigation into Mike Babcock's 2023 resignation from the Columbus Blue Jackets, with multiple sources indicating a decision could come within days. The timing is critical: the Edmonton Oilers remain without a head coach as Connor McDavid enters his age-29 season.
Nick Kypreos reported Tuesday night that those involved in the investigation want it resolved quickly, a signal that has intensified speculation about Babcock's potential return to an NHL bench. The tip, shared via the Real Kyper & Bourne show on June 17, suggests the league is moving faster than many anticipated.
Elliotte Friedman confirmed the NHL has formally opened its probe, which will include interviews with multiple parties connected to Babcock's brief tenure in Columbus. The central question: will Babcock face additional league discipline, or will the Oilers be cleared to hire him?
What the investigation involves
Sources indicate the league will examine not only the phone-related incidents that surfaced in 2023 but also at least one other conversation that raised concerns at the time. When Babcock resigned, the NHL and NHLPA dropped the matter. Now, with Babcock a serious candidate for Edmonton, the league is revisiting those events.
One challenge investigators face is reluctance from some former Blue Jackets players and staff to relive the experience. Several have indicated they do not wish to participate, according to Sportsnet. How the league handles that resistance could shape the investigation's outcome.
Why the Oilers are interested
Edmonton's coaching search began with clear criteria: significant experience, a winning pedigree, and someone unafraid to hold star players accountable. After being denied permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy in Vegas, the Oilers added Babcock to their list.
Babcock met with ownership and front-office staff before sitting down face-to-face with a small group of Oilers players in Toronto. He was one of two finalists for the job, alongside Peter Laviolette, who was later hired by the Los Angeles Kings.
Multiple sources say Oilers management and players contacted executives and players around the league to gather feedback on Babcock. The players' association objected strongly, engaging in several conversations to voice opposition. Despite that pushback, members of Edmonton's leadership group were reportedly satisfied by what they heard from Babcock and from other players who had worked with him.
The roster clock is ticking
The Oilers finished the regular season 41-30-11 with 93 points, then exited the playoffs in the first round, losing to Anaheim in six games. McDavid produced 138 points in 82 games but managed just six in six playoff appearances. Leon Draisaitl added 97 points in 65 games, and Evan Bouchard contributed 95 from the blue line.
Edmonton's roster is built to win now. McDavid is 29. The window is narrowing. The Oilers cannot afford a prolonged coaching search or a hire that fails to maximize this core's remaining prime years.
General manager Stan Bowman, who helped bring the Kyle Beach scandal to light during his tenure in Chicago, is the man making this decision. His own reinstatement cleared the way for his return to hockey, and now he must weigh Babcock's well-documented demanding style against the concerns raised by the union and former players.
What a fast resolution means
Kypreos's report that investigators want to wrap up quickly can be interpreted two ways. Either the probe found nothing significant, and all parties want to move on. Or it found something, and specific parties want the issue resolved before the summer coaching market grows cold.
Speed itself becomes a story when an organization pushes to close a process. The Oilers are not the only team watching. The Toronto Maple Leafs also have an opening, though their search is proceeding separately. And as the Berlin Open 2026 and other summer events unfold, the NHL coaching carousel continues to turn.
Broader implications for player safety
The Babcock case touches on larger questions about how the NHL handles allegations of misconduct. The league's decision to reopen an investigation three years after the fact suggests a growing sensitivity to player welfare and reputational risk.
The NHLPA's strong objections to Babcock's potential hiring indicate that trust remains an issue. Agents of Edmonton players who were not part of the Toronto meeting have also voiced concerns, adding that they dislike the idea of clients being traded into a Babcock-led environment.
Should the investigation clear Babcock quickly, it may embolden other teams to consider him in the future. If it results in sanctions, it could set a precedent for how the league handles similar situations going forward.
What happens next
Oilers fans are watching closely. A poll on Markerzone showed 747 responses to the question of whether Edmonton should hire Babcock if cleared. The outcome of that poll reflects a divided fanbase: some see a proven winner who can push a talented roster over the top; others worry about the baggage that follows him from Toronto, Michigan, and Columbus.
Bowman's decision will define Edmonton's offseason and could shape the final years of McDavid's prime. The investigation's speed suggests a resolution is imminent. Whether that resolution leads Babcock back to an NHL bench or keeps him on the sidelines remains uncertain.
The only guarantee is that the clock is running, and the Oilers cannot afford to wait much longer.
Comments