Oilers rumors: The ‘concerns’ agents of Edmonton players have about Mike Babcock

After the Edmonton Oilers were defeated in the Western Conference Quarterfinal by the Anaheim Ducks, general manager Stan Bowman made a leadership change, dismissing head coach Kris Knoblauch and assistant coach Mark Stuart.

Right now, the frontrunner to land Edmonton’s vacant coaching position is former NHL head coach Mike Babcock, who resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 after allegations of invading players’ privacy.

There have been varied reactions to Edmonton’s interest in Babcock, and a significant portion of it is understandably negative given Babcock’s past.

An anonymous player reported to Jason Gregor of Daily Faceoff that the chance to play with the superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would be lessened by Babcock’s presence behind the bench.

“The opportunity to play with McDavid or Draisaitl is diminished with the potential to be coached by Babcock. It is a valid concern voiced to me by a few of my clients,” the player said via NHL Trade Rumors.

Additionally, there are reportedly multiple Oilers players who are uncomfortable with the idea of Babcock as the head coach of the team, per NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.

“Several agents of Edmonton players who were not involved in direct conversations with Babcock [i.e. not McDavid, Draisaitl or any others within the ‘leadership group’] also voiced concerns, adding they didn’t like the idea of clients being traded there, either,” Friedman said via Sportsnet.

Babcock is a former Stanley Cup-winning coach with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, and has also coached the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He also won the gold medal as coach of Team Canada in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

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