What Oilers hiring Mike Babcock means for Connor McDavid
· Yahoo Sports
What Oilers hiring Mike Babcock means for Connor McDavid originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit saltysenoritaaz.com for more information.
It took a while, but the Edmonton Oilers and Mike Babcock are official.
He was announced Tuesday as the Oilers' new head coach, replacing Kris Knoblauch, and his task is immediately clear: Maximize Connor McDavid.
Babcock comes to town with a strong resume, one that also included a question mark that had to be solved before he could be hired.
Babcock has coached for the Ducks, Red Wings and Maple Leafs.
He was hired in 2023 to work for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the NHL investigated him after Babcock resigned without coaching a game.
"He left the Blue Jackets less than three months into the job after his requests to look at personal photos from players' phones drew criticism," ESPN's Emily Kaplan wrote last week.
MORE: It's time to ask a serious Matthew Knies question
The NHL's investigation of Babcock was completed last week.
"The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock's tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith," the NHL said in a statement. "Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League."
Now that the Oilers have made this decision, it all comes down to what Babcock can do with McDavid.
What does Mike Babcock hire mean for Connor McDavid?
This is the kind of hire a team makes to win immediately.
Babcock comes with baggage, but he also comes with strong coaching acumen. The Oilers don't have time to waste.
McDavid has two years left on his current contract. He has yet to win a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. And if it doesn't happen in 2026-27, questions will already start being asked about the potential for a trade.
It's not clear if McDavid himself has any strong feelings on Babcock. He's probably more worried about getting a good enough roster and depth to compete with the best teams in the Western Conference.
This was Edmonton's next step, and the coaching box has been checked off. Now, they've got to get their roster moves right, because they can't afford not to win with McDavid.