According to The Athletic, the NHL Players Association has asked the NHL to conduct an investigation into Babcock's brief 2023 stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets if the Oilers are looking to put pen to paper on a deal with the Stanley Cup-winning coach.Babcock was hired by the Blue Jackets in July of 2023, after previously coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2019.However, he resigned before the season began after the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast reported that he had asked players to share personal photos on their phones with him.ZERO BS.
JUST DAKICH.TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.
DOWNLOAD NOW!Mike Babcock resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 before he ever coached a game for the team.(Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY NETWORK)There was no investigation at the time because of Babcock's resignation.
There's no timeline for this investigation, and if Babcock decides to back out of a deal with the Oilers, there will be no investigation this time either.GOLDEN KNIGHTS REPORTEDLY BLOCK OILERS FROM INTERVIEWING THEIR FORMER HEAD COACH BRUCE CASSIDYHe hasn't coached a game in the league since, and was brought up as a potential option for the Oilers last month, but he indicated that he was retired.But maybe not...Mike Babcock last coached in the NHL during the 2019-20 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.(John E.
Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)Babcock is such an interesting choice for Edmonton, because he comes with quite a bit of baggage and is not known to be one of the more popular coaches among players.Sure, he has an indisputable record, but coaching was never really Edmonton's problem, as they've struggled to get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup in the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl era.The problems have been depth and goaltending, and this ironically mirrors Babcock's situation in Toronto.He found himself with a stellar core — in Toronto it was Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and, for a little bit at the end of his tim...