06/10/26 11:40:00
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06/10 11:39 CDT Players' union asks NHL for a Mike Babcock investigation if
Oilers want to hire him, AP sources say
Players' union asks NHL for a Mike Babcock investigation if Oilers want to hire
him, AP sources say
By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writers
The NHL Players' Association has asked the league to investigate Mike Babcock's
ill-fated tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets before Edmonton or any other
NHL team can hire him as coach, two people with knowledge of the discussions
said Wednesday.
The request followed reports that the Oilers expressed interest in hiring
Babcock. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity
because the talks were private.
It was not clear whether the league had resumed or restarted an investigation
of the veteran coach who has drawn criticism in recent years for his approach
with players. All coaching hires are subject to league approval.
Babcock resigned from the Blue Jackets in September 2023, less than three
months after taking the job. At the time, Babcock's requests for personal
photos from players in an attempt to get to know them drew criticism as an
invasion of privacy.
"Our players deserve to be treated with respect in the workplace," NHLPA
executive director Marty Walsh said then. "Unfortunately, that was not the case
in Columbus. The club's decision to move forward with a new head coach is the
appropriate course of action."
The union reviewed the situation, but the NHL dropped its planned investigation
of the situation when Babcock stepped down.
Babcock, who turned 63 on April 29, has not coached a game in the league since
being fired by Toronto 23 games into the 2019-20 season. He coached Detroit to
the Stanley Cup in 2008, reached the final with the Red Wings in '09 and
Anaheim in '03, and helped Canada win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2010
and '14.
Once considered one of the best in the profession, former players have spoken
out about Babcock's old-school tendencies that some say can be considered
bullying.
A report surfaced after the Maple Leafs fired Babcock that he had asked a
player to share his ranking of teammates from hardest- to least-hardest working
and then shared that with the rest of the group. Former Red Wings player Johan
Franzen told a Swedish outlet that Babcock was the worst person he had ever met
and said at one point he was terrified to go to the rink.
The Oilers are looking for a replacement for Kris Knoblauch after firing him
following their first-round playoff exit, despite back-to-back trips to the
final before that. They asked Vegas for permission to speak to recently fired
coach Bruce Cassidy, but the Golden Knights rejected that request because he
remains under contract through next season.
The NHL Coaches' Association expressed dissatisfaction over the matter. Deputy
Commissioner Bill Daly last week said Vegas was not in violation of any rules
for denying permission.
"We don't find it unreasonable because we're allowing it to happen," he said.
"I do think Vegas is clearly within their contractual rights to do what they're
doing."
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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