NHL Clears Babcock to Coach Oilers After Columbus Review

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday the league found no basis to prohibit Mike Babcock from coaching after completing an investigation into the coach's brief tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Babcock, 63, was introduced as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers at a news conference the same day.

The Oilers hired Babcock to replace Kris Knoblauch after the Vegas Golden Knights declined to let Bruce Cassidy interview for the position while still under contract.

Bettman spoke after the NHL Board of Governors meeting in New York. Babcock had been hired by Columbus in July 2023 and resigned in September 2023. An NHLPA investigation had examined claims that he asked players to show photos on their cellphones, which the players viewed as a privacy violation.

His resignation at the time prevented an NHL investigation. Before approving the Oilers hiring, the NHL conducted its own review at the NHLPA's request. Bettman said the findings provided no grounds for disqualification.

"Based on our investigation, we concluded there was no basis upon which he should be prohibited from coaching," Bettman said. The league's statement described the findings "in a light least favorable" to Babcock. Bettman added that he personally spoke with Babcock about expected standards.

"We do -- and Mr. Babcock knows it because I spoke to him -- expect a certain level of decorum and conduct among all NHL personnel, especially head coaches," he said. At his Edmonton news conference, Babcock said his wife told him "It's time to get out" of Columbus when controversies intensified.

He described reviewing his actions and said the NHL and NHLPA had conducted a full review.