Oilers Sending Mixed Messages to Fans Amid Mike Babcock Rumours

It feels a bit like a hornet’s nest got kicked in Edmonton this week. When TSN’s Darren Dreger sent out a tweet in the early afternoon of June 8 mentioning that the Oilers had contacted the NHLPA about any objections to hiring Mike Babcock as their next head coach, it seemed like all hell broke loose.

Fast forward a few hours later, and Oilers insider Bob Stauffer mentioned on his show Oilers Now on 880 CHED that “100 per cent, Mike Babcock is the Oilers’ guy.” Stauffer works for the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) and often gets his scoops directly from ownership or management. All of this news leaves fans and the media wondering why the Oilers aren’t waiting for the Vegas Golden Knights to give consent before speaking with Bruce Cassidy.

Why Babcock? Why Now?

Hockey insider Frank Seravalli went on Oilers Now with Stauffer and didn’t hold anything back, calling the Oilers potentially hiring Babcock “a massive tactical error.”

Throughout the 18-minute segment, both Stauffer and Seravalli got heated. Stauffer was protecting the OEG’s side of the story, while Seravalli was questioning why the Oilers can’t wait a little longer to see how the Cassidy saga finally unfolds in Vegas. If you haven’t heard the interview, it’s well worth the listen as these two reporters went head-to-head from beginning to end.

Edmonton Sports Radio Innundated With Fan Messages

On the morning show on Sports 1440 the day after Dreger broke the story, host Kevin Karius mentioned that the radio station’s text line was among the busiest he had ever seen it. Many Oilers fans are in shock at the moment.

The potential hiring of Babcock as Oilers new head coach is definitely a divisive topic in Edmonton. And it’s good to see different members of the mainstream media picking sides rather than just force-feeding one side of the story, which can often happen in Edmonton.

The Oilers Should Stay Away From Babcock

When I started listening to Stauffer’s show, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He mentioned that ownership, management and the players were all on board in terms of signing Babcock. Stauffer even included that both Oilers owner Daryl Katz and his son Harrison Katz had both interviewed Babcock. The only hurdle was getting consent from the NHLPA.

Why couldn’t the Oilers wait to talk to Cassidy? Do they know something we don’t? What about other coaching candidates such as Denver Pioneers head coach David Carle, who has been successful wherever he’s gone? To me, Babcock is yesterday’s news and should stay retired. He also resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets after an NHLPA investigation that he had violated players’ privacy when he asked to see photos on their cell phones. Hopefully he’s learned a lesson from that experience.

It Seems Like the Oilers Are in Full Panic Mode

Connor McDavid’s two-year contract is about to kick in and it feels like it’s really Stanley Cup or bust for the Oilers in 2026-27. The Oilers can’t afford to bring in the wrong people to guide the ship. The jury is still out on Oilers general manager Stan Bowman, especially after some questionable signings and contracts, namely to Tristan Jarry and Trent Frederic. It seems like Cassidy would be the right hire as their next head coach but the Golden Knights still have him under contract and hold all the cards.

For an insider like Stauffer to come out and say that Babcock is 100 per cent the Oilers guy feels like a move of desperation from the Oilers organization. If Babcock does get hired and succeeds, then all of the panic will be for naught. However, if this blows up in the Oilers face, they’re going to have an even angrier ticket-buying fan base to deal with.