Oilers Stars Discuss Why They Support Hiring of Coach Mike Babcock

Three of the Edmonton Oilers’ top stars took the opportunity on Monday (July 27) to share their excitement about the team’s controversial hiring of Mike Babcock as head coach.

Forwards Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid were partaking in Hyman’s annual charity golf tournament in Toronto, where they spoke with media.

Babcock was named new head coach of the Oilers on June 23, returning to the NHL nearly three years after resigning from the Columbus Blue Jackets amid reports that he invaded the privacy of players. Following an investigation, the NHL concluded that there was no current basis to restrict the Stanley Cup-winning coach’s employment in the league.  

During Babcock’s introductory press conference in Edmonton last month, it was revealed that he had met with Draisaitl, Hyman and McDavid prior to being hired. On Monday, the trio of Oilers provided insight into why they are so supportive of Edmonton’s decision to hire Babcock.

Change in Personality

Draisaitl touched on how important it was for the Oilers players to have met with Babcock: “As we all know, there’s history there, but I think we got that all off the table. We had an honest conversation about it; he was very honest about it. I think for us it’s time to move on, to look forward to the start of the year, and we’re extremely excited.”

The 63-year-old Babcock has a reputation for being old school, which couldn’t be further from the public perception of prior Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch, 47, who was fired in May after two and a half seasons with the Oilers.

While Knoblauch guided the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years, 2024 and 2025, he couldn’t quite get them over the top, and Edmonton took a big step back last season when they were eliminated in the Round 1 of the playoffs.

In the midst of Edmonton’s disappointing 2025-26 campaign, there was talk that Knoblauch wasn’t tough enough on his players. Draisaitl acknowledged things will be different under Babcock.

“I think it’s just the time that we’re all (at) in our career, the age that we’re at, and I think he’s the right guy to get us to where we want to get to,” said Draisaitl, who turns 31 in October. “Obviously it’s a different look and change in personality, but (I’m) very excited to learn from him, very excited to work with him and very excited to get going.”

Winning Experience

Over stints with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002-03 to 2003-04), Detroit Red Wings (2005-06 to 2014-15), and Toronto Maple Leafs (2015-16 to 2019-20), Babcock has won 700 regular season games, 12^th most all-time in the NHL.

He’s the only coach in hockey history whose teams have won the Stanley Cup (2008 with Detroit), World Cup (2016 with Team Canada), World Championship (2004 with Team Canada), World Junior Championship (1997 with Team Canada), and Olympic gold medal (2010 and 2014 with Team Canada).

It’s an absolutely stacked resume that clearly resonates with McDavid, who’s already had five different coaches over his first 11 NHL seasons.

“We see a great opportunity to be coached by someone who’s coached in every single big game there is to coach in, who’s been successful, won cups, gold medals,” the Oilers captain said. “You name it, he’s done it.

“It’s a great opportunity for us players to be coached by somebody like him and learn off him and with where our groups at and what we’re looking for, he’s the perfect fit,” McDavid continued. “He’s not going to need to come in and find who he is as a coach and find himself in any situations, he knows what he’s about as a coach and it’s our job as players to be ready to go.”

Vouching for Babcock

Hyman was coached by Babcock for the winger’s first five seasons in the NHL, with the Maple Leafs from 2015-16 to 2019-20. As such, Hyman’s assessment of the new bench boss carries plenty of weight.

“Lots of teammates, obviously, when you’re the guy who’s played for a coach that’s coming in, everybody wants your opinion or your take on it,” said Hyman, who left Toronto for Edmonton as a free-agent in 2021, the year after Babcock was fired by the Maple Leafs.

“I obviously had a very good experience with Mike in Toronto, and I thought that he did a great job with a lot of the young players that were there,” the 34-year-old continued. “All of us have had pretty long careers and are still playing and he set the foundation for us, so I think he’s a phenomenal coach.

“I think extremely highly of him and I’m happy he went through the process with the NHL and NHLPA and all those questions were answered, and I think from a players’ standpoint, we’re excited for what he brings.”

One of the major talking points around Babcock’s hiring was the input of Draisaitl and McDavid. Hyman said it was “everything” for the Dynamic Duo to give their blessing.

I think that’s where sports is going, is players have a lot of insight, especially players of their calibre, into what they’re looking for,” Hyman said. “We all want to win, that’s the goal, and I think to have the ability to actually talk to somebody before they come in and understand what they would do and what their philosophy is and how they like to coach, and to be able to talk to them before the decision was made, was a great experience.”

Edmonton’s big guns are certainly on board with Babcock. Time will tell whether their Oilers teammates feel the same way once the 2026-27 NHL season gets underway in September.