NHL Clears Mike Babcock, Opening Door for Oilers Hire

The National Hockey League has cleared veteran coach Mike Babcock to return to coaching, removing a significant hurdle for the Edmonton Oilers, who are widely reported to be preparing to hire him. The league announced its decision on Thursday, concluding an investigation into Babcock's conduct during his brief tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.

The NHL launched its review at the request of the NHL Players Association after the Oilers' interest in Babcock became known. In a statement, the league said its investigation concluded that "even in a light least favourable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League." The NHLPA responded with its own statement, calling the allegations against Babcock "very concerning" and adding that it expects him to "uphold the high standards required of NHL head coaches."

Babcock, 63, resigned from the Blue Jackets in September 2023 before coaching a regular-season game. His departure followed reports that he had asked players to share personal photos from their phones as part of an effort to get to know them, a practice criticized as an invasion of privacy. The NHL dropped a planned investigation at...