Mike Babcock is back in the NHL.
The Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday they have hired the longtime head coach to take over their bench.
WATCH LIVE on CityNews 24/7 at 12 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. ET as Babcock gets introduced as next head coach
Babcock, 63, was last in the NHL prior to the 2023 season when he resigned as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets before coaching a regular-season game after Spittin’ Chiclets podcaster and former NHLer Paul Bissonnette accused him of improperly viewing players’ smartphones.
Both the NHLPA and NHL had to sign off on Babcock’s hiring before it became official, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported.
“The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock’s tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith,” a statement from the NHL read. “Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favourable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League.”
Babcock has coached 1,301 career regular-season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks. He also has 164 post-season games under his belt.
He won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.
The Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch last month after losing to the Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Vegas Golden Knights reportedly withheld permission from the Oilers to speak with Bruce Cassidy about their head-coaching vacancy earlier in May.
Cassidy was fired by the Golden Knights earlier this season, but remains under contract.