Babcock hired as Oilers coach, replaces Knoblauch

Mike Babcock, 63, was hired as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, replacing Kris Knoblauch, who was fired on May 14 after three seasons and two Stanley Cup Final appearances. Babcock returns to the NHL after previously resigning from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the 2023-24 season, and was cleared to work following an NHL investigation into his tenure there. He ranks 12th in NHL history with 700 wins across 17 seasons with Anaheim, Detroit, and Toronto, and won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 as well as back-to-back Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014.