The NHL Players Association expects the league to conduct a full investigation into Mike Babcock before the Edmonton Oilers can hire him as head coach, sources told ESPN. This stems from Babcock's brief stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, where he resigned in September after an NHLPA probe into alleged player privacy violations involving cellphone photos.

Babcock was hired in July 2023 but never coached a game for Columbus. Team president John Davidson acknowledged at the time that they 'got it wrong' in the hiring process. While the NHLPA shared its findings with the NHL and Blue Jackets management, no formal league investigation has occurred since Babcock's resignation. Oilers players have contacted the NHLPA about Babcock's status and any pending investigations into his conduct.

Edmonton has been in discussions to replace Kris Knoblauch, consulting with their core leadership group about the potential hire. Babcock, 63, hasn't coached in the NHL since November 2019 but brings impressive credentials including a Stanley Cup win with Detroit in 2008 and 700 career victories. His tactics have faced scrutiny previously, particularly an incident with rookie Mitch Marner in Toronto where he asked players to rank teammates' work ethic.

The Oilers' coaching search intensified after the Vegas Golden Knights blocked Bruce Cassidy interviews despite his firing with eight games remaining. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed Vegas is within contractual rights to deny permission to divisional rivals. This creates a complicated path for Edmonton as they weigh Babcock's experience against unresolved conduct questions.