EDMONTON – Mike Babcock’s coaching career has included a Stanley Cup title, two Olympic gold medals, high-profile NHL jobs and scrutiny of his treatment of players.
Here’s a timeline of the key moments leading up to his return to the NHL as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
May 22, 2002 – Mike Babcock is hired by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for his first NHL coaching job.
June 9, 2003 — In his first NHL season, Babcock guides Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Finals, where the Ducks lose to the New Jersey Devils in seven games.
July 15, 2005 – Babcock is hired by the Detroit Red Wings, replacing Dave Lewis, whose contract was not renewed after the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
June 4, 2008 — Babcock wins his first Stanley Cup as the Red Wings defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
June 12, 2009 — Babcock’s Red Wings lose to Pittsburgh in seven games in a Stanley Cup rematch.
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February 28, 2010 — Babcock coaches Canada to Olympic gold on home ice at the Vancouver-Whistler Games.
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February 23, 2014 — Babcock coaches Canada to a second consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Sochi Games.
May 20, 2015 – The Toronto Maple Leafs hire Babcock to an eight-year contract reportedly worth $50 million, making him the NHL’s highest-paid coach.
November 20, 2019 – The Maple Leafs fire Babcock and replace him with Sheldon Keefe.
Nov. 20, 2019 – Questions about Babcock’s treatment of players resurface after his firing, including reports that he asked Mitch Marner to rank teammates by work ethic during Marner’s rookie season.
July 29, 2020 – Babcock joins the University of Vermont men’s hockey program as an unpaid advisor to the coaching staff.
February 21, 2021 – The University of Saskatchewan announces that Babcock is taking over its Huskies men’s team on a full-time volunteer basis for two seasons.
July 1, 2023 – The Columbus Blue Jackets hire Babcock as head coach, returning him to the NHL after nearly four years away from the league.
September 15, 2023 — The NHL Players’ Association begins a review of Babcock’s interactions with Blue Jackets players after reports he asked players to show him photos on their phones.
September 17, 2023 – Babcock resigns before coaching a game for Columbus after NHLPA review.
September 18, 2023 – Blue Jackets president John Davidson calls the hiring a “huge mistake.”
October 9, 2024 — Former Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri revisits criticism of Babcock’s treatment of players in a memoir, including the Marner incident.
June 10, 2026 – NHLPA asks NHL to investigate Babcock’s stay in Columbus after reports link him to Edmonton Oilers head coaching vacancy.
June 18, 2026 – The NHL lets Edmonton hire Babcock after reviewing his conduct in Columbus, saying there is no current basis to limit his league employment.
June 23, 2026 – The Edmonton Oilers announced that Babcock has been hired as the new team’s head coach, taking over from Kris Knoblauch, who was fired following the Oilers’ first-round playoff loss to Anaheim.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 23, 2026.
&copies 2026 The Canadian Press
