On Thursday morning, the NHL released a statement confirming the completion of an independent investigation into Babcock's conduct during his brief 2023 stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The league concluded that the veteran bench boss is cleared to resume his coaching career, effectively giving the Edmonton Oilers the green light to pursue him to fill their current vacancy.
“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 said, without referring to a specific incident. “Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League.”
#NHL statement on Mike Babcock investigation: pic.twitter.com/p48B48pB5A
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 18, 2026
The league's investigation was launched last week at the behest of the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) after the Oilers expressed serious interest in hiring the 63-year-old.
Babcock has not coached a game in the NHL since being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019. He was hired by the Blue Jackets in July 2023 but resigned in disgrace before training camp even began. His departure followed serious allegations—brought to light by former players and the Spittin' Chiclets podcast—that he had invaded players' privacy by asking to view personal photos on their cell phones during one-on-one meetings.
The NHLPA released its own statement following Thursday's ruling, making it clear they are still monitoring the situation closely. "While we found the allegations of Mike Babcock’s conduct as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach very concerning, the League has decided that there is no current basis on which to restrict his employment," the union stated. "Moving forward, we expect that Mr. Babcock will uphold the high standards required of NHL head coaches.