Mike Babcock was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Following his first press conference, NHL insider Ryan Rishaug shared his thoughts on Babcock’s return to the NHL.
“It was fascinating,” he said.
After all, the Edmonton Oilers are looking to bounce back in the 2026-2027 season after a disappointing 2025-2026 campaign. However, after reaching two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, they were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks.
READ MORE: Bruce Boudreau’s honest words about Mike Babcock
Oilers hire Mike Babcock
As a result, the organization decided changes were necessary. In an effort to return to contender status, the Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch. From there, they sought permission from the NHL to hire the controversial Mike Babcock as their new head coach.
Babcock has not coached in the NHL since 2019, when he was behind the bench for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Columbus Blue Jackets hired him in 2023, but he resigned before coaching a single game. Allegations that Babcock had invaded players’ privacy ultimately led to his departure.
Before the Oilers could hire Mike Babcock, however, the NHL conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his exit from Columbus. Ultimately, the investigation did not uncover anything that would prevent Edmonton from hiring him.
First press conference
On Tuesday, Babcock held his first press conference as Oilers head coach. Naturally, he was immediately asked by TSN reporter Ryan Rishaug about the controversy in Columbus.
“It was very evident before the year started… I hadn’t benched anybody, I hadn’t talked to anybody, I hadn’t sat anybody out, and it was evident that we weren’t together as a staff right from the get-go. My wife gave me a call, and she said it was time to get out of there. I’ve been retired, and I was pretty good at it. I got back to being retired,” Babcock responded.
NHL insider’s honest take
Afterward, Ryan Rishaug spoke with NHL insider Jay Onrait about Babcock’s press conference.
“It was fascinating. If anybody out there was expecting a Mike Babcock apology tour on his way back to NHL coaching, that was not the case. It got off to a bizarre start. I asked him a detailed question, essentially, ‘What happened in Columbus?’ He’s had weeks to think about this,” Rishaug said.
Rishaug then recounted Babcock’s answer and elaborated further on the press conference.
“If people were thinking there was going to be a Mike Babcock who sat there reflecting on mistakes from the past and how he learned from them, or how he might approach things a little differently, there was none of that. None of that.”
You can watch the video below.
READ MORE: Fans react to the Edmonton Oilers’ hiring of Mike Babcock
