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Mike Babcock coached three teams to the Stanley Cup Final, including the 2007-08 champion Detroit Red Wings. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
June 23 (UPI) -- The Edmonton Oilers hired Mike Babcock as their new coach, replacing fired former coach Kris Knoblauch, the NHL franchise announced Tuesday.
Babcock's hiring occurred just days after the NHL announced he was cleared to return to coaching. The league launched an investigation into Babcock earlier this month related to his 2023 resignation from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
His departure from Columbus before the preseason followed criticism he received for requesting to look at personal photos from players' phones. The NHL Players' Association requested the investigation.
Babcock, 63, who never coached a game for the Blue Jackets, totaled 700 wins, 418 losses, 19 ties and 164 overtime losses over 17 seasons as an NHL coach. He led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 173-133-45 mark from 2015-16 to 2019-20. He also spent time with the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Babcock led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup Final on two occasions, including a 2008 victory. He also led the Mighty Ducks to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the New Jersey Devils.
The Oilers, who lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2025-26, fired Knoblauch last month. Knoblauch, who led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023-24 and 2024-25, posted a 135-77-21 regular-season record over his three-year tenure with the franchise.
The Oilers also announced Tuesday that D.J. Smith was named associate coach under Babcock. Smith served as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from March 1 through the end of the 2025-26 season.
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