Connor McDavid and Mike Babcock are suddenly tied to Edmonton's biggest summer decision.
Chris Johnston's latest read is the part that landed hard. He said he does not expect Babcock to be blocked from coaching in Edmonton once the league process plays out.
That is a major shift in tone around this search. For days, the investigation felt like the thing that could blow the whole plan apart.
Now it sounds more like a delay than a dead end. The NHL officially opened its investigation into Babcock's 2023 exit from Columbus after the Stanley Cup Final wrapped up.
That matters because Edmonton already fired Kris Knoblauch on May 14 and still has not named a replacement. The longer that bench stays empty, the louder every Babcock update gets.
The Oilers also are not operating in a quiet market. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are sitting right in the middle of a win-now window, so a dragged-out coaching search always feels heavier there than it would on a rebuilding team.
" Chris Johnston on Babcock and the NHL investigation (TCJS): "I do not have any expectations that he's not going to be allowed to coach in Edmonton"
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Chris Johnston drops major update that all but confirms Mike Babcock to the Oilers
Because being allowed to coach and being the right hire are not the same thing. The NHLPA pushed for this review before Edmonton could move ahead, and that alone told you there was real discomfort around the league.
Friedman also reported that agents for some Edmonton players who were not even part of direct conversations voiced concern about the idea of Babcock coaching there. That is not small background noise.
So Johnston's expectation calms one part of the story, but it does not erase the backlash piece. If Edmonton hires Babcock, the debate is only getting started, not ending.
There is still a hockey reason the Oilers keep circling him. Babcock is an experienced bench boss, and Edmonton clearly wants a strong voice after moving on from Knoblauch.
But this search has already cost them time and air. Bruce Cassidy talk went nowhere, the Babcock review took over the headlines, and now the club is stuck waiting for the final green light.
That is why Johnston's comment feels so important. It points to a finish where the investigation may not stop Edmonton at all.
If that happens, the Oilers will have their answer. The next question will be whether they are ready for everything that comes with it.
Should the Oilers still hire Mike Babcock if the NHL clears him?
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