The Mike Babcock-Oilers relationship comes down to one specific player
Photo credit: The Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Edmonton Oilers are closing in on hiring Mike Babcock as their next head coach. Steve Simmons connected the dots Monday.
Zach Hyman owes Babcock his career, according to Simmons, and the loyalty runs deep.
Hyman's brother Spencer, who serves as general manager of the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, hired Babcock's son Michael as head coach just days before Edmonton's decision accelerated.
Simmons argues this is no coincidence. But the more revealing detail is what the timeline actually suggests about how long this hire has been in motion.
The public narrative positioned Babcock as a fallback after the Vegas Golden Knights blocked Bruce Cassidy from interviewing with divisional rivals.
Edmonton supposedly pivoted.
The Brantford hiring tells a different story.
Spencer Hyman didn't make a snap decision on Michael Babcock. OHL coaching searches involve vetting, interviews, and board approval.
That process was running concurrently with the NHL search, which means the Hyman and Babcock families were deepening their professional relationship well before Cassidy's door officially closed.
The endorsement carries more weight than it looks
Hyman isn't just any roster player vouching for an old coach. He scored 31 goals and 52 points in 58 games this season on a $5.5 million cap hit.
He's Connor McDavid's linemate and one of Edmonton's most respected voices.
Babcock's demanding, structure-first coaching style in Toronto is precisely what transformed Hyman from a fourth-liner into a top-six goal scorer.
His endorsement isn't sentimental. It's evidence-based.
The NHLPA hurdle still matters most
Darren Dreger reported Monday that Edmonton is consulting with the NHLPA to clear any objections before finalizing the hire.
Babcock resigned from Columbus in 2023 amid allegations of invading players' privacy, and that history demands formal resolution.
The NHLPA has declined to comment publicly, and the NHL would oversee any formal investigation required to proceed.
Stan Bowman signed McDavid to a two-year extension specifically to keep the championship window open.
The coach he picks will define whether that window produces a Cup or closes for good.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Elliotte Friedman confirms the Edmonton Oilers are finalizing a blockbuster trade
Elliotte Friedman confirms the Edmonton Oilers are finalizing a blockbuster trade
Previously on House Of Hockey