Former NHL player's Mike Babcock warning exposes a deeper Oilers problem
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Daniel Lucente
Jun 9, 2026 (6:04 PM)
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Mike Commodore did not hold back after reports surfaced that the Edmonton Oilers are closing in on hiring Mike Babcock as their next head coach.
The former NHL defenseman called Babcock a bully who thrives on warfare against his own players.
Commodore challenged the NHL, the NHLPA, and the Oilers organization to reconcile their public mental health messaging with the decision to hand Babcock another bench.
"I don't want to hear another word from the NHL, the NHLPA or the Oilers about how mental health is important to us. I'm sorry, but this guy gets off on warfare on his players. I've never denied he knows the game of hockey from a technical standpoint, but he is a bully. That is who he is. To say I'm disappointed would be putting it lightly."
- Mike Commodore
- Mike Commodore
His frustration carries weight that goes beyond personal grudges. Commodore is one of several former players, alongside Johan Franzen and Chris Chelios, who have publicly described patterns of intimidation stretching across Babcock's stops in Anaheim, Detroit, Toronto, and Columbus.
The NHLPA already answered this question once
In 2023, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh flew to Columbus and investigated Babcock's conduct with Blue Jackets players firsthand.
The conclusion was unambiguous. Walsh stated publicly that players deserved workplace respect and that it was not the case in Columbus.
Babcock resigned before coaching a single game.
Now the same union is being consulted on the same coach for a new team. Darren Dreger reported that the Edmonton Oilers are working through the NHLPA to determine whether objections remain.
The NHLPA has declined to comment. That silence is not neutral ground. If Babcock is cleared without a fresh investigation, it functionally tells every player who spoke up in Columbus that their testimony had an expiration date.
Edmonton's shrinking options created this moment
The Oilers wanted Bruce Cassidy. The Vegas Golden Knights blocked the interview. Peter Laviolette signed with the Los Angeles Kings.
Connor McDavid's two-year extension means the pressure to win immediately is enormous, and the available coaching market no longer includes a safer high-profile option.
Bob Stauffer has called the Babcock hire inevitable.
That desperation does not erase what the NHLPA already found. The question now is whether coaching accountability in the NHL resets every three years.
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Mike Babcock's hire could fracture Edmonton's locker room as one player reveals he'll leave
Mike Babcock's hire could fracture Edmonton's locker room as one player reveals he'll leave