Mike Babcock's hire could fracture Edmonton's locker room as one player reveals he'll leave

ESPN reported Sunday that Edmonton is nearing a deal with the 63-year-old coach, who last held an NHL position with the Columbus Blue Jackets before resigning in 2023 amid an NHLPA investigation into alleged privacy violations.

TSN's Darren Dreger initially broke the news that the Oilers consulted the NHLPA about potential objections, and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman confirmed Babcock has spoken directly with owner Daryl Katz.

But while the leadership group has reportedly given its approval, at least one player is drawing a hard line.

The 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast reported that an unnamed Oilers player told them directly he cannot support the hiring and would sit down with his agent to discuss options if Babcock becomes head coach.

That tension is the part of this story worth watching closely. Stan Bowman said publicly that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's input would factor into the coaching decision.

If the leadership group signed off on Babcock while other players in the room are threatening to leave, Bowman hasn't built consensus.

He's exposed a fracture.

Edmonton went 41-30-11 this season and was bounced in the first round by Anaheim.

McDavid posted 138 points in 82 games but was minus-8 in six playoff contests.

The window around his two-year extension is tight enough without adding a coaching controversy that pits the stars against the rest of the roster.

Babcock's history in Toronto, Detroit, and Columbus is well documented. The actual danger for Edmonton isn't what Babcock did somewhere else.

It's what happens when a franchise tells its core players their voices matter, then hires a coach over the objections of teammates those players have to trust every night.

That disconnect is harder to fix than any coaching scheme.