The Edmonton Oilers’ offseason took a sudden and shocking turn on Monday when it was reported that the organization was interested in signing Mike Babcock as head coach. Later that day, word came, via Ryan Rishaug, that the team’s leadership group is fully behind the idea. It would mean every level of the Oilers, from owner to management to the top players, is behind the plan to name Babcock Edmonton’s next head coach.Babcock’s coaching story is well documented. A success as an NHL rookie with the Anaheim Ducks, losing in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final to New Jersey, Babcock would eventually win the Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. After a decade in Detroit, Babcock coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for parts of five seasons with limited playoff success, ultimately getting fired in November 2019. Hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2023, Babcock resigned in September of that year after allegations surfaced on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast that he asked players to share personal photos on their phones with him.On Tuesday, The Athletic reported that the NHLPA wants the NHL to investigate Babcock’s short-lived tenure with the Blue Jackets if the Oilers do intend to hire him.Dan Robson and Katie Strang wrote an exceptional piece for The Athletic in May 2024 with astonishing quotes from former players coached by Babcock. In the conclusion of the article, Robson and Strang write, “To some, Babcock’s ouster in Columbus represented the last breath of a certain coaching archetype. But some front office officials, the men who make or have input in hiring decisions, believe that Babcock got a raw deal in Columbus.” Today, those words seem prescient in light of the reports out of Edmonton.Babcock’s history as an Oilers coaching candidateBabcock was in the mix for the Oilers coaching job in 2015. From Elliotte Friedman at the time: “The Oilers aren’t commenting about their situation, but several sources both in North America and attending the World Championships say Edmonton is concerned about waiting for Babcock and not getting him. As a result, they are working on closing a deal with Todd McLellan. At this point, it’s as much up to the coach as it is to the Oilers, but at least one other team pursuing McLellan was hearing Saturday that a deal was close, if not done. Whatever the case, Edmonton is making it known they will close on him rather than wait to talk to Babcock.”The connections to that 2008 Red Wings Stanley Cup-winning team and the Oilers under owner Daryl Katz are significant. From the Detroit coaching staff that season, McLellan and Jay Woodcroft have already coached the Oilers, with Babcock’s hire seemingly in sight.