Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach Mike Babcock addresses member of the media during a press conference at Nationwide Arena on July 01, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Image via Jason Mowry/Getty Images)The Edmonton Oilers have reportedly received a green signal to pursue hiring for their potential vacancy, as the NHL has reportedly cleared Mike Babcock to coach again. The league has officially cleared the veteran coach following the completion of its investigation into his controversial 2023 tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Previously, after Babcock resigned from the Blue Jackets in September 2023, claims suggested that he had violated players' privacy by asking to see pictures on their phones. Following the incident, the league determined that the allegations warranted a broader examination beyond the initial complaints. As per reports, the investigation was conducted in coordination with the NHL Players’ Association and outside investigators, and for this, the Oilers needed to wait until the investigation was done.NHL allows Mike Babcock to coach again after completion of investigation, allows Edmonton Oilers to hire himThe NHL has reportedly allowed veteran head coach Mike Babcock to return to coaching after the completion of the investigation and has allowed the Oilers to hire him as their head coach. In a statement released on Thursday, the league announced that its review found that there was nothing to restrict Babcock's future employment.The investigation examined allegations surrounding his brief stint in Columbus, where he was accused of making players uncomfortable by asking to view personal photos on their cell phones during one-on-one meetings. The NHL said in a statement, "The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock's tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith. Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League.”Babcock has not coached in the NHL since resigning from the Columbus Blue Jackets in September 2023, after serious claims of allegations that he had asked players to show him personal photos from their phones, prompting scrutiny from the NHL Players’ Association and the league. However, he has now been cleared of all the charges, and the veteran can resume his job."While we found the allegations of Mike Babcock's conduct as the Columbus Blue Jackets' head coach very concerning, the League has decided that there is no current basis on which to restrict his employment. Moving forward, we expect that Mr. Babcock will uphold the high standards required of NHL head coaches,” the NHLPA further stated.Meanwhile, the Oilers are looking forward to hiring Babcock, who won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. In fact, several veteran players on the Oilers' roster have been in support of the hiring, as reported by ESPN.Reports suggest that before Babcock’s association with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he compiled a 700-418-164 coaching record across 17 NHL seasons and won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. He also coached 700 games with the Ducks, Red Wings, and Maple Leafs.However, over the years, his reputation came under scrutiny after criticism from former players regarding his treatment of athletes and management style. With the NHL's investigation now complete, it will be interesting to see whether the Oilers move forward with Babcock's hiring and how the hockey community will react to this potential return.