NHL investigation clears Mike Babcock for return to coaching

Mike Babcock is cleared to resume his NHL coaching career if the Edmonton Oilers or any other team wants to hire the controversial former Columbus Blue Jackets bench boss.

Prompted by the Oilers’ interest, the NHL conducted an investigation into the circumstances that led to Babcock’s forced resignation from the Blue Jackets in September 2023 after just 78 days on the job. The league issued a statement June 18 that paves his path back to coaching.

“The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock’s tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith,” the statement reads. “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.”

Following the NHL’s decision, the NHL Players Association released its own statement about the league’s decision: “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 NHL has announced the winners for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who won plus vote totals:

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The NHL has announced the winners for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here’s who won plus vote totals:

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Hart Trophy (MVP) winner: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, 1,436 points

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Hart runner-up: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, 1,426 points

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Hart finalist: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, 1,297 points

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Norris Trophy (defenseman) winner: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski, 1,589 points.

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Norris runner-up: Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, 1,191 points

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Norris Trophy finalist: Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, 657 points

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Calder Trophy (rookie) winner: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, 1,980 points.

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Calder runner-up: Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov, 1,158 points.

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Calder finalist: Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke, 958 points.

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Selke Trophy (defensive forward) winner: Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki, 1,726 points

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Selke Trophy runner-up: Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli, 476 points

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Selke finalist: Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson, 406 points

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Jack Adams Award (coach) winner: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper, 226 points

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Jack Adams runner-up: Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff, 223 points

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Jack Adams finalist: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Dan Muse, 199 points

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Vezina Trophy (goaltender) winner: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, 114 points

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Vezina runner-up: New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin, 51 points

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Vezina finalist: Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, 46 points

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Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) winner: Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield, 776 points

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Lady Byng runner-up: Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar, 602 points

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Lady Byng finalist: Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson, 585 points

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Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player) winner: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid

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Ted Lindsay finalist: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini

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Ted Lindsay finalist: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov

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Masterton Trophy (perseverance) winner: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog

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Masterton finalist: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin

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Masterton finalist: Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews

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Masterton nominee: Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso

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The NHLPA initially conducted its own investigation in September 2023 into Babcock’s conduct with the Blue Jackets, which prompted his resignation before the NHL getting involved. It felt at the time like Babcock’s last chance to coach in the NHL, but that clearly wasn’t the case.

Babcock, 63, is 12th in career NHL coaching wins, including a Stanley Cup title with the Red Wings, and his international success with Canada is legendary, having won gold medals in the Olympics (2010, 2014), world championships (2004) and world junior championships (1997).

His Columbus exit was prompted by accusations that he violated players’ privacy during one-on-one summer meetings. Most of the allegations related to him pressuring players to reveal personal photos from galleries on their cellphones, which he and a few veteran players said was an attempt to learn about his new team, but that’s not how all players took it.

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During an investigation conducted by the NHL Players’ Association following initial allegations leaked to the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, multiple Blue Jackets players told NHLPA investigators they weren’t comfortable with Babcock’s tactics.

Reports also surfaced that Babcock scrolled through the phone of a highly regarded young prospect while holding the phone for a length of time that made the player uncomfortable. Babcock resigned four days before the start of training camp in 2023, prompting former Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson and former general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to hold a joint press conference.

Before announcing that associate coach Pascal Vincent had signed a two-year contract to replace Babcock, they apologized to players who felt uneasy about Babcock’s tactics. Davidson also said the team made a mistake with the hiring, which was already considered a second chance following allegations of bullying by Babcock in previous stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

Now, if the Oilers still want him, Babcock is cleared to coach again.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mike Babcock cleared for NHL return to coaching after investigation