The NHL Players’ Association expects a full investigation into Mike Babcock’s past conduct before the Edmonton Oilers can appoint him as their new head coach.
The prospective appointment follows the 63-year-old’s controversial departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.
He resigned from the Ohio franchise without managing a single game following allegations he violated player privacy by demanding to view photographs on their mobile phones.
Because he stepped down immediately, the NHL never launched a formal inquiry into the incident.
Oilers leadership consults squad
Edmonton are actively seeking a permanent replacement for Kris Knoblauch and have held extensive talks with the veteran manager.
Senior leadership figures within the Canadian franchise have been consulted regarding the potential appointment.
The former Anaheim Ducks boss has reportedly already met with the playing squad and spoken directly to Oilers owner Daryl Katz.
However, concerned players have contacted the union regarding his status and any unresolved inquiries into his past behaviour.
A history of success and scrutiny
While his man-management techniques have drawn severe criticism, the prospective coach brings a formidable resume to the table.
He boasts 700 career NHL victories and guided the Detroit Red Wings to Stanley Cup glory in 2008.
The seasoned tactician also holds the rare distinction of belonging to the IIHF Triple Gold Club, having secured Olympic gold medals with Canada alongside World Championship success.
Despite these accolades, his psychological approach faced intense scrutiny following his dismissal from Toronto in 2019.
During his tenure with the Maple Leafs, he controversially forced rookie Mitch Marner to rank the work ethic of his team-mates before sharing the list with the entire dressing room.
Edmonton’s troubled coaching search
The Western Conference team turned their attention to the Stanley Cup winner after encountering administrative hurdles elsewhere.
The Vegas Golden Knights recently blocked the Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy, who remains under contract despite being dismissed late in the season.
The NHL upheld the decision, confirming Vegas hold the right to deny permission for their former staff to speak with divisional rivals.
Jordan Staal scored twice, including a remarkable third-period winner, as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 on Tuesday to level the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2.
The veteran forward struck the decisive blow while stretched out on his stomach just over six minutes into the final frame in Las Vegas.
His acrobatic effort ensured the visitors wrestled back momentum in a wildly unpredictable and high-scoring championship series.
Game five takes place in Raleigh on Thursday, giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to edge closer to their first title in two decades.
Staal matches historic scoring record
The Carolina captain has now found the net in each of the first four games of the championship round.
He becomes the first player to achieve that specific playoff feat since Mike Bossy managed it for the New York Islanders 44 years ago.
Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi was handed a surprise start for the road team and delivered 18 crucial saves to secure the vital victory.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour opted to rest regular starter Frederik Andersen, elevating Pyotr Kochetkov to backup duties on the bench.
The inexperienced netminder was quick to praise his captain’s game-winning intervention during the post-match interviews.
“He’s a big-time player. He leads us every day, plays the right way and is rewarded.”
A final defined by dramatic momentum shifts
Tuesday’s encounter was the first match of this gripping final not to be decided by a single goal.
Remarkably, a two-goal lead has vanished in all four matchups so far, highlighting the volatile nature of the contest.
The 33 combined goals scored across the opening four fixtures tie the third-highest offensive tally in Cup final history.
Nikolaj Ehlers sealed the win with a late empty-net strike, capping a superb individual performance that included two assists.
Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven also registered on the scoresheet for the triumphant Eastern Conference outfit.
Bussi steps up on the biggest stage
The unexpected starting goaltender expressed his delight at making an immediate impact in such a high-stakes environment.
“This is what a lot of kids grow up dreaming of doing. I’m honored to have the opportunity.”
Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden all beat the debutant, but the hosts ultimately fell short despite a resilient third-period push.
Vegas goaltender Carter Hart stopped 23 shots, though his efforts could not prevent the Golden Knights from surrendering their overall series advantage.
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid has won the Ted Lindsay Award for the fifth time, tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record as the NHL’s most outstanding player as voted by his peers.
The prestigious accolade was announced by the league and the National Hockey League Players’ Association on Sunday.
Claiming the honour cements the 29-year-old’s status among the sport’s greatest ever talents.
Peer recognition ‘means so much’
The Canadian superstar enjoyed another dominant campaign, leading all scorers this past season with 90 assists and 138 points.
This award, coming from the guys that you play against every single night and battle against every single night, to have them recognize me with an award like this, means so much.
San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov finished second and third respectively in the NHLPA voting.
Hart Trophy awaits?
The Oilers talisman could add even more silverware to his collection in the coming days.
He is also named as a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player.
Kucherov and Colorado Avalanche standout Nathan MacKinnon provide the competition, though the Edmonton forward is already a three-time winner of that specific prize.
The Vegas Golden Knights squandered a four-goal lead but recovered to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime, taking a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas defenceman Shea Theodore scored the decisive goal after an awkward deflection off Carolina’s Jordan Martinook and replacement goaltender Brandon Bussi.
The dramatic finish followed an extraordinary collapse by the Western Conference side, who had dominated the middle frame.
Mitch Marner had earlier registered the fastest hat-trick in Stanley Cup Final history to put his team 4-0 ahead in the second period.
Historic Marner hat-trick
The Canadian winger sparked into life after a sluggish opening 20 minutes in which the Nevada-based franchise managed just two shots on goal.
Tomas Hertl opened the scoring on the power-play following patient build-up play from Jack Eichel.
Marner then took over, capitalising on precise passing from William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb to complete his treble and chase starting netminder Frederik Andersen from the game.
Head coach John Tortorella was forced into defensive reshuffles during this dominant spell as Noah Hanifin struggled with a knock, leaving Jeremy Lauzon to absorb heavier minutes.
Hurricanes mount spectacular comeback
Carolina demonstrated the resilience that saw them overturn a two-goal deficit in Game 2, launching a ferocious third-period fightback.
The Eastern Conference champions stunned their opponents by scoring three times in a frantic 39-second spell through Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal.
A late equaliser with less than three minutes remaining in regulation time completed the four-goal comeback and forced sudden-death hockey.
Theodore seals crucial victory
After a scoreless first overtime period, Theodore’s fortuitous bounce ultimately settled one of the most chaotic encounters in recent NHL playoff history.
The 5-4 triumph ensures the Golden Knights hold the series advantage heading into Game 4 on Tuesday.
Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Brayden McNabb is a major doubt for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final after taking a puck to the face during an overtime defeat by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The veteran blue-liner was struck around the visor by an 87mph shot from Nik Ehlers during Game 2, forcing him to drop to the ice.
He was subsequently taken to a local hospital for evaluation as Carolina secured a 4-3 victory to level the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
Tortorella tight-lipped on fitness
Vegas head coach John Tortorella refused to provide a medical update on his player ahead of the crucial third encounter.
Shea Theodore, who normally partners the injured defenceman, confirmed he saw his team-mate at the practice facility on Saturday morning but declined to elaborate on his condition.
“All year, we’ve battled. We’ve had guys come out, we’ve had guys come in,” said Theodore.
“We have guys that are capable of doing it and it’s just a matter of that now is the time.”
Korczak poised to step in
Should the Knights be forced into a change, Kaedan Korczak appears the most likely candidate to enter the lineup.
The 6ft 3in reserve skated briefly before leaving the ice early during practice, heavily hinting at a potential promotion.
Korczak has made 12 postseason appearances for Vegas this year, most recently featuring in the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche.
Alternatively, a defensive reshuffle could see Dylan Coghlan reunited with Theodore on the back end.
That specific pairing has proven impenetrable during the current playoffs, successfully keeping opponents off the scoreboard during their 37 minutes of shared ice time.
“He’s a pretty amazing player,” said Coghlan of Theodore.
“I think anybody that goes in there would play well with him.”
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top netminder for the second time following a stellar 39-win season.
The 31-year-old secured 17 first-place votes from the league’s general managers to comfortably claim the prestigious positional award.
He appeared on 28 of a possible 32 ballots, finishing significantly ahead of finalists Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins stopper Jeremy Swayman.
Chasing historic goaltending milestones
The two-time Stanley Cup champion led the NHL with 39 victories across 58 starts during the regular campaign.
He is now just the sixth goaltender in league history to register nine separate 30-win seasons.
This active streak of nine consecutive 30-win campaigns places the Lightning star second only to Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur, who achieved the feat 12 times.
Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson and Colorado Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood also received two first-place votes each to finish just outside the top three.
Guiding Tampa Bay to the postseason
The elite shot-stopper finished the year with a 39-15-4 record, posting a 2.31 goals-against average alongside a .912 save percentage.
His commanding performances, which included two shutouts, were instrumental in helping the Florida franchise secure their ninth successive playoff berth.
In a unique presentation orchestrated by the league, the veteran was surprised with the physical trophy by local police and a K-9 unit outside Benchmark International Arena.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka has moved to quash speculation regarding the future of Auston Matthews, insisting the team captain remains fully committed to the franchise.
Speculation over the American centre’s future had intensified after Toronto missed the play-offs for the first time since his arrival.
The newly appointed executive recently visited the prolific goalscorer at his home in Arizona to discuss the direction of the club.
Chayka addressed the media regarding these meetings at the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo.
“What I saw was a happy captain. [Someone] who’s got a lot of pride in being the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, someone who wants to win in Toronto, which aligns with how we’re thinking about it.”
A period of transition in Toronto
Doubt had crept in following a non-committal end-of-season interview where the 2016 first overall pick stated he could not predict the future.
The franchise has undergone immense structural upheaval in recent months following a profoundly disappointing campaign.
Former general manager Brad Treliving was dismissed in March, while head coach Craig Berube was relieved of his duties in May.
Chayka and senior adviser Mats Sundin have now been tasked with steadying the ship and charting a new course for the struggling organisation.
The general manager has prioritised open dialogue with players and staff to accurately assess the overall state of the team.
Looking toward the draft
Amid the front-office turmoil, the Maple Leafs received a monumental boost by winning the NHL draft lottery in early May.
Holding the first overall selection gives the historic Canadian club a rare opportunity to draft elite collegiate prospect Gavin McKenna.
The 18-year-old forward registered 51 points in 35 games during an outstanding freshman season at Penn State.
Chayka recently visited McKenna’s home, viewing this upcoming decision as the most pivotal since the franchise drafted their current captain a decade ago.
“The instincts and his raw ability, I think, are interesting.”
Despite the teenager’s evident on-ice talent, Chayka emphasised that evaluating the character of any prospective draft pick remains a paramount concern for the new leadership group.
Veteran head coach John Tortorella has guided the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final after replacing Bruce Cassidy with just eight regular-season games remaining.
The 67-year-old was appointed in late March to rescue a struggling roster that had lost six of their previous seven matches.
That significant late-season gamble by general manager Kelly McCrimmon has paid spectacular dividends.
A surprising late-season turnaround
The franchise from Nevada found themselves faltering late in the campaign despite holding a coveted postseason berth.
Cassidy, who had delivered the ultimate prize to the desert in 2023, was unexpectedly dismissed to make way for the fiery American.
Since his arrival, the former United States Olympic assistant coach has established vital stability and implemented an altered leadership approach.
Navigating the Western Conference
The path to the championship series required overcoming significant adversity against formidable postseason opponents.
The team overturned a first-round deficit against the Utah Mammoth before breaking a deadlock to eliminate the Anaheim Ducks.
A dominant sweep of the Colorado Avalanche then officially secured the Western Conference crown.
The championship series is now perfectly poised at 1-1 heading into Saturday’s crucial Game 3.
Adapting a legendary coaching style
McCrimmon believes the managerial alteration provided a necessary spark and renewed confidence within the locker room.
“There are times when a change has some benefits. A really direct communicator. I think he’s been able to catch them doing things right, and we’ve got the best of Torts.”
“He’s really enjoying his time here. I’ve heard our players say that they feel we’ve got a swagger back to our team.”
The notoriously demanding tactician has openly admitted to softening his famously intense approach for this highly experienced group.
Having previously managed a developing Philadelphia Flyers squad during the 2024-25 season, the veteran manager recognised the need for a different methodology.
“I think I need to coach this team different than I was coaching in Philly. I loved coaching in Philly, but a lot of them were still kids learning what it is to be a pro.”
“We’re still involved, but I think you need to respect the athletes. Here, with the veterans, you need to show restraint.”