Connor McDavid has openly supported the Edmonton Oilers' decision to hire Mike Babcock as their new head coach. Many people have questioned Babcock's return to the NHL, but McDavid believes the team made the right choice. His support lends even more importance to the Oilers' decision as they try to win the Stanley Cup.

Connor McDavid spoke about the hiring for the first time at Zach Hyman's yearly charity golf tournament. He said Babcock is the right coach for a team full of experienced players. McDavid believes Babcock's many years of coaching experience will help the Oilers compete for a championship.

“Yeah, I think that’s what obviously we see,” McDavid said when asked about Babcock’s championship pedigree. “We see a great opportunity to be coached by someone who’s coached in every single big game there is to coach in.”

According to Ankit Kumar from The Big Lead, McDavid also talked about Babcock's successful coaching career.

“Who’s been successful, won Cups, gold medals, you name it, he’s done it. It’s a great opportunity for us players to be coached by somebody like him and learn from him.”

Later, McDavid again said he believes the Oilers made the right decision to hire Babcock.

“With where our group’s at and what we’re looking for, he’s the perfect fit,” he added.

McDavid made these comments after the Oilers lost in the first round of the playoffs, even though he had another great season.

The team has changed its head coach, and McDavid's support shows that the team's leaders believe Babcock has the experience to help the Oilers compete for the Stanley Cup.

McDavid’s endorsement reinforces Edmonton’s win-now mindset

The same interview, reported by The Big Lead, also explained why the Oilers believe this coaching change can help the team make the most of Connor McDavid's and Leon Draisaitl's best years.

The Oilers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 41-30-11 record. They then lost to the Anaheim Ducks in six games in the first round of the playoffs. McDavid led the NHL with 138 points, but the team had problems on defense and in goal all season.

General manager Stan Bowman hired Mike Babcock to replace Kris Knoblauch. He also made changes to the roster through trades and free agency.

The report said the team's leaders met with Babcock before the hiring. Veteran players supported the decision, even though many questioned Babcock's return after the controversy surrounding his short tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.

Mike Babcock has one of the best coaching records in the NHL. He has won one Stanley Cup, two Olympic gold medals, and more than 700 NHL games as a head coach.

Some people still have concerns about his coaching style, but the Oilers believe his experience gives the team a better chance to win the Stanley Cup next season.

Connor McDavid's support will not change everyone's opinion, but it shows one thing. The Oilers' leaders believe Babcock is the right coach for the team.

Now, the biggest question is whether that belief will help the Oilers succeed in the playoffs. The answer will come when the new NHL season begins. What do you think? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi