Former Columbus Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock is reportedly expected to join the Edmonton Oilers this season as their head coach after previous HC Kris Knoblauch left the organisation on May 14, 2026. An analyst has already earmarked his staff at the franchise.

Veteran NHL analyst David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period took to his official X account to state that DJ Smith is in line to assist Babcock at the Oilers.

“Once Mike Babcock officially joins the Oilers as HC, one name to look out for to potentially join his staff is DJ Smith,” Pagnotta wrote on X.

Smith has, most recently, been the interim head coach (2025-26) of the Los Angeles Kings after Jim Hiller’s sacking. He was replaced by Peter Laviolette at the end of the 2025 season.

Following his appointment, Smith registered an 11-6-6 record in 23 games in the 2025-26 regular season.

It helped the Kings secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth season running, before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Windsor, Ontario, native got his first NHL gig in 2015 as an assistant to head coach Babcock at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

They helped Toronto make the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs thrice consecutively after finishing last in the Atlantic Division in the 2015-16 season.

After staying at the Maple Leafs for four seasons, Smith became the Ottawa Senators HC in the summer of 2019.

During his tenure through 2023, the Senators never made the playoffs, posting a 131-154-12 record over five seasons.

Despite Ottawa's struggles, Smith's interim success in LA and prior Babcock connection position him as a potential fit.

Mike Babcock's Investigation Cleared, Paving Way for Oilers Hire

The NHL was investigating Mike Babcock’s tenure as head coach at the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023. It was done at the request of the NHL Players Association after the Oilers showed their interest in hiring Babcock.

The coach had resigned from his position at the Blue Jackets three years ago without coaching them in a game. It was due to allegations of misconduct in regard to player privacy, asking to see pictures on their phones.

But now, this hurdle is clear after the NHL released an official statement about its investigation on June 18.

“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,” they wrote.

Moreover, Babcock has nearly 25 years of coaching experience in the NHL and at the international level. His major accomplishments include a Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Detroit Red Wings, apart from two Olympic gold medals and a world title with Canada.

Will Mike Babcock join the Edmonton Oilers as their new head coach in the coming days? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Surjo Ray