Mike Babcock’s Explanation Over Resigning From Blue Jackets Doesn’t Sit Well With Fans: “Zero Accountability”

Mike Babcock left the Columbus Blue Jackets without coaching a single game after he was alleged to have invaded the privacy of players.

Mike Babcock’s Explanation Over Resigning From Blue Jackets Doesn’t Sit Well With Fans: “Zero Accountability”

Mike Babcock (Image via Sportsnet)

On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers officially announced the signing of Mike Babcock as their new head coach. The 63-year-old later spoke with the reporters and explained the reason for leaving the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.

In July 2023, Babcock was hired as the head coach of the Blue Jackets. This was his first gig as the head coach in the NHL since his departure from the Toronto Maple Leafs in November 2019. He was fired by the Canadian side following a 9-10-4 start.

In September, allegations of improper conduct against Babcock surfaced. He was alleged to have invaded the privacy of players by going through their phones. An investigation would later take place regarding this.

A few days later, Babcock stepped down from his post. He thus left the organization without coaching a single game.

Two weeks earlier, reports emerged that the Oilers were checking in with the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) over potentially signing him as their next head coach. The team fired Kris Knoblauch after they lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks.

On June 18, 2026, the NHL released a statement regarding Babcock. The league cleared him and expressed that there was “no current basis” to restrict his employment.

In the introductory press conference on Tuesday, Babcock was asked about the incident with the Blue Jackets and why he resigned. In his answer, he expressed that he and the staff were not together from the get-go. He also claimed that his wife later called him and urged him to leave.

It was very evident before the year started. I hadn’t benched anybody, I hadn’t talked to anybody, I hadn’t sat anybody out, and it was evident that we weren’t together as a staff right from the get-go. My wife gave me a call, and she said it’s time to get out of there. I’ve been retired, I was pretty good at it. I got back to being retired

Mike Babcock told the reporters

Before his stints with the Blue Jackets and the Maple Leafs, Babcock spent 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. During this tenure, the team reached the playoffs every season and won the Stanley Cup in 2008. He also led the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Final in his debut season as head coach in 2003.

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Social media reacts to Mike Babcock’s answer for leaving the Blue Jackets

Mike Babcock appeared in front of the NHL media for the first time in nearly 3 years on Tuesday after being announced as the new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. During this appearance, he explained his reason for leaving the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023. This, however, did not sit well with fans on social media.

Mike Babcock
Mike Babcock with Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 (Image via Imago)

Several users on X slammed him for using his wife as a reason for leaving. One of them wrote, “Zero accountability,” and expressed that he learned nothing from the incident in Ohio.

Check out that and some more reactions from X below:

Despite the controversy, Babcock has a winning pedigree in the NHL. His 700-418-164 regular-season record makes him the 12th-winningest head coach in the NHL. Meanwhile, his 90 wins in the playoffs is the 8th most of a head coach in the league.

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Mike Babcock is the Oilers’ 6th head coach since drafting Connor McDavid in 2015

Mike Babcock is the new man in charge of the Edmonton Oilers. Apparently, he is the 6th head coach hired by the team since they drafted their captain, Connor McDavid, as the No.1 pick in 2015.

Mike Babcock and Connor McDavid
Mike Babcock and Connor McDavid (Image via Imago)

Since their triumph in 1990, the Edmonton-based side has been looking for glory. Under Kris Knoblauch’s tenure, the team reached back-to-back finals.

However, they lost both of them against the Florida Panthers. In 2024, they lost the best-of-seven series 4-3 after being 3-0 down. In 2025, they lost 4-2 following a 5-1 hammering in Game 6.

This year, Knoblauch, McDavid, and the rest of the team were hoping for the third time to be the lucky charm. In the end, they were unable to make past the first round as the Anaheim Ducks beat them 4-2.

Knoblauch had taken over the role of Oilers’ head coach in November 2023 after the team fired Jay Woodcroft. Before them, Dave Tippett (2019-2021), Ken Hitchcock (2018-2019), and Todd McLellan (2015-2018) led the team as the head coach. Despite having McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the team was unable to bring the cup back to Edmonton.

With Babcock’s signing, the pressure to win the Stanley Cup is more on the shoulders of their current captain. McDavid will enter the first season of his 2-year, $25 million short-term deal he signed last year.

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