Timeline: Key moments in Mike Babcock's path to the Edmonton Oilers

Toronto Maple Leafs' head coach Mike Babcock calls out instructions from the bench as his players face the Montreal Canadiens during first-period NHL pre-season hockey action Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

EDMONTON — Mike Babcock’s coaching career has included a Stanley Cup title, two Olympic gold medals, high-profile NHL jobs and scrutiny over his treatment of players.

Here is a timeline of key moments leading to his return to the NHL as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

May 22, 2002 — Mike Babcock is hired by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for his first NHL head-coaching job.

June 9, 2003 — In his first NHL season, Babcock guides Anaheim to the Stanley Cup final, where the Ducks lose to the New Jersey Devils in seven games.

July 15, 2005 — Babcock is hired by the Detroit Red Wings, replacing Dave Lewis, whose contract was not renewed following the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

June 4, 2008 — Babcock wins his first Stanley Cup as the Red Wings defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

June 12, 2009 — Babcock’s Red Wings lose to Pittsburgh in seven games in a Stanley Cup rematch.

Feb. 28, 2010 — Babcock coaches Canada to Olympic gold on home ice at the Vancouver-Whistler Games.

Feb. 23, 2014 — Babcock coaches Canada to a second straight Olympic gold medal at the Sochi Games.

May 20, 2015 — The Toronto Maple Leafs hire Babcock to an eight-year contract reportedly worth US$50 million, making him the NHL’s highest-paid coach.

Nov. 20, 2019 — The Maple Leafs fire Babcock and replace him with Sheldon Keefe.

Nov. 20, 2019 — Questions about Babcock’s treatment of players resurface following his firing, including reports he asked Mitch Marner to rank teammates by work ethic during Marner’s rookie season.

July 29, 2020 — Babcock joins the University of Vermont men’s hockey program as an unpaid adviser to the coaching staff.

Feb. 21, 2021 — The University of Saskatchewan announce that Babcock is taking over its Huskies men’s team on a full-time volunteer basis for two seasons.

July 1, 2023 — The Columbus Blue Jackets hire Babcock as head coach, returning him to the NHL after nearly four years away from the league.

Sept. 15, 2023 — The NHL Players’ Association begins reviewing Babcock’s interactions with Blue Jackets players after reports that he asked players to show him photos on their phones.

Sept. 17, 2023 — Babcock resigns before coaching a game for Columbus following the NHLPA review.

Sept. 18, 2023 — Blue Jackets president John Davidson calls the hiring a “major misstep.”

Oct. 9, 2024 — Former Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri revisits criticism of Babcock’s treatment of players in a memoir, including the Marner incident.

June 10, 2026 — The NHLPA asks the NHL to investigate Babcock’s tenure in Columbus after reports link him to the Edmonton Oilers’ coaching vacancy.

June 18, 2026 — The NHL clears Edmonton to hire Babcock after reviewing his conduct in Columbus, saying there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the league.

June 23, 2026 — The Edmonton Oilers announced that Babcock has been hired as the new team’s head coach, taking over from Kris Knoblauch, who was fired after the Oilers’ first-round playoff loss to Anaheim.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2026.