Mike Babcock: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Sunday Scramble: ‘We didn’t give up a touchdown’ says Babcock as Oilers battle through Week 1

If fantasy hockey worked like fantasy football, you’d have been tempted to start the Edmonton Oilers defence in Week 1, given their weaker schedule. You would’ve been punished.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Mike Babcock Offers Simple Answer About Who’s Responsible for Oilers Goals Against

Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock was asked after practice on Friday who is responsible for so many goals against in the first two games of the Oilers’ 2026-27 regular season.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / October 2

Mike Babcock Took the Oilers Job. Now the Fun Starts

Mike Babcock might want to stock up on throat lozenges. If the first couple of Edmonton Oilers games are any indication, he’ll be doing a lot of talking — and probably a lot of yelling — about mistakes.

Edmonton Oilers News / Professor Press Box / October 1

Oilers Lose Hyman, a Babcock Connection & a Curious Thought

Some injuries are minor; others make you stop for a second. The Edmonton Oilers announced that Zach Hyman is expected to miss about two weeks with an undisclosed injury.

Carolina Hurricanes News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The '2026-27 NHL captains' quiz

Can you name the players chosen as team captain for each NHL franchise in 2026-27?

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Mike Babcock News / Oilersnation / October 1

Three takeaways from Mike Babcock’s first game behind the Oilers bench

For all the talk about change, Mike Babcock’s first game behind the Edmonton Oilers’ bench looked awfully familiar. The Oilers still turned the game into a track meet, still needed their offence to rescue them, and still left their coach talking about structure and poor decisions post-game.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 30

Oilers open 2026-27 season with a reality check

The Edmonton Oilers lost their season opener for the fourth consecutive season Tuesday night. They lost 8-1 in Vancouver in October 2023, and were pumped 6-0 at home to Winnipeg in 2024, blew a 3-0 lead and lost 4-3 in a home shootout to Calgary last year, and lost 6-5 in OT to Vancouver last night.

Mike Babcock News / The Hockey Writers / September 30

Oilers’ Babcock Has His Work Cut Out for Him

I was recently in Austin, Texas, for the Eric Clapton Crossroads Festival where Pete Townshend was slated to appear. I wanted to hear him perform “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” That song seems appropriate after the Edmonton Oilers lay a dud in their opening game of the 2026-27 NHL season, losing 6-5 to the Vancouver Canucks in OT on Tuesday night.

Mike Babcock News / NHL Trade Talk / September 30

'That Was Ridiculous': Babcock Calls Out Oilers Play vs Canucks

When asked about the season opener and how the Edmonton Oilers let the Vancouver Canucks build a commanding second-period lead, leaving goaltender Tristan Jarry struggling to make several key saves, head coach Mike Babcock didn’t mince words on Tuesday night.

Edmonton Oilers News / Dose.ca / September 30

Top 4: Mike Babcock (Already) Lashes Out at His Players After an Embarrassing Loss

Let’s go! The 2026–2027 National League season officially kicked off yesterday. The Canadiens won their game against the Leafs, but there were also four other games played last night.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Mike Babcock News / Oilersnation / September 30

Instant Reaction: Oilers begin Babcock era with a bang, fall 6-5 to Canucks

Well, that may end up being the game of the year. On Tuesday evening, the Edmonton Oilers began their 2026-27 campaign, managing to tie up the game late after being down 5-2, but eventually losing 6-5 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 30

Is the Oilers’ defence better than people think?

Many pundits are sleeping on the Edmonton Oilers’ defence. If this group gels under Mike Babcock’s tighter checking system, it could be one of the best blue lines in the NHL.

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The 'Most HRs by an MLB first baseman' quiz

The 'Active 100-hit MLB seasons' quiz

The '2009 NFL Week 1 starting QBs' quiz

The 'Oldest 2-passing-TD NFL games' quiz

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / September 29

Soft Schedule, Hard Reality: Oilers Enter Season Banged Up and Under Pressure

The Edmonton Oilers enter the season with a new bench boss in Mike Babcock, fresh additions throughout the lineup, and the same annual mantra echoing through the room: start strong.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 29

Babcock: Nugent-Hopkins out with a lower-body injury

On the morning of the season opener, Edmonton Oilers fans got some disappointing news. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will not be available to play against the Vancouver Canucks tonight due to a lower-body injury, according to coach Mike Babcock.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 29

Pre-Scout: Oilers begin Mike Babcock era hosting Canucks in season opener

The marathon begins tonight. An even longer marathon called the 2026-27 NHL season, a journey of 84 regular season games, must start with a single game tonight for the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / September 29

Oilers Choose Their Starting Goalie, And With Good Reason

Tristan Jarry will start versus the Vancouver Canucks, according to Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Mike Babcock. Even if one could argue Devon Levi won the job with his play Saturday evening versus the Calgary Flames, it’s not always about a single performance, and a decision isn’t always based on the numbers.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 28

How you do anything is how you do everything: Inside Mike Babcock’s details

How the Oilers set the tone of their game in the pre-season During the Edmonton Oilers’ exhibition game against Vancouver on Sept. 24, Filip Chytil collided with an official below the goal line to the immediate left of Tristan Jarry.

Edmonton Oilers News / Field Level Media / September 28

Eyeing Cup, Oilers begin Mike Babcock era vs. rebuilding Canucks

The Edmonton Oilers made some bold decisions in their quest to return to Stanley Cup glory. Their season opener at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday is the first chance to see whether those moves will pay dividends.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

'Stan could have made a hell of a deal': Babcock praises new Oilers D-man

Mike Babcock was asked about the play of new defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin after a solid performance on Saturday night, and in praising the big man, he praised his general manager for making a trade that many felt the Oilers were never going to win.

NHL News / Yardbarker / September 25

Four NHL teams under most pressure to win the Stanley Cup this season

Let's take a look at four NHL teams that are going to be facing the most pressure to win during the 2026-27 season.

Mark Messier torches Oilers for controversial Mike Babcock hiring

Zach Hyman invites Messier to visit Oilers after Babcock comments

Sharks name Macklin Celebrini 14th captain in franchise history

Is the NHL cooling down on expansion a good thing?

Five NHL rookies who have stood out the most during 2026-27 preseason

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / September 25

Zach Hyman invites Mark Messier to visit Oilers after Mike Babcock comments

The Edmonton Oilers just can’t seem to avoid drama these days.

Mark Messier torches Oilers for controversial Mike Babcock hiring

The 'Most 5-point NHL games' quiz

Edmonton Oilers News / Trade Talk Sports / September 23

Oilers Legend Mark Messier Pushes Back on Mike Babcock Hiring

Mark Messier is unhappy with the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock. In fact, the former Oilers and legendary Hall of Famer says he’s “horrified” by the decision.

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / September 23

‘I am just horrified about the whole thing’: Mark Messier comments on Oilers’ hiring of Mike Babcock

When the Edmonton Oilers hired Mike Babcock to be their 19th head coach in franchise history in June, the decision was met with plenty of opprobrium. After

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / September 23

Mike Babcock has already made an impact on the Oilers during preseason

For many teams in the NHL, preseason hockey may feel like a meaningless, obligatory task that has to be completed before getting to the regular season.

Edmonton Oilers News / The Hockey Writers / September 23

Oilers’ Babcock Willing to Be Patient With Ike Howard

Edmonton Oilers fans are hoping they can finally make a deep playoff run and win their first Stanley Cup since 1990 with new head coach Mike Babcock behind the bench, and his willingness to be honest and hold players accountable is a breath of fresh air for fans and players alike.

Edmonton Oilers News / The Hockey Writers / September 14

Mike Babcock’s Contract Says Plenty About Oilers’ Future

When the Edmonton Oilers hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach on June 23, one important detail was absent from the announcement: the length of his contract.