NHL investigates Mike Babcock's resignation

The NHL is launching an investigation into Mike Babcock's resignation as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who he resigned from in September 2023, before coaching a single game. According to a report from ESPN, the investigation is prompted by concerns regarding Babcock's earlier requests for personal photos from players as a means to get to know them, which raised privacy issues.

The NHL Players' Association requested this review after news surfaced that the Edmonton Oilers were interested in hiring Babcock, who had only taken the Blue Jackets job less than three months prior to his resignation.

Babcock, who is 63 years old, had not coached in the NHL since being dismissed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in November 2019. He has a controversial history, with former players describing his coaching style as potentially bullying and sharing instances of his harsh methods, including asking a player to rank teammates based on work ethic and making those rankings public.

The Oilers are currently searching for a new head coach following the firing of Kris Knoblauch after their first-round playoff exit. They sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to interview Bruce Cassidy but were denied due to his ongoing contract.

The NHL's investigation follows a previous review by the Players' Association after Babcock stepped down, which was halted when he resigned.