Remember when I talked about the Toronto Maple Leafs hiring Jim Hiller and how it would make things a bit complicated for the Vegas Golden Knights' Bruce Cassidy strategy? Well, funny how life works, because Mike Babcock has been cleared by the NHL and is free to coach whoever he wants.
League decision on Babcock
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) June 18, 2026
“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…
I know what you're asking: "What does this have to do with the Golden Knights? They just hired Ryan Craig." Actually, this has nothing to do with Vegas. Instead, it has everything to do with their divisional rival, the Edmonton Oilers.
You see, the latest news frees the Oilers to finally hire the controversial head coach. That means Connor McDavid's cell phone will be checked daily for any black licorice dirty stuff and Leon Draisaitl will be chastised for looking like Jesse Ventura in Predator.
That also means that McCrimmon's waiting game with Bruce Cassidy ultimately paid off (at least, for next season). That's right, dear reader. The haters will be boiling with hate from hearing the latest news because the Golden Knights ultimately won the long game with the latest Babcock news in Edmonton.
How, you ask? Well, there are no more coaching vacancies in the NHL right now, except in Edmonton. However, that appears to go right out the window as the Oilers are looking to make them their next head coach. Here's how McCrimmon won in the end.
Kelly McCrimmon proves that his general manager style always wins in the end, at the behest of Edmonton Oilers fans
Looking at John Tortorella, you'd think that he might stick around for a season or two. That's especially true after leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final and bagging a Pacific Division title in the process. But that wasn't the case with Ryan Craig being hired.
It makes sense from an organizational standpoint. Craig has been with the team and its operations since Day F*****g One and even won a Stanley Cup as an assistant head coach. But is it worth keeping a known hot head who doesn't like the media around?
For McCrimmon, he saw the problem with Tortorella for the long term. Unfortunately for Oilers fans, their front office doesn't see Babcock in the same vein. They view him as a veteran guy who won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings instead of a problematic figure.
When you're trying to keep a world-class player like McDavid around for the long haul, that's not good. You want him to feel like he's at home and give him the luxury treatment. Instead, the Oilers are doing the opposite and bringing a problematic figure into the fold.
The end result? Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights win in the end. They played the waiting game and patiently waited for their division rivals to hire different head coaches. The Los Angeles Kings did that with Peter Laviolette and the Edmonton Oilers are closing in on Mike Babcock. It's good to be the king.
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