‘I had a great experience with him’: Oilers’ Hyman defends Babcock hire
As we creep toward the 2026-27 season, there are still a lot of people around the game who are scratching their heads about the Edmonton Oilers‘ biggest move this offseason – hiring Mike Babcock as the team’s new head coach.
However, a player who has experience working under the Stanley Cup-winning bench boss is in favor of the move.
When appearing on TSN 1050’s 1st Up on Monday, Oilers forward Zach Hyman was asked about the perceived controversial decision to bring Babcock on board, despite his checkered past. Hyman, who spent most of his first seasons in the NHL playing for Babcock with the Toronto Maple Leafs, admits that he enjoyed his time in Toronto while Babcock was at the helm, but stated that he had no say in the decision to bring him to Edmonton.
“As a player, you don’t have much say on the coaching stuff,” Hyman said. “But I had played for Babs, so obviously I was asked about my experience, and I had a great experience with him. He was phenomenal to me as a young player…I think extremely highly of him as a coach. His ability to teach. He’s an unbelievable coach…a lot of excitement from our group. The guys we have to have him come into the room and to really command it. So we’re excited.”
Hyman entered the NHL when Babcock was in his first season with the Leafs in 2015-16. From there, along with the addition of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the Leafs became a consistent playoff contender, with Hyman becoming a unique talent, using his grit and work ethic to complement the star players. Hyman was there through Babcock’s firing partway through the 2019-20 campaign, with Hyman eventually leaving the Leafs following the 2021 season, signing with the Oilers.
The main cause for concern with Babcock’s return to the league stemmed from his exit as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, despite never coaching a game. His antics and alleged intrusion of player privacy eventually led to his resignation in the preseason. The NHL reportedly conducted an investigation into what went down that summer and heading into training camp, but deemed there was no wrongdoing by the former Detroit Red Wings coach, allowing him to return to the bench.
Hyman stated that it was necessary for an investigation to take place, but believes the addition of Babcock is what Edmonton needs to reach its ultimate goal.
“I think it was really important that the NHL and the NHLPA did the process that they needed to do,” Hyman said. “Obviously, he was cleared to coach again, and obviously, as players you talk to other players, and you get a sense of things around the league….It’s not like you don’t talk to other players and other organizations, especially when you’re making a big hire. I think as players, we’re all comfortable with Babs and with what he brought, and we think that it’s something that’s going to be really good for our group. It’s somebody who we need, and somebody who can really take us to the next level.”