What happened: The Edmonton Oilers have hired Mike Babcock as their next head coach, the team announced Tuesday. The move comes just days after the NHL cleared Babcock to return behind a bench. The hiring was confirmed by the club and the league.

Why it matters: Babcock brings a Stanley Cup pedigree and decades of NHL experience to a contending Edmonton roster that reached the Stanley Cup Final in recent years. The hire signals the Oilers are betting on veteran leadership to get over the top in the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. It also marks a notable return for a coach whose path back to the league had been in question.

What to watch: Attention turns to how Babcock structures his coaching staff and system in Edmonton, and how the roster responds when training camp opens ahead of the new season.