NHL begins investigation into Mike Babcock’s 2023 resignation with Columbus, AP reports

The NHL has begun an investigation into Mike Babcock’s resignation as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in September 2023, according to The Associated Press. A person with knowledge of the situation told AP the league is conducting the probe privately, and that the request for the investigation came after information surfaced involving Babcock’s potential next destination.

AP reports that Babcock had resigned before coaching a game for Columbus. The timing is central to why the league is looking at the circumstances now, since the NHL’s standards for hiring and workplace conduct can become part of the league’s compliance work even when a coach does not reach the bench.

The NHL investigation follows a request from the National Hockey League Players’ Association, AP said. The union asked the league to investigate last week after word emerged that the Edmonton Oilers were interested in hiring Babcock. That context matters because it touches on the integrity of the process around coach hiring and how information, communications, and approvals move through NHL structures.

In the announcement provided to AP, the league’s review was described as private, with details not being made public. That means the investigation’s scope, what records are being examined, and whether any specific conduct will be cited have not been established in the reporting.

From a league-governance standpoint, the Players’ Association involvement suggests the matter is being treated as more than a standard employment change. The PA typically steps in when issues overlap with workplace fairness, the bargaining relationship, or matters that could affect how clubs conduct business within league rules.

For Columbus, the episode remains a cautionary tale about how quickly off-ice disruption can follow a coaching search. Even though the resignation occurred before Babcock coached a game, the club’s internal process and the league’s oversight still become part of a broader narrative about stability and expectations.

As the NHL investigation proceeds, the main thing to watch is whether the league expands its review beyond the resignation mechanics. If more details emerge, they could shape how future coaching candidates are vetted and how clubs and the league coordinate when potential employment decisions intersect with new team interest.