A resolution on Mike Babcock and the Oilers may be close, and Andy Strickland added a new wrinkle about what the NHL's investigation involves.
Strickland's timing read came first. With the Stanley Cup Final wrapped up, he expects things to head toward a resolution on Babcock and Edmonton.
Then the new detail. He's hearing that part of the NHL's investigation includes a situation that involved Patrik Laine.
That's all that was said, and it's worth being careful here. The substance of that situation isn't public, and the allegations under review remain unproven.
What is clear is that the process is finally moving toward a conclusion.
Strickland's report points to both a timeline and a fresh element in the review.
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A ruling unlocks Edmonton's coaching decision
Here's the backdrop. The NHLPA requested this investigation over allegations tied to Babcock's time in Columbus, and Elliotte Friedman had reported the league wants to resolve it quickly.
Why the timing matters is simple. Edmonton's coaching search has been frozen on Babcock, and a ruling gives Stan Bowman a clear answer before camp.
The expectation has been leaning one way. A roundup of insiders, including Friedman, David Pagnotta, Darren Dreger and Jeff Marek, suggested Babcock would be cleared and hired, with Frank Seravalli the notable skeptic.
The decision settles that debate. Until it lands, everything around it is just prediction.
But a clearance wouldn't erase the noise. An agent told Jason Gregor a Babcock hire could dim Edmonton's free-agent appeal, with clients voicing concern. Those questions don't disappear with a ruling.
Here's my read, with the care it requires. The league has to get this right, not just get it done fast. A new detail involving a player is a reminder this is a serious review, not a rubber stamp.
Edmonton needs clarity, and soon. But the integrity of the process has to outrank any coaching timeline. Rushing it to clear a bench logjam would be its own mistake.
The resolution is reportedly close now. Whatever it brings, it closes one of the longest-running stories of the offseason.
And Edmonton's entire coaching plan hangs on what that ruling says.
Should the league take all the time it needs before ruling on Babcock?
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