Craig Berube says he removed himself from the Edmonton Oilers’ coaching search after the process started to drag, a decision that helped clear the way for the team to move on and eventually hire Mike Babcock.
Berube spoke about the situation on Leafs Morning Take and said he had a strong, extended conversation with Oilers GM Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson after Kris Knoblauch was dismissed. But as the interview process stretched on, he decided not to keep waiting.
“It was good. I had a great conversation with Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson for quite some time, and went through the process. It just got dragged out too long, so I just took myself out of it,” Berube said.
He said the delay was the turning point. Berube was viewed as a strong option early in the search, but he chose to step aside once the timeline stalled rather than stay in limbo while Edmonton kept sorting through its choices. The Oilers then went in another direction and hired Babcock.
It’s not clear how close Edmonton came to landing Berube, but his exit effectively took him out of the running. He also said he didn’t have previous relationships with Bowman or Jackson, though he still valued the chance to sit down with them.
“It’s always good to meet people, and they get to know you and get to know what you’re like and what your process is like, your identity, and how you want your team to play.”
Berube also said he still wants another NHL bench job and will be watching for the next opening that comes along.
In Other News...
Oilers Just Made A Dach Bet That Could Quiet Doubters
The Oilers added another layer to their forward depth by locking up Colton Dach on a two-year extension, a move that keeps a recent trade acquisition in the fold as Edmonton continues sorting out its long-term roster picture. Dach arrived from the Chicago Blackhawks in the deal that sent Andrew Mangiapane and a first-round pick the other way, and the organization is clearly betting there is more to unlock in his game than what he has shown so far.
There is reason for the patience, even if the evaluation is still unfinished. Dach has flashed enough to keep the conversation going about whether he can grow into a useful middle-six NHL forward, but availability has been part of the story too, with missed time cutting into his rhythm in each of the past two seasons. For Edmonton, the extension is less about a finished product than about giving a young player time to turn promise into something that could make the trade look awfully shrewd down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Leon Draisaitl's Wife Had An Emotional Response To Oilers Trade
Leon Draisaitl and his wife Celeste are spending the offseason far from Edmonton, on a safari trip in Kenya, but the Oilers still found their way into the conversation. Celeste recently shared a farewell message for former defenseman Darnell Nurse, a reminder that even in the middle of a getaway, the business side of hockey can still land with real emotion.
Nurses departure was one of the bigger roster moves of the summer for Edmonton, which is trying to reset after its playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks. The deal also brought back Shakir Mukhamadullin and the rights to Zachary Sharp, giving the Oilers some added flexibility as they work through an offseason that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Why Kapanens Oilers Fit Suddenly Feels A Lot More Real
Kasperi Kapanens return on a one-year, $2.6 million deal gives the Oilers another familiar piece for a roster that has leaned heavily on chemistry and comfort as much as raw talent. His path to Edmonton already comes with a built-in connection to coach Mike Babcock from their Toronto days, when Kapanen found a more defined role and showed he could contribute beyond just speed and skill.
The timing adds another layer to the fit, because Kapanen is expected to reunite with Babcock again in the 2026-27 season, a wrinkle that makes this signing feel less like a short-term stopgap and more like part of a broader thread. Edmonton has also been adding other former Toronto players, so Kapanen is stepping into a group where the references, expectations and coaching language should all feel familiar pretty quickly. [Read more 🡒]