Jason Brough

For the most definitive take and bit of information on this, we're going to go now to 880 Edmonton.

CHED, the mighty chud.

Bob Stauffer yesterday from Oilers Now.

This is about as definitive, and let's be very frank.

As real as this gets, Bob wants everyone to know this isn't just kicking the tires.

This isn't just an interview.

Mike Babcock is the Oilers guy.

Here is Bob Stauber, who's as dialed in as anyone with the Oilers, talking about what I would consider a pending hire of Mike Babcock as the next head coach.

Here's Bob.

Just one problem.

The Edmonton Oilers might not be allowed to hire Mike Babcock.

According to multiple sources, they still need to ask and get permission from the NHL Players Association.

Basically, if there are any issues that need to be resolved, one would assume stemming from the Columbus situation before potentially hiring Mike Babcock.

This, to me, and, you know, it was funny, Robert Tchaikovsky from the Edmonton Journal coined this as the third act of the most dysfunctional trilogy in coaching history in the National Hockey League.

The first one, first part of the trilogy, was the Cassidy situation.

Trying to...

Trying to interview someone while you still had a head coach on the payroll isn't that uncommon.

Getting turned down for that interview because he's still under contract from another NHL team is a little bit uncommon.

But that's the first act.

The second act is that after that's out there,