Frustrated by a stalling timeline, the veteran coach walked away from Edmonton’s search, forcing management to pivot toward Mike Babcock after lengthy negotiations hit a sudden standstill.
Craig Berube has revealed he voluntarily withdrew from the Edmonton Oilers’ head coaching search, offering new insight into how the team ultimately landed on Mike Babcock.
Speaking publicly about the process on Leafs Morning Take, Berube confirmed he had a positive and lengthy interview with Oilers management, including GM Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson, following the dismissal of Kris Knoblauch.
“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.
Despite early indications that Berube was a strong candidate for the role, he explained that the hiring process timeline was a key factor in his decision to walk away. Rather than continue waiting as discussions stretched on, Berube chose to let the Oilers pursue other options. That included Mike Babcock, who they ultimately hired.
While it's unclear how close the Oilers got to hiring Berube, his decision took the choice out of their hands. While Berube admitted he didn’t have prior relationships with Bowman or Jackson, he viewed the experience as a valuable opportunity to connect.
“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.”
The veteran coach also made it clear he remains eager to return behind an NHL bench and will be monitoring future opportunities as they arise.
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