The Edmonton Oilers have a long history of giving people second chances.

This has been the case since the 1980s, a philosophy supported by former general manager Glen Sather. Of course, people should be held accountable for their actions. However, once they have dealt with their issues, who doesn’t deserve a second chance? If you look at the Oilers’ history with Craig MacTavish, Grant Fuhr, Zach Kassian, Evander Kane, and Corey Perry, the results have been positive. Could their hiring of Mike Babcock work out for the best?

In 1984, MacTavish was playing for the Boston Bruins. Unfortunately, he was involved in a terrible accident that took the life of a Boston resident and was later found guilty of vehicular homicide, spending a year in jail. Remorseful, the 25-year-old made peace with the victim’s family. Glen Sather was good friends with Boston GM Harry Sinden and learned about the young centre and the tragic incident. The Oilers’ GM decided to sign him after the Bruins terminated MacTavish’s contract.

MacTavish became a big part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams in Edmonton. He was a reliable, heart-and-soul player who centred the third line. If the Oilers were up by a goal, you knew MacTavish would be on the ice to keep the other team in check. He had 316 points in 593 regular-season games, and he added 37 points in 117 playoff games. However, his main contribution was shutting down the opposition.

Later, he became captain, then assistant coach, head coach, general manager, and then vice-president. As a coach, he guided the Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. Throughout his career with Edmonton, he was a highly respected individual and an advocate against drunk driving. After Sather gave him a second chance, he transformed himself.

Grant Fuhr had several personal challenges to deal with. The Oilers star goalie had financial issues and was suspended for a year for substance abuse problems. Sather stayed loyal to the goalie and helped him through it. Fuhr was a key cog in the Oilers’ machine and had a knack for making big saves at pivotal points in games. Sometimes the Spruce Grove product would let in four or five goals, then stop back-to-back breakaways in the last five minutes of a game. Fuhr was the definition of clutch and won a Vezina Trophy in 1988. Wayne Gretzky famously said, “I think he’s the best goalie in the history of the NHL”. His regular season stats don’t look impressive, but teams play much better defence now. Fuhr’s post-season numbers are incredible; he won 74 of 111 starts. In the Oilers’ successful 1988 playoff run, he went 16-2 with a 2.91 GAA.

Zack Kassian was suspended multiple times for his on- and off-ice conduct. Many Oilers fans disliked him because of a violent, stick-swinging incident in which Sam Gagner was injured. Eventually, Kassian took part in the NHL’s substance abuse program. After he was traded to the Oilers, he rebuilt his career and turned his life around.

He was an intimidating power forward for Edmonton, keeping opposing teams on their toes. Kassian had 125 points in 412 games, along with 536 penalty minutes. In the postseason, the power forward had 18 points in 37 games.

In 2022, the Vancouver, B.C., native had his contract terminated by San Jose because of repeated violations of the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Edmonton decided to take a chance and signed Evander Kane as a free agent. It didn’t take long for Kane to make an impact on the ice, and he was a big part of the 2024-25 playoff run. The power forward scored at a torrid pace and was a thorn in the side of the opposition. In his time with the Oilers, he had 62 goals and 49 assists for 111 points in 161 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he produced 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points in 68 games. Kane was a loyal soldier on the ice and helped out in the community.

Corey Perry’s contract was terminated in 2023 after the Chicago Blackhawks conducted an internal investigation into an off-ice incident. Just like Kane, he became a free agent and was signed by the Oilers. In 119 regular-season games with Edmonton, Perry had 27 goals and 16 assists for 43 points. He also contributed 17 points in 41 playoff games. Perry played hard for Edmonton, scored big goals, and led the team into battle with his physicality. He was an integral part of two long playoff runs with the Oilers, and his career was prolonged.

To the surprise of many people, Mike Babcock was hired by the Oilers this summer. The old-school coach has won a Stanley Cup, two Olympic gold medals, and a World Junior gold. There is no question he has experience and has won at every level. However, controversy does surround his hiring. He has never been found guilty of any transgressions by the NHL, but the last time he was in the league, Columbus fired him before he could coach a game. This spring, the NHL looked into Babcock’s time at the Blue Jackets and gave the go-ahead on June 18th for the Oilers to hire him.

Maybe you feel Babcock has been given second, third, and fourth chances and shouldn’t have been hired. The Oilers organization’s track record shows that people can redeem themselves. Let’s see if the person and the hockey team succeed again.

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