Mike Babcock is the clubhouse leader to become the next Edmonton Oilers head coach, but another potential candidate has been revealed.<\/p>\n
While the team seems locked in on Babcock, an NHL investigation<\/a> is currently getting in the way of the Oilers hiring the veteran coach. If the league determines that Babcock is not eligible to step behind an NHL bench, Edmonton will need to look elsewhere for its next head coach, but who could that be?<\/p>\n The Oilers have already been heavily linked to Bruce Cassidy<\/a>\u00a0but have not been able to gain permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to interview him.\u00a0Craig Berube\u2019s name was linked to the Oilers<\/a> last month, and we now know another coach who has sat down with Edmonton.<\/p>\n NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed on Wednesday\u2019s edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast<\/a> that the Oilers have interviewed ex-LA Kings head coach Jim Hiller.<\/p>\n \u201cThey interviewed Berube, and they interviewed Laviolette,\u201d Friedman said. \u201cI heard Laviolette was there last week and interviewed very well, I heard.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they interviewed Jim Hiller.\u201d<\/p>\n Laviolette seemed to be another top target for the Oilers, but he came off the board after being hired by the Kings earlier this week.<\/p>\n Hiller is a very interesting name for Edmonton, and he may not be a popular one among the Oilers faithful. Many fans will remember him as being behind the Kings\u2019 bench during last year\u2019s first-round series against the Oilers.<\/p>\n