Edmonton Oilers May Have Found Mike Babcock’s Future Replacement in Misha Donskov – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers added another intriguing piece to their coaching staff when they announced the hiring of Misha Donskov as a coaching consultant. On the surface, the move gives head coach Mike Babcock another experienced hockey mind to lean on. Looking further ahead, however, it could potentially give Edmonton something even more valuable: an internal candidate to eventually become its next head coach.

Donskov, 49, will maintain his position as Hockey Canada’s vice president of hockey operations and National Men’s Hockey Team coach while spending a select number of days with the Oilers at home each month. Babcock specifically highlighted Donskov’s experience, people skills and professionalism when Edmonton announced the hiring.

It shouldn’t be assumed that Edmonton hired Donskov specifically as Babcock’s eventual replacement. There has been no indication from the organization that such a succession plan exists. But considering Donskov’s rapidly growing coaching resume and his increasing responsibilities with Hockey Canada, it isn’t difficult to imagine this relationship developing into something much bigger.

Donskov Brings a Winning Pedigree to Edmonton

Few coaches available to an NHL organization have accumulated experience across as many different areas of hockey as Donskov.

His NHL career has included coaching, management, and player-development responsibilities. He spent seven seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights organization, initially serving as director of hockey operations before transitioning behind the bench and was part of the coaching staff when Vegas won the Stanley Cup in 2023. Donskov then joined Pete DeBoer’s staff with the Dallas Stars, serving as an assistant coach from 2023 to 2025.

That experience should immediately benefit Edmonton. The Golden Knights and Stars have been two of the Western Conference’s strongest organizations in recent seasons, and Donskov has seen firsthand how both operate. He understands the preparation, structure, and details required to win deep into the postseason.

For an Oilers team built around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and operating with Stanley Cup expectations, adding another coach with championship experience makes plenty of sense.

There is also an interesting strategic element. Donskov has extensive knowledge of two organizations Edmonton has repeatedly had to measure itself against in the Western Conference. While systems and personnel change, his familiarity with how successful organizations prepare and operate could provide another valuable perspective for Babcock and his staff.

Donskov’s People Skills Could Be Equally Important

Perhaps the most interesting part of Babcock’s statement was his reference to Donskov’s “people skills.” Coaching in today’s NHL extends far beyond drawing up systems. Managing personalities, communicating roles, and maintaining relationships with star players are enormous parts of the job. Donskov’s career suggests he has developed those abilities.

He has worked with NHL veterans, junior players, and international stars. He’s also moved comfortably between coaching and hockey-operations positions, which gives him a broader understanding of how an organization functions. Hockey Canada described him as a collaborative leader when hiring him for his current executive position in 2025. His responsibilities have since continued to expand.

That versatility could complement Babcock particularly well. Babcock brings decades of head-coaching experience and a reputation for demanding structure and accountability. Donskov can provide another perspective, particularly when it comes to communication and modern player management.

Edmonton Gives Donskov Another Opportunity to Develop

This arrangement isn’t beneficial only for the Oilers. Hockey Canada clearly views Donskov as a potential high-level head coach. In April, the organization announced that he would lead Canada’s National Men’s Hockey Team and national junior team at multiple major tournaments through 2026-27.

He made his international head-coaching debut at the 2026 IIHF World Championship and is scheduled to coach Canada at the 2027 World Juniors before leading Canada again at the 2027 World Championship. The Edmonton position now gives him another opportunity to develop while remaining connected to the NHL.

Instead of spending a full season outside the league while fulfilling his Hockey Canada responsibilities, Donskov can periodically work alongside Babcock and Edmonton’s staff. He can observe their preparation, contribute his own ideas, and become familiar with the Oilers’ players and organization. That last part could become particularly important down the road.

Could Donskov Eventually Replace Babcock?

There is no reason for Edmonton to rush toward another coaching change. Babcock was hired to lead the Oilers, and the organization’s focus will be on what he can accomplish with the current roster. But NHL organizations also need to think beyond one season. Donskov’s hiring creates an intriguing succession possibility because Edmonton can essentially evaluate him from within without immediately placing him in a full-time NHL coaching position.

If he eventually wants another full-time NHL job, becoming a head coach would seem like a logical next step. He has already been an NHL assistant, won a Stanley Cup, worked in hockey operations and is now receiving significant head-coaching experience internationally. His upcoming World Juniors assignment could be particularly significant.

Leading Canada’s junior team comes with enormous pressure, and the 2027 tournament will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer. Donskov will have to manage young players, construct a staff, implement systems quickly, and deal with massive expectations during a short tournament. Hockey Canada has already entrusted him with building coaching staffs for its national teams, another responsibility that resembles the organizational demands of an NHL head coach.

If Donskov performs well internationally while simultaneously making a strong impression within the Oilers organization, Edmonton could eventually have a natural candidate sitting right in front of them.

Continuity Could Benefit the Oilers

The biggest advantage to eventually promoting Donskov would be continuity. One of the problems with changing head coaches is that an outside hire often arrives with entirely different systems, assistants, and expectations. Players are forced to adjust again, and management has to hope the new coach fits the roster. Donskov’s consulting position gives him an opportunity to learn Edmonton before potentially taking on a larger role.

He can build relationships with McDavid, Draisaitl, and the rest of the leadership group. He can understand the strengths and weaknesses of Edmonton’s roster, learn how management operates and see which aspects of Babcock’s system work best. If Edmonton eventually needed a new head coach and Donskov had established himself as a legitimate candidate, the transition could be significantly smoother than bringing in someone completely unfamiliar with the organization.

There would also be an opportunity to preserve what worked under Babcock rather than starting over.

Oilers May Have Found a Long-Term Coaching Option

For now, Donskov is exactly what Edmonton says he is: a coaching consultant. His schedule with the Oilers will be limited while he handles significant responsibilities with Hockey Canada, so expectations for his immediate impact should remain reasonable. But his resume makes this much more interesting than a routine addition to the coaching department.

Donskov has won at the NHL and international levels. He’s worked in coaching and management. He’s been trusted with increasingly significant responsibilities by Hockey Canada, and at 49, he could still have a lengthy NHL coaching career ahead of him. Edmonton gets to bring that experience into Babcock’s staff without immediately disrupting its existing coaching structure. And Donskov gets something equally valuable: an opportunity to familiarize himself with an organization built to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Nobody should declare him Babcock’s successor before he has even started working with the Oilers. But if Donskov’s trajectory continues upward, Edmonton may eventually realize that a seemingly modest coaching-consultant hire also introduced one of the strongest candidates to become the club’s next head coach. For an organization trying to win now without losing sight of what comes next, that’s a potentially significant addition.