Almost one month ago, Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he’d have a new coach in place “sooner rather than later.” An explanation for the drawn-out process came into focus on Saturday.

The Blue Jackets intend to hire veteran coach Mike Babcock when Babcock’s current contract with Toronto expires at the end of this month, a team source not authorized to speak publicly on the matter has confirmed to The Athletic. Babcock has been out of the NHL since he was fired by the Maple Leafs in 2019.

TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report speculation of Babcock’s return to the NHL on Saturday.

The Blue Jackets had hoped to get Babcock under contract this week, but have been unable to complete an agreement with the Maple Leafs to buy out the remaining month of his contract. Unless that changes, the soonest the Blue Jackets could officially sign Babcock would be July 1.

Kekalainen would not comment on Babcock or any aspect of the report when contacted by The Athletic on Saturday. Babcock did not respond to messages from The Athletic seeking comment.

The news sent shockwaves through the NHL on Saturday, and assuming the hiring takes place as planned, it will require a considerable amount of heavy lifting by the Blue Jackets’ public-relations and ticket-sales departments, with some fans already expressing discontent and disappointment on social media.