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Messier 'Horrified' by Oilers' Babcock Hire

8:02 PM ETConfirmed

Sports Desk

In Short: Former Oilers captain Mark Messier expressed shock and horror over the team's decision to hire Mike Babcock as head coach.

Former Oilers captain Mark Messier said he was 'horrified' by the team's decision to hire Mike Babcock as head coach, citing longstanding criticism of Babcock's methods and the circumstances of his NHL exit.

Messier told reporters, 'I'm absolutely shocked they hired him. I'm absolutely shocked that from the stories I heard from very good, reputable character people about the way they were treated.

General Manager Stan Bowman cited Babcock's experience as a key factor in his appointment, noting the team had employed two first-time head coaches in succession.

Babcock resigned weeks after taking the reins at the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, facing allegations of inappropriate behavior from players that prompted an NHL Players' Association investigation.

Babcock never coached a game during his tenure in Columbus and has not coached in the NHL since. He led the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup win in 2008.

During his introductory news conference in June, Babcock acknowledged the situation in Columbus had been reviewed, expressing gratitude to the NHL and NHLPA for their actions.

Babcock inherits a talented Edmonton team that reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025, led by captain Connor McDavid.

Messier, now an ESPN analyst, played 12 of his 25 seasons with Edmonton and won five Stanley Cups with the team.

When asked about the circumstances surrounding his departure from Columbus, Babcock acknowledged he had reflected on the episode.

Messier's main concern is what might happen if things go south between Babcock and the Oilers' players, given Babcock's history.

The Oilers' decision to hire Babcock caused a stir, with many questioning the wisdom of bringing in a coach with a controversial past.

Babcock, hired to a multi-year contract over the summer, has acknowledged he has made players uncomfortable, saying he could have been better and pledging to do better.

Background

What's confirmed

• "I'm absolutely shocked they hired him. I'm absolutely shocked that from the stories that ​I heard from very good, reputable character people about the way they were treated," Messier ​told reporters.

What's still developing

• "I just don't know ⁠if ​it does go bad and players are having difficulties, ​who do they turn to. Because if they turn to the leadership, the leadership is management," said Messier.
• Those allegations came after reports that Babcock, as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016-17 season, had forced a rookie Mitch Marner to make a list ranking his teammates according to their competitiveness, which he then showed to other players on the team.
• With the preseason under way, however, and the news cycle having moved on from the hire, it seemed as though Babcock’s tenure with Edmonton would begin without too much turmoil.
• During the ESPN Opening Night media call on Wednesday, Hall of Fame Oiler and six-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Messier shared his deep disappointment in Edmonton’s hiring of Babcock.
• How can you do that when you’re directly involved with the decisions they’re making at the management level and hiring of the management and coaches?
• “I'm simply horrified by this whole situation, to be honest with you.” – Mark Messier Because we're not talking about some random former player passing through Edmonton here: we're talking about Mark Messier, a true legend in Oilers history.
• “I am just horrified about the whole thing, to be honest with you.” pic.twitter.com/Wcd7qOsm29 The Oilers' decision caused quite a stir when they hired Babcock… and it's likely to continue to do so.
• Time will tell how the Babcock experiment works.
• “I don’t look at what I want (down the road). As a team, I just want them getting better every day. Yesterday (Monday) I didn’t like what I saw from the group. Today we got a way better. It’s process, process, process. That’s what we’re focusing on,” said Babcock.
• “I just want Freddy to be Freddy, have some jump, get in on the fore-check. Play a simple physical game and feel good about himself. If we can get him back, he can be an important piece here,” said Babcock.
• Please try again Nobody bleeds Oiler orange and blue more than Messier.
• But, Messier, never a tap-dancer, always saying what’s on his mind, emphatically voiced his disapproval on the ESPN show.

Sources

• Reuterslink
• Dailyfaceofflink
• Doselink
• ESPN La Crosse 105.5link
• Edmontonjournallink
• Espnlink
• Ginohardlink
• Markerzone.comlink
• Nhltradetalklink
• Nypostlink
• Oilersnationlink
• Thehockeynewslink
• Thescorelink
• Yardbarkerlink
• WarpBeat — background on Messier 'Horrified' by Oilers' Babcock Hire link
• NHL Trade Talk — video link