Count Mark Messier among those disappointed in the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock over the off-season.
The Oilers great shared that he is “just horrified” of Babcock’s appointment as Edmonton’s head coach on an ESPN NHL media call on Wednesday.
“I’m absolutely shocked they hired him,” Messier said. “I’m absolutely shocked from the stories that I heard from very good, reputable, character people about the way they were treated. It’s been no secret.”
Babcock, 63, was hired as the 19th head coach in Oilers’ history in June, taking over for Kris Knoblauch after a three-year stint with the team that included back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Just days before the Oilers made the announcement of the hire, Babcock had been cleared in an NHL investigation that was requested by the Players’ Association relating to his short tenure as the coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Babcock took charge of the Blue Jackets in June 2023, but resigned before the start of the season after a report from the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast indicated that he had asked players to share personal photos from their mobile devices.
The situation was looked into by the NHL, but the investigation after Babcock announced his resignation.
“The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock’s tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith. Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favourable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League,” the league said in a release clearing the two-time Stanley Cup winner to coach again.
Following the conclusion of the league’s investigation, extensive interviews took place between Babcock with Edmonton’s management and the leadership group in the Oilers’ dressing room - following which the team ultimately decided to hire him as their next head coach, a process which Messier also took issue with.
“I think there has to be a separation of powers on the structural level of any team,” he said. “I think from the management to the coaching to the players, there has to be a divide. The leadership of your team have to protect your players inside the dressing room. 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 don’t understand it.”
“Maybe the game has changed to the point where that’s the way things are going now, where players have that much say,” Messier added. “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. There’s no separation there.
“I am just horrified about the whole thing, to be honest with you. I could go on and on and on, but I think you get my point.”
Babcock holds a career regular-season head coaching record of 700-418-164 with 19 ties in his time with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s coached Team Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014, also guiding Canada to gold at the World Junior Championship (1997), Men’s World Championship (2004) and World Cup of Hockey (2016).
The Oilers officially open their season on Sept. 29 with a home date against the Vancouver Canucks, with Babcock making his official return behind an NHL bench for the first time since Nov. 19, 2019.
