Mark Messier didn’t hide how he feels about the Edmonton Oilers bringing in Mike Babcock.
The Hall of Famer, who won five Stanley Cups with Edmonton, ripped the move during ESPN’s 2026 NHL Opening Night media conference call, saying he was stunned by the hiring of the former Detroit Red Wings coach. Babcock, whose past two NHL jobs ended with him being dismissed over allegations of bullying players, was also fired by the Columbus Blue Jackets before coaching a game there.
“My mom always told me if I didn’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all,” Messier said with a laugh. “I am absolutely shocked they hired him.
“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.
“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.”
Messier’s reaction stood in sharp contrast to Ray Ferraro’s more measured take. Ferraro, who also works for ESPN, has a personal connection to Babcock through his son Landon, who spent time in the Red Wings organization and played briefly for Detroit when Babcock was behind the bench.
Ferraro said his experience points to a coach who is blunt, demanding and extremely clear about expectations.
“I know with Mike, the experience of being around him, and my son was in Detroit’s organization for a while, nobody will have a question about what their role is or what they’re supposed to do,” Ferraro said. “Mike, as you know, likes to talk in 15-second bursts, and everything is extremely direct.
“It’ll either work or it won’t.”
Ferraro added that the Oilers are getting exactly the kind of coach they appear to want.
“You don’t have a whole bunch of players jumping out and saying, ‘Hey, Mike is a great guy,’ that played for him in the past,” Ferraro said. “They say he’s organized, he’s detailed, he’s direct.
“That’s what Edmonton is getting.”
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The bet, of course, is that his aggression can be harnessed rather than repeated history getting in the way. Colorado is looking for him to grow into a steady NHL role, one that brings reliable effort at both ends and gives the lineup some useful muscle, but the challenge is turning that physical style into an asset the Avalanche can count on when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]