Mark Messier didn’t mince words when asked about the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock.
The Hall of Famer called the move “horrified” territory, saying he was stunned the team went down that road after hearing repeated stories about how players were treated.
"I'm absolutely shocked they hired him," Messier said during the ESPN NHL Opening Night media call Wednesday, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "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."
Messier also took aim at the process behind the hire, especially the fact that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were among the players who interviewed Babcock before Edmonton brought him in. That, in Messier’s view, crosses into territory that blurs the line between players and management.
He said he had never heard of players interviewing a coach before a hire, then raised the question of where those players would turn if things went sideways.
"Maybe the game has changed to the point where that's the way things are going now, where players have that much say," Messier said. "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'm 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."
Edmonton moved on from Kris Knoblauch after a first-round playoff exit and hired Babcock in June. The decision came with plenty of baggage.
Babcock has been accused of mistreating players multiple times, and his most recent NHL stint ended before it even started when he was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 and then resigned amid allegations that he invaded players’ privacy. He reportedly asked for players’ phones, looked through their camera rolls, and projected photos onto a larger screen.
At the NHLPA’s request, the NHL investigated after the Oilers showed interest in Babcock and cleared him to return to the league.
Babcock’s reputation has also been shaped by earlier controversies. During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016-17 season, he had then-rookie Mitch Marner rank his teammates by work ethic and then shared the list with the rest of the team.
Johan Franzen later said in 2019 that Babcock verbally abused him to the point of a mental breakdown, and Franzen called him "the worst person I have ever met." Babcock coached Franzen with the Detroit Red Wings from 2005-15.
Still, McDavid and Draisaitl backed the hire. McDavid said it was "what we want," while Draisaitl called Babcock "exactly what we need right now."
Babcock, 63, brings a résumé that includes a Stanley Cup, two Olympic gold medals, and a World Cup of Hockey. His last NHL bench job came in 2019 with the Maple Leafs.
Messier, who played for Edmonton from 1979-91, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007 and has worked as an ESPN analyst since 2021.
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