Hall of Fame centre Mark Messier says he is “horrified” by the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock as head coach, and forward Zach Hyman has answered by inviting the franchise icon to training camp to see the situation for himself.
Messier, who won four Stanley Cups with the Oilers and now works as an ESPN analyst, made the comments on a network media call Wednesday, according to ESPN and Daily Faceoff. “I’m absolutely shocked they hired him,” Messier said. “I am just horrified about the whole thing, to be honest with you.”
Messier said his concern stems from what he has heard about how Babcock treated players earlier in his coaching career, though he did not detail specific incidents. “I’m absolutely shocked from the stories that I heard from very good, reputable, character people about the way they were treated,” he said, per Daily Faceoff and TSN. Babcock’s tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets ended in September 2023 amid an investigation into a locker-room practice requiring players to show personal photos on their phones, and he was previously scrutinized for having Mitch Marner rank Toronto Maple Leafs teammates by work ethic during the 2016-17 season.
Messier also objected to the process behind the hire. Captain Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Hyman met with Babcock before Edmonton completed the hiring in June, and Messier argued that arrangement compromises the leadership group’s ability to advocate for teammates. “The leadership of your team has to protect the players,” he said, adding, “I think there has to be a separation of powers.”
Hyman pushed back on the criticism without dismissing Messier’s standing with the franchise. “I think if he really wants to see what’s going on firsthand, he’s more than welcome to come here,” Hyman said, according to The Hockey News and NHL.com. Hyman added that the mood inside the Oilers’ room has been positive, saying “there’s a lot of excitement” and “nothing but good is happening right now.”
McDavid, asked about the criticism this week, kept his response brief, according to NHL.com writer Derek Van Diest. “I don’t see a lot of headlines about any players here, I see a lot of headlines about the coach,” McDavid said, adding that the group remains focused on preparing for the season. Babcock, for his part, said he holds no ill will toward Messier, calling him “a legend here” and recounting positive personal interactions with him, per NHL.com.
The dispute follows a coaching change Edmonton made after two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final without a championship. The Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch and assistant coach Mark Stuart on May 14 and hired Babcock on June 23, returning the 63-year-old to an NHL bench for the first time since the Maple Leafs fired him during the 2019-20 season.
The exchange comes as Edmonton wraps up its exhibition schedule. The Oilers are 2-1 in preseason play, most recently beating the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Sept. 24, and close out preseason Saturday against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place before opening the regular season Sept. 29 at home against Vancouver.
