Mark Messier ripped Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock's hiring, questioning the structure behind one of hockey's biggest coaching moves.
Messier didn't ease into it during ESPN's NHL Opening Night media call. His first reaction was blunt: “I am absolutely shocked they hired him.”
The Hall of Famer then pointed directly at stories he said he had heard from “very good, reputable, character people” about how they were treated around Babcock.
Messier made clear this wasn't simply about systems, line combinations or what happens behind the bench. His concern centered on how Edmonton's leadership structure could function when players need support.
“I think there has to be a separation of powers,” Messier said, arguing that management, coaches and players need defined boundaries inside an NHL organization.
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Then came the line that made his position impossible to miss: “I am just horrified about the whole thing, to be honest with you.”
Messier questions Edmonton's chain of command
Babcock was hired by the Oilers on June 23, with Stan Bowman remaining Edmonton's general manager. That pairing is now under a bright spotlight before the regular season even begins.
Messier's sharpest concern was what happens when players have an issue with the coaching staff. He questioned whether they would have a truly separate level of leadership available to hear those concerns.
“If they turn to the leadership, the leadership is management,” Messier said. “There's no separation there.”
That criticism arrives while Edmonton is moving through preseason under its new head coach. The Oilers are 2-0-0 in their recent exhibition results after beating Winnipeg 2-1 on Tuesday.
Babcock hasn't coached an NHL regular-season game for Edmonton yet, but Messier has already pushed the conversation far beyond line deployment or special teams.
He also made it clear his reaction wasn't mild discomfort. Messier twice said he was “absolutely shocked,” then added that he “could go on and on” about his concerns.
For the Oilers, that puts Babcock's return behind an NHL bench under immediate scrutiny. Edmonton wanted a new voice. One of the franchise's biggest legends has now publicly challenged the decision before puck drop on the season.
Did Mark Messier go too far with his criticism of Mike Babcock?
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