Mike Babcock isn't backing away after Mark Messier took aim at the Edmonton Oilers' decision to hire the head coach.
Babcock, hired by Edmonton on June 23, responded publicly after Messier's pointed comments put fresh attention on one of the NHL's biggest coaching moves.
Rather than fire back, Babcock leaned heavily on Messier's history with Edmonton. He called him a legend and recalled watching him play as a hard, competitive, two-way leader.
The response carried weight because Babcock didn't dodge the criticism. He acknowledged the noise surrounding him while making it clear he wasn't interested in turning the exchange into a personal feud.
“I have nothing but respect for him,” Babcock said of Messier, while also noting their previous interactions had been positive.
That stance shifts the focus back toward Edmonton. The Oilers made the decision to put Babcock behind the bench, and every public reaction to that move adds another layer of pressure before meaningful hockey even begins.
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Babcock also gave a revealing answer when asked whether he hears everything being said about him. His message was simple: he sees it, but he doesn't plan to live by it.
Mike Babcock shuts out the outside noise
Babcock said he woke up to roughly 1,000 pictures on social media that he needed to delete, showing just how difficult it can be to avoid the reaction surrounding his return.
His father's advice remains his filter. Babcock said the people who matter are his family and those around him, while everyone else becomes background noise.
“The rest is just noise, man,” Babcock said. “I've been doing this a long time.”
That may be the line that matters most for Edmonton. Babcock understands the scrutiny attached to his hiring, and Messier's criticism guarantees the conversation won't disappear simply because training camp arrives.
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The next part will play out on the ice and inside the Oilers' locker room. Every lineup call, deployment decision and tough stretch will be viewed through the lens of a hire that was debated from the moment it happened.
Babcock's first response wasn't combative. It was controlled, respectful and clear: Messier can have his say, and Babcock intends to keep moving forward with the job Edmonton gave him.
Will Mike Babcock silence the criticism surrounding his Oilers hiring?
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