Mark Messier blasts Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock

Mark Messier has gone public with a scathing assessment of the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock as head coach. Speaking on ESPN on Wednesday, the Hall of Famer and franchise legend in Edmonton said he was "in shock" over the move and referenced what he has heard from people around the league about Babcock’s treatment of players.

Messier questions player role in coaching search

Messier’s concerns extend beyond Babcock’s reputation to how the Oilers structured their hiring process. He said he had never witnessed players directly interviewing a coaching candidate, arguing that team leaders are supposed to represent and protect the dressing room, not be part of management decisions about who runs it.

In his view, involving leaders such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in meetings with Babcock before the hire blurs the lines between players, coaches and front office. If the relationship with the coach sours, Messier wonders how teammates can turn to those same leaders when they helped bring that coach in, potentially putting them in a conflicted position.

Babcock and Bowman’s history back under the microscope

The criticism also rekindles debate over Babcock’s track record. He was dismissed by Toronto in 2020 after accounts surfaced of demeaning treatment toward certain players. Out of an NHL job for four years, he briefly resurfaced with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, but that stint ended before opening night after players objected to him prying into their personal lives and photos on their phones.

In Edmonton, general manager Stan Bowman brings his own baggage. He was suspended by the NHL for multiple seasons for his role in covering up a sexual assault case involving a young player during a playoff run, in an effort not to distract his team. Given that background, the choice to hand the bench to Babcock has intensified scrutiny of the organization’s judgment at the highest levels.

Oilers under pressure as McDavid’s future looms

The timing of the hire is also significant. The Oilers are coming off a step-back season after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years. They finished with 93 points, making the playoffs largely thanks to a weak division, while the Washington Capitals missed out in the East despite earning two more points. Edmonton then bowed out in six games in the first round against the Anaheim Ducks.

Pressure is heightened by the fact Connor McDavid accepted a major pay cut before the 2025-26 season to give Bowman more room to add talent. The on-ice return on that sacrifice has been underwhelming, and McDavid is now two years away from unrestricted free agency, raising questions about how long he will stay if the club does not improve. Internally, bringing in Babcock is seen as an attempt to jolt the team back into contention, but it also places CEO and president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson squarely on the hook if the season disappoints.

Lane Hutson turning heads in pre-season action

Away from the turmoil in Edmonton, one young defenceman is making noise in exhibition play. Lane Hutson currently leads all NHL skaters in pre-season scoring, with five points in two games. Pre-season numbers are usually treated with caution, but that level of early production over a tiny sample adds an intriguing wrinkle to his case heading toward opening night.