Published • loading... • Updated
Mark Messier Slams Oilers' Controversial Hire of Mike Babcock: 'I Am Just Horrified'
Messier said he was horrified that Edmonton let veteran players help vet Mike Babcock, whose hiring followed past misconduct allegations.
- On Wednesday, Hall of Fame Oiler Mark Messier declared he is "horrified" by the Edmonton Oilers' hiring of coach Mike Babcock, citing concerns over the coach's history of player mistreatment.
- Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman appointed Babcock over the summer, collaborating with veteran stars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman, who personally vetted the coach for the Stanley Cup-contending team.
- Messier challenged the hiring process, arguing that leadership must maintain a "separation of powers" to protect players, and said he had "never heard" of players interviewing coaching candidates.
- Babcock's past tenures in Toronto and Columbus involved allegations of inappropriate behavior; former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan previously called his tactics not "appropriate or acceptable."
- The NHL and NHLPA investigations cleared Babcock for employment, finding no basis to restrict his hiring, yet criticism persists from former forward Daniel Winnik, who labeled him "a bully.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
20 Articles
20 Articles
Scandalous coach Mike Babcock is back in the NHL. That worries icon Mark Messier. – I'm completely shocked they hired him, he says.
·Stockholm, Sweden
Read Full Article
![[your]NEWS](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroundnews.b-cdn.net%2Finterests%2Ffb6dc495f74049f513563c33352175eaa0ecd509.jpg%3Fwidth%3D24&w=64&q=75){kind=small}
[your]NEWSReposted by 
thesportsleader.com
thesportsleader.comMark Messier ‘shocked,’ ‘horrified’ Oilers hired Mike Babcock
Mark Messier's retired No. 11 jersey hangs from the Rogers Place rafters. So when the six-time Stanley Cup winner shares his opinion on Edmonton Oilers business, it causes a stir. During a media call on Wednesday to preview ESPN's coverage of the NHL's Opening Night on Sept. 29, Messier declared he was "horrified" that the
Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left3Leaning Right4Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution37% Center, 36% Right
Bias Distribution
- 37% of the sources are Center, 36% of the sources lean Right
37% Center
L 27%
C 37%
R 36%
![[your]NEWS](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroundnews.b-cdn.net%2Finterests%2Ffb6dc495f74049f513563c33352175eaa0ecd509.jpg%3Fwidth%3D60&w=128&q=75)
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
