Mark Messier said he was “absolutely shocked” by the Oilers’ decision to hire Mike Babcock as head coach, citing stories from people he called reputable about players’ treatment. He also questioned whether the team separates management, coaches and players.
Some former players have accused Babcock of mental abuse, and the NHLPA had questioned his fitness to coach in the league. He resigned from the Columbus Blue Jackets before coaching a game after conduct that included asking players to share personal photos from their phones; the NHL cleared him to take the Oilers job.
Messier said team leadership should protect players and asked who they could turn to if they faced difficulties when leadership was involved in management decisions and hiring coaches. He played 12 of his 25 NHL seasons with Edmonton and won five of his six Stanley Cups with the Oilers.
