Oilers notebook: Messier rages against Babcock hire; Frederic remains an enigma

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeSportsNHLEdmonton Oilers Oilers notebook: Messier rages against Babcock hire; Frederic remains an enigma “I’m absolutely shocked from the stories I’ve heard from very good, reputable character people about the way they were treated,” said Messier Author of the article: By Jim Matheson Published Sep 23, 2026 Last updated 4 hours ago 7 minute read Join the conversation Mark Messier attends Charity Day 2026 Hosted by the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at Cantor on September 11, 2026 in New York City. PHOTO BY MIKE MCGREGOR /Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgera Article content Mark Messier, the second greatest Oiler of them all, has always shot from the lip and the Moose came out firing with both barrels Wednesday about the hiring of Mike Babcock, saying he was “horrified by the whole thing.” Article content On ESPN’s NHL season preview show, Messier said he was “absolutely shocked” they brought in Babcock because of the stories Messier has heard about Babcock’s treatment of players on past teams. Article content Article content Article content “I’m absolutely shocked from the stories I’ve heard from very good, reputable character people about the way they were treated,” said Messier, arguably the greatest leader in NHL history over his 1,756 games, starting with 851 here and his five Cups with the Oilers before getting one as Rangers’ captain. Article content Oil Spills Essential Oilers news, insight, opinion and analysis. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Nobody bleeds Oiler orange and blue more than Messier. Article content Babcock, hired to a multi-year contract over the summer, has acknowledged he has made players uncomfortable, saying he could have been better, pledging to do better when introduced as the new coach here. But, Messier, never a tap-dancer, always saying what’s on his mind, emphatically voiced his disapproval on the ESPN show. Article content Article content Time will tell how the Babcock experiment works. It’s very early, 10 days into camp. Article content So far, the Oiler leaders Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are fully on board, liking what they’ve seen from Babcock. He’s pushed the players in the practices and drills, trying to get to know a new team. He looks like he’s…