yardbarker
Hockey debates have a way of circling back years later, and the latest one involving Mark Messier is no exception. The Hall of Famer recently voiced unease about the Edmonton Oilers' decision to include Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman in the process that brought Mike Babcock aboard. Messier's concern centers on what happens when players and management become too intertwined. If things go awry, he wonders, where do the players turn? It's a legitimate question, but it also invites a look back at Messier's own playing days, when he didn't exactly shy away from wielding influence.
During Messier's era, being a captain carried weight that went beyond wearing a letter and taking the opening faceoff. Some captains merely led on the ice, while others had the ear of ownership. Messier fell firmly into the latter category. Mike Keenan has recounted how Messier's push led to Keenan coaching the Vancouver Canucks. According to Keenan, Messier went straight to owner John McCaw and expressed his desire to have Keenan behind the bench. By the time Keenan sat down to negotiate, the key decision had already been made. That wasn't a player simply saying he'd stick to playing and let management handle the rest.
Other tales from Messier's time as a player reinforce this image. Brian Burke wrote about a particularly tense incident involving Kevin Weekes after Weekes was acquired by Vancouver. Messier wanted Weekes moved, and Burke described a confrontation in which Messier made his wishes unmistakably clear. Hockey operated differently back then. Players held power, but it wasn't always spelled out in a job description.
That context makes the current Babcock debate all the more intriguing. McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman didn't secretly seize control of the Oilers. They were asked for their input, met with Babcock, and reportedly felt comfortable with the choice. Management still made the final call. That's a far cry from a player demanding a coach and having ownership rubber-stamp it.
Key Analysis
Yet the broader question Messier raises remains valid: How much sway should star players have over organizational decisions? There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The modern NHL is more star-driven than ever, and teams want their best players happy, engaged, and committed. At the same time, someone must manage the locker room, hire the coach, and make tough calls when adversity hits. Messier isn't wrong to wonder if the lines can get fuzzy. But it's worth noting that he spent much of his career standing right on those lines himself. Perhaps that's just hockey. The most powerful players have always had a voice; the only thing that shifts is who decides how loud that voice should be.
Originally reported by yardbarker.