Mike Commodore did not ease into this one.

The former NHL defenceman has been one of Mike Babcock’s loudest critics for years, but his latest post aimed at the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp took things to another level. In the post, Commodore warned parents to “keep an eye” on their kids at Oilers development camp, accused Edmonton of hiring a “predator,” and told families not to leave their kids alone with him.

That is not hockey analysis. That is a direct, personal, nuclear-level accusation.

And whether people think Commodore is going too far or saying what others are afraid to say, the bigger point is obvious: Babcock’s return to the NHL was never going to be quiet.

The Oilers hired Babcock after the NHL cleared him to return following a review tied to his brief and controversial 2023 stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The league said it found no current basis to restrict his employment, even when looking at the allegations in the light least favourable to Babcock. Edmonton then moved forward with the hire.  

But clearing someone for employment does not erase the baggage. It does not erase the stories. And it definitely does not erase Mike Commodore’s memory.

Commodore’s Issue With Babcock Goes Way Back

This is not a new beef created for clicks.

Commodore has been taking shots at Babcock for more than a decade. His side of the story has always been that Babcock hurt his career twice: first in Anaheim, when Commodore was trying to establish himself, and later in Detroit, when he believed he was misled about his role with the Red Wings. Yahoo Sports previously broke down that history, noting Commodore felt Babcock “tried to screw his career over twice.”  

In Anaheim, Commodore has claimed Babcock buried him and favoured another player. In Detroit, he has said he was told he was wanted, only to spend most of the season as a healthy scratch before being traded. MarkerZone also summarized Commodore’s claim that Babcock lied publicly about him being out of shape and refused to give him a real opportunity.  

That is the root of it.

Commodore does not see Babcock as just a tough coach. He sees him as someone who played games with players’ careers.

The Words Have Been Ugly For Years

Commodore has called Babcock just about everything you can imagine publicly.

He has used the hashtag “#FuckBabs” for years. Vice covered one of his old rants where Commodore called Babcock the “biggest piece of shit on the planet.”  

After Babcock was fired by the Maple Leafs in 2019, Commodore unloaded again. One widely shared post from that period had him calling Babcock an “arrogant piece of shit,” accusing him of being a “predator” throughout his career, and saying Babcock had become “officially toxic.”  

That word — predator — is not new from Commodore. It is part of the way he has framed Babcock for years.

Now, with Babcock back in an NHL building and around young players at development camp, Commodore has brought that exact language back.

Why The Babcock Controversy Still Follows Him

The reason this story has legs is because Babcock’s reputation was already damaged before the Oilers hire.

In Toronto, one of the most infamous stories involved Mitch Marner, who was reportedly asked as a young player to rank teammates by work ethic, only for that information to be shared with others. Daily Faceoff referenced that incident as one of the major examples of Babcock’s alleged psychological manipulation of players.  

Then came Columbus.

Babcock was hired by the Blue Jackets in 2023 but resigned before coaching a single regular-season game after allegations surfaced that he had asked players to show photos from their phones during one-on-one meetings. The AP reported that the NHLPA reviewed the situation and that Babcock stepped down after the matter became a major distraction.  

Some veterans defended the interaction as harmless. Others reportedly felt uncomfortable. That split is important, because it shows why this debate never lands cleanly.

Some people see Babcock as an old-school coach who crossed lines but deserves another chance.

Others see a pattern.

Commodore is firmly in the second group.

This Is Bigger Than One Tweet

The Oilers knew this was coming.

You do not hire Mike Babcock in 2026 and act surprised when the reaction gets loud. His résumé is massive: Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, hundreds of NHL wins. But his controversy résumé is massive too.

That is the gamble Edmonton made.

They are betting that Babcock can still coach elite players, command a room, and help push Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl toward the one thing this franchise still needs: a Stanley Cup.

Commodore is betting the opposite.

He believes the Oilers invited a problem into the building. He believes the same behaviour that followed Babcock through Anaheim, Detroit, Toronto, and Columbus will eventually show up again.

That is why his post hit so hard. It was not just “I don’t like this coach.”

It was a warning.

The Bottom Line

Mike Commodore has never softened his stance on Mike Babcock.

He has called him toxic. He has called him arrogant. He has used profanity-laced attacks. He has accused him of damaging careers. He has framed him as someone players should not trust.

Now the Oilers have made Babcock one of the biggest stories in hockey again.

And Commodore, for better or worse, is not letting the hockey world look away.