The Plot Thickens
Already on a short leash to begin with as he returns to the NHL, Mike Babcock's stint as Columbus Blue Jackets head coach has gotten off to a rough start.
Allegations that Babcock had his players show him personal photos on their iPhones — something that originally broke on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast via former enforcer Paul Bissonnette — have come to light, with Babcock and Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner releasing statements clearing the air. Now, the NHLPA is investigating the situation, according to Katie Strang of The Athletic.
What Happens Next?
Must read on Daily Hockey Dose
Depending on what happens with the investigation, it's unclear what happens next for Babcock or the Blue Jackets. What we do know, however, is that the practice of seeing players' personal photos isn't new for Babcock. According to two of his former players, Nazem Kadri and Frank Corrado, this was something he did in Toronto while coaching the Maple Leafs.
Corrado in particular had some choice words for Babcock:
"I can only speak from my experience playing for the guy and my experiences were not great. If you're asking me what I think, I'll go back to my experiences with the guy. I don't think he handles himself well. I think he's socially awkward. I don't think he cares about your family. I know for a fact he doesn't care about your family. All he cares about is himself. He's been like that forever and I've read this three-part puff piece that came out on Babs recently and honestly, my stomach turned reading this thing. He's talking about how he's got a communication plan for every player. No, he doesn't. He doesn't care about anyone other than himself.»
Oooof! If nothing else, it'll be intriguing to see how the coming weeks play out, especially as training camps are getting underway and the regular season begins in a month's time.
| POLL | ||
14 SEPTEMBRE | 64 ANSWERS Mike Babcock NHLPA Investigation Sees Shocking New Developments Should Mike Babcock's coaching career be over if he's found guilty of anything egregious here? | ||
| Yes | 46 | 71.9 % |
| No | 18 | 28.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
Latest 10 stories
