As soon as he’s hired, as soon as he’s at the center of a controversy. The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently investigating allegations that head coach Mike Babcock reviews photos on his players’ cell phones.
This is the popular podcast Spittin’ Chiclets, hosted by ex-player Paul Bissonnette, who made these allegations. Citing an NHL player he did not name, Bissonnette said Babcock, who is starting his first season behind the Jackets’ bench, allegedly called team captain Boone Jenner into his office. The pilot then allegedly asked the attacker to connect to a television in order to review the photos on his device, in order “to find out what type of person” the 30-year-old veteran is.
On Neither Babcock nor Jenner have yet commented on the situation.
The 60-year-old coach, who won the Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Detroit Red Wings, has a serious history. Former players who worked with him in Detroit, where he spent a decade, described him as an intimidator. In Toronto, where he spent just under five seasons, tactics deemed inappropriate with rookie players, notably Mitch Marner, were brought to light. Quickly, after the Leafs showed him the door in November 2019, he was classified in the untouchable category.
For three and a half years, he stayed away from the NHL. Then, on 1er Last July, when his expensive contract with the Maple Leafs expired, the Blue Jackets announced his hiring with great fanfare.
Jarmo Kakalainen and John Davidson, respectively general manager and president of hockey operations, assured that they had consulted a multitude of people before making their choice. In their eyes, Babcock was “the best coach available” as well as “the best person” to take over behind the bench.
The main person concerned claimed to have improved his communicator skills. “Having 23 players in a team means having 23 ways of coaching, 23 individual plans, 23 mental preparation plans,” he listed. That’s how we become successful. I wouldn’t have said that 10 years ago. I did not know. »