New York. The comeback season hasn’t even started yet, but there’s already buzz surrounding scandal coach Mike Babcock.
According to reports in North America, he asked his players in Columbus to show them the type of photos they had on their own phones.
“We are investigating the case,” greets the players’ union.
It’s Paul Bissonnette, the former Pittsburgh and Arizona player who is now an expert color commentator during TNT’s NHL broadcasts, who on his podcast “Spittin’ Chiclets” made new accusations against Mike Babcock.
The 60-year-old coach, who was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets over the summer after a few years on the job, allegedly called up team captain Boone Jenner and other players and demanded to see photos on their private phones.
He said: “I want to know what kind of person you are?”
– What the hell is going on? It’s barely legal, that’s what irritates Bissonnette.
-He should be worrying about the damned pre-screening and team strength instead. Why do you want to see their photos?
I got kicked out of Toronto
However, Babcock resists:
– He says the way it was described is insulting.
– When I met them, I asked them to show their family photos so I could get to know them better. That’s it.
Bon Jenner supports his new coach.
-I think we had a good first meeting. He says it is disappointing that it has reached such proportions.
At the same time, the Players Union announces the opening of an investigation into the matter.
Mike Babcock was long considered one of the NHL’s star coaches, but was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019 after he was found to be treating his players poorly — both in Toronto and earlier in Detroit. Among other things, it was revealed that he had bullied Johan Franzen so badly, during a running match, that the Småland striker, according to his teammates, had a nervous breakdown.
When Babcock got his new job in Columbus this summer after two years of coaching at the varsity level, he maintained he had learned his lesson and become a better person.
But now he is experiencing bad weather again – even before the return season begins.