Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen somehow thanked Babcock for his “hard work,” which allegedly included inspecting players’ camera rolls on their phones, and “professionalism” in working with the team to step down. No joke. If Babcock had any professionalism, he’d still be employed.

Then, the Blue Jackets allowed Babcock to issue his own quote, as if anyone was going to buy that Babcock was somehow noble enough to fall on his own sword and step away – like it wasn’t abundantly obvious that the NHL Players’ Association was armed with evidence that forced his departure.

Babcock allegedly intimidated and bullied the youngest players in the Blue Jackets’ organization and Kekalainen thanked him for his service. There was no apology, no support for his players, or even a denouncement of Babcock’s alleged actions, a strongly worded statement that they would not be tolerated in Columbus. It was a statement devoid of leadership. If the written word can elicit a smell, the Blue Jackets’ statement on Sunday reeked of defiance, perhaps no surprise given that Kekalainen already raised a middle finger to Johan Franzen and anyone else who was maligned by Babcock’s previously alleged mistreatment of players when he hired him three months ago.

Also

CBJ owner John P. McConnell issued a statement today, saying "we do not anticipate further changes to our hockey leadership team at this time. "Additional disruptions would be detrimental to our players and coaches as they prepare for the opening of training camp in 2 days."


Looks like Jarmo is on a very short leash, but it's definitely not a good look on the org and a terrible start of new season.


This post was edited by Secksii on Sep 18 2023 10:20am

Typical Suomi

Fantilli will be in a winged wheel before long, only has to bide his time for a few years and then yeet on outta that shit hole

Wow that last paragraph is such an asshole thing to say

that came out few years ago. i remember commodore was talking about it on spittin chiclets

Inviting a player to his own house for lunch and telling him to leave after going through his phone is fucked up

yep

there was a few chiclets episodes way back when commy was on. the shit that they were talking about babcock is pretty ridiculous lol. this was before he was on the leafs if i recall correctly. no idea he was this bad until listened to that ep

Franzen said Babcock is the worst person he's ever met lmao

No clue why they would give Babcock a chance.

It's clear the guy is a sociopathic dinosaur.

Laundry list of egotistical things he has done over his coaching career. He has always been an abusive me first kind of guy.

And many of his accomplishments? Who cares.

His international accolades... Coached teams chalked full of Hall of Famers who needed no motivation and little guidance. Those teams consisted of mostly elite, experienced players who played for pride of country. They did not need to be told what to do. They went out and got it done with full effort.

His cup in Detroit... Again he inherited a stacked team that already knew how to play on both ends of the ice. Other coaches could have achieved the same success.


I never thought much of Babcock.


He abused players, got a sick joy out of denying milestones and significant moments for veterans and just acted like a sociopathic bully. I have not much good to say about him.

He is lucky he has been able to coach as much as he has.