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The Columbus Blue Jackets are still waiting to speak with the NHL and NHL Players Association about their joint evaluation relating to the allegations surrounding coach Mike Babcock, who apparently broke gamers’ personal privacy by insisting they reveal him individual pictures. Babcock and captain Boone Jenner have actually currently launched declarations on the matter, however the league and the NHLPA are still taking a much deeper appearance.
Earlier today at the league’s workplaces in New York City, the NHL and NHLPA authorities satisfied to go over the allegations made by ex-NHL gamer and “Spittin Chiclets” co-host Paul Bissonnette that Babcock has actually made Blue Jackets gamers reveal him images from their phones. On Friday, the NHLPA launched a declaration on the conference.
“NHLPA officials Marty Walsh, Ron Hainsey and Don Zavelo met with the NHL earlier today at the league’s New York City office regarding the matter involving Mike Babcock. During this meeting, we provided the NHL with an update on our ongoing review. We do not have any further comment at this time.”
On a current episode of the “Spittin Chiclets” podcast, Bissonnette stated a gamer texted him implicating Babcock of making Jenner go through his iPhone pictures by means of AirPlay on the workplace television. According to Bissonnette, Babcock was doing this to figure out Jenner’s character.
“So, he gets to Columbus, and one of the first things he does is he calls in Boone Jenner, the captain of the f–ing team, and says, ‘Let me see the photos in your phone. I want to know the type of person you are,'” Bissonnette stated.
The Blue Jackets checked out the allegations themselves and launched declarations from Babcock and Jenner soon afterwards. Babcock asserted that Bissonnette’s characterization of occasions was “irresponsible and completely inaccurate.”
“While meeting with our players and staff I asked them to share, off their phones, family pictures as part of the process of getting to know them better. There was absolutely nothing more to it than that.
“The method this was represented on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast was a gross misstatement of those conferences and incredibly offending.
“These meetings have been very important and beneficial, not only for me but for our players and staff as well, and to have them depicted like this is irresponsible and completely inaccurate.”
In his declaration, Jenner stated that the nature of the conference in between him and Babcock was “blown out of proportion.”
“While meeting with Babs he asked me about my family and where I’m from, my upcoming wedding and hockey-related stuff. He then asked if I had pictures of my family and I was happy to share some with him. He showed me pictures of his family.
“I believed it was an excellent very first conference and an excellent way for us to begin to develop a relationship. To have this hyperbolized is genuinely frustrating.”
Around the time the Blue Jackets released those statements, ex-NHL defenseman Mike Commodore backed up Bissonnette’s story on X. Commodore said he had also heard similar stories about Babcock going through the phones of players and staff.
“All of this is 100% real,” Commodore wrote. “I became aware of this precise very same event out of (Columbus) 6 weeks back. Recently I have actually found out about it taking place to several gamers and personnel. I was waiting till camp to come out with it to safeguard sources.”
Throughout his career as an NHL head coach, Babcock has faced accusations of player mistreatment. Former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen accused Babcock of verbally abusing him, and Babcock allegedly made star forward Mitch Marner rank his teammates by their work ethic during his rookie season.
The Blue Jackets just hired Babcock on July 1, after his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs officially expired. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said the team was “extremely extensive” in its procedure of working with Babcock.
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