The Blue Jackets’ Mike Babcock era lasted barely three months and was over before the controversial coach could lead the bench in a single game.
Babcock resigned Sunday, four days after allegations surfaced on a popular hockey podcast that he violated players’ privacy during offseason meetings and 78 days after the Blue Jackets announced him as their new head coach.
The team also announced that associate coach Pascal Vincent has been named head coach and agreed to a two-year contract.
It’s a stunning development as the team prepares to open training camp on Wednesday.
Reviews were conducted by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association after former NHL player and TNT studio host Paul Bissonnette made allegations Tuesday on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast that Babcock, 60, demanded access to players’ phones so he could scroll through their personal information. Pictures.
The Blue Jackets’ initial response to the podcast’s allegations was to push back against them and attempt to explain what happened by adding context from Babcock and captain Boone Jenner, whose meeting with Babcock was referenced by Bissonnette on the podcast.
Bissonnette said Babcock told the Blue Jackets captain he wanted to see the photos on his phone to “see what kind of person you are.”
Hours after the podcast was posted, Babcock and Jenner released statements through the Blue Jackets refuting Bissonnette’s version of what happened and saying it was “disappointing” to see their interaction come out of his context. In calls with The Columbus Dispatch following these statements, Babcock and Jenner each said the Jackets captain responded to Babcock’s request by using Apple’s Airplay feature to post photos to the TV screen of the coach’s office.
“The fact that this is disproportionate, completely disproportionate, is disappointing to me,” Jenner said. “It was our first meeting, getting to know each other. It was a very good meeting and all the discussions we have had since have been very good.
Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau echoed Jenner’s story and said his summer interactions with Babcock were positive. Defenseman Zach Werenski said the same thing Wednesday on 97.1 FM.
“I think it’s one of those things where it’s really not an event in our locker room,” Werenski said. “I think the guys didn’t even think twice about it when they were meeting ‘Babs’ and going through this process. It’s so harmless of him. He’s just trying to get to know the guys.
Werenski met with Babcock at the coach’s home in Brighton, Michigan, and said his phone’s screen-sharing feature wasn’t working during the three-hour conversation. After speaking with several teammates about their meetings with the coach, Werenski said he didn’t spot any red flags regarding Babcock.
“Everyone I talked to said the same thing,” Werenski told the radio show. “He just wants to see our family, see our dogs, where we’re from, what we like to do in the summer… no boundaries have been crossed with anyone.”
The reversal of the Blue Jackets’ allegations follows the NHLPA’s investigation, which the organization’s two top executives — general manager Marty Walsh and assistant general manager Ron Hainsey — traveled to Columbus on Thursday to speak about with the players. Walsh, Hainsey and NHLPA general counsel Don Zavelo then traveled to New York to meet with NHL officials Friday at league headquarters.
It was a previously scheduled meeting, but NHLPA officials briefed the league on what they learned about Babcock’s interactions with players. The NHLPA released a statement following the meeting saying the NHL had provided an update on the union’s ongoing review of the matter. The NHL did not release a statement following the meeting.
Contact Brian Hedgeger at bhedger@dispatch.com; follow him @BrianHedger.
USA Today
