Around the League - 2023 Offseason Edition

[SirLoinOfCloth]

I will forever be a Lappy fan because of how badly he wanted to fight Sean Avery. That fake tough-guy would never drop the gloves with Ian even though he was no heavy weight.

How dare you! He is a certified tough guy, he even offered the camera man the first shot - kick OR punch - for free. A modern day He-Man. Besides, his first name starts with a capital S and you can look him up. #hardasnails

 

[Vk1ing]

You know, I actually thought about buying some of this stuff. I figured I'd give it a try at work, but when I saw it at the store, the price was outrageous. So I said f*** that and got Poweraid.

I tried it and it's decent but it's like double the price of gatorade. Better hangover cure than gatorade though lol

 

[Balthazar]

 

[MacKaRant]

I tried it and it's decent but it's like double the price of gatorade. Better hangover cure than gatorade though lol

Considering how most of the consumers of Biosteel are probably people trying to fix their hangovers rather than trying to play hockey at an elite level, maybe they should have leaned into this more with their advertising. Instead of Connor McDavid skating or whatever, they could have that guy at your office who always shows up hungover as their endorser.

Or, if they really wanted to have both angles covered, both the elite hockey and functioning well after a heavy night of drinking, I guess they could have just hired Nuke.

 

[Ceremony]

Insightful stuff here. He might get fired.

 

[The Moops]

BuT I ThOuGhT BiZ JuSt mAdE EvErYtHiNg uP AnD It's nOt pOsSiBlE ThAt bAbCoCk cReAtEd aN UnCoMfOrTaBlE SiTuAtIoN

 

[LOFIN]

Taking it with a huge grain of salt since it's coming from Dregs.

 

[95snipes]

Yeah it still amazes me the backlash that the Chiclets crew got

 

[AllAboutAvs]

How dare you! He is a certified tough guy, he even offered the camera man the first shot - kick OR punch - for free. A modern day He-Man. Besides, his first name starts with a capital S and you can look him up. #hardasnails

Thanks for clarifying how you feel about Avery. Now I get it.

 

[Balthazar]

Insightful stuff here. He might get fired.

If he gets fired I don't see how Jarmo stays.

Taking it with a huge grain of salt since it's coming from Dregs.

He's as legit as any other insider. Are you still mad because he didn't like how Sakic acted with Duchene?

 

[LOFIN]

He's as legit as any other insider. Are you still mad because he didn't like how Sakic acted with Duchene?

He's definitely an insider. Not at the level of LeBrun, Friedman, CJ or Seravalli though.

And nothing to do with the Avs how I perceive Dreger.

 

[Balthazar]

He's definitely an insider. Not at the level of LeBrun, Friedman, CJ or Seravalli though.

And nothing to do with the Avs how I perceive Dreger.

Fair enough (even though I don't agree). I know that this board went anti Dreger because he called out Sakic for not trading Duchene.

As far as the Avs are concerned, the only insider that knows anything about this team is LeBrun and it's been like that since his ESPN days. I wasn't surprised that he was the only one who had an interview with CMac last week.

 

[LOFIN]

Fair enough (even though I don't agree). I know that this board went anti Dreger because he called out Sakic for not trading Duchene.

As far as the Avs are concerned, the only insider that knows anything about this team is LeBrun and it's been like that since his ESPN days. I wasn't surprised that he was the only one who had an interview with CMac last week.

I just think Dreger has a tendency of talking without really saying anything, just like in this case.

"Yeah I guess he can be fired but I'm not really saying that he's going to be. So if he is fired you got it from me first but if he's not then I didn't really say anything".

 

[redacted]

It is all going to be a mountain out of molehill on Babcock.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

It is all going to be a mountain out of molehill on Babcock.

That's how all things in the world work today. Take something little, blow it out of proportion, and you're canceled. That said, couldn't happen to a bigger POS than Babs.

 

[Alienblood]

That's how all things in the world work today. Take something little, blow it out of proportion, and you're canceled. That said, couldn't happen to a bigger POS than Babs.

Jarno should be fired jist for the hiring of Babcoxk unless someone higher up made the call.

That said I'd like to see Jarmo here in some capacity

 

[redacted]

That's how all things in the world work today. Take something little, blow it out of proportion, and you're canceled. That said, couldn't happen to a bigger POS than Babs.

I think Babcock is a POS and I wouldn't shed a single tear if he was fired. I think he can still coach a high level, he's just not a guy who can keep a room. This whole situation is something he has done going back to his Detroit days. It is an attempt to get to know the players and connect with them. Soften the edges so to speak. What this has turned into is a manufactured drama based off a pretty normal thing (most coaches do something similar). Not all people want to open up like that and for younger players, what they recall the most is the drama on his Toronto firing. It perks them up and they have the natural worries of it being used like the Marner stuff(and let's be realistic, their pictures may not have the most safe for work content). So they complain about it. The NHL and NHLPA investigate, do nothing... and unsatisfied, they complain more. Gets to the loudmouths with an agenda, and we have this.

Personally, I don't think the timing is coincidental. Hold on the story for 2 months, then right before camp release it to cause the most issues.

 

[Balthazar]

Personally, I don't think the timing is coincidental. Hold on the story for 2 months, then right before camp release it to cause the most issues.

An actual CBJ player sent a text to Bissonnette to complain about it. Why would a player want to cause issues to his own team before camp?

 

[redacted]

An actual CBJ player sent a text to Bissonnette to complain about it. Why would a player want to cause issues to his own team before camp?

By the way it was worded, it is very unlikely it was a Columbus player.



Here's receipt we have. To me, that doesn't sound at all like it was from a Columbus player. It sounds like a former player of Babcock text Biz about what he heard.

 

[Avs9296]

An actual CBJ player sent a text to Bissonnette to complain about it. Why would a player want to cause issues to his own team before camp?

Exactly. A personal phone is PERSONAL for a reason. If Babcock asked me to do that I'd tell him to pound sound. Guys a creep and a bully. f*** him.

 

[Avs_19]

I would love some additional info on this.

Did he ask to see pics to get to know the players as Jenner and Gaudreau suggested? That seems innocent enough, even if it might be a little weird.

Did he do the above and then take the opportunity to start going through all of a player’s personal pics either on the phone or on a big screen? Well, that’s entirely different and I can see why someone would complain.

At this point I don’t know if the exact details matter though. This seems to be headed towards a dismissal. He might be screwed.

 

[redacted]

I would love some additional info on this.

Did he ask to see pics to get to know the players as Jenner and Gaudreau suggested? That seems innocent enough, even if it might be a little weird.

Did he do the above and then take the opportunity to start going through all of a player’s personal pics either on the phone or on a big screen? Well, that’s entirely different and I can see why someone would complain.

At this point I don’t know if the exact details matter though. This seems to be headed towards a dismissal. He might be screwed.

In the past, Babcock has either asked players if they want to share photos in a team presentation or in a one on one meeting asking them about friends and family, hobbies, favorite places, etc and if they have pictures. Which he shares his own pictures too (his pickleball court has become a meme). Coaches and staff are also asked to do the same. There is zero reason to think this is anything different than what he has done before at every job.

There is also zero reason to think that he won't do something stupid or degrading at some point in his Columbus tenure. Something else will come out.

Where Babcock might be screwed is there is already the lets go after his past indiscretions in this. There are a large number of players ready with the tar and feathers.

 

[Foppa2118]

Exactly. A personal phone is PERSONAL for a reason. If Babcock asked me to do that I'd tell him to pound sound. Guys a creep and a bully. f*** him.

Agreed, but this is where the power dynamic comes into play.

He's the head coach. And one with a fair amount of clout too. If you tell him no, what happens? Maybe nothing, but some will feel pressured to do so, when they don't want to.

Really not sure why we're defending Babcock or downplaying his actions. Freidman has already said some of the players didn't like it and Biz said he confirmed it with a member of the team.

 

[BaconNater]

Babcock is in real trouble with Leafland fanbase and Media wanting to take him down as well

 

[UncleRisto]

Really not sure why we're defending Babcock or downplaying his actions. Freidman has already said some of the players didn't like it and Biz said he confirmed it with a member of the team.

Well, because what's going to happen if it's just "show and tell: pictures of your family"?

Hey, stop doing that, that's not okay.

Oh okay, I thought it was.