Around the League - 2023 Offseason Edition

[ANewHope]

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?

Yeah what I got from the Biz tweet is a player sent him that DM(not on CBJ)and then Biz confirmed it with a CBJ player.

Not sure how that’s on them given Babs history.

 

[Foppa2118]

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.

I think it will depend a lot on their interviews during the investigation.

How the players felt about it? How many players felt that way? Did he pressure them in any way? Is there anything else that hasn't been reported yet? How did this play out if he did this before on other teams?

I have a hard time believing Babcock's side of story is 100% accurate and didn't leave anything out for reasons of self interest.

And at certain point, the "I didn't know you couldn't do that" excuse doesn't work as well. Especially with Babcock's history.

 

[UncleRisto]

I think it will depend a lot on their interviews during the investigation.

How the players felt about it? How many players felt that way? Did he pressure them in any way? Is there anything else that hasn't been reported yet?

At a certain point, the "I didn't know you couldn't do that" excuse doesn't work as well. Especially with Babcock's history.

Well, yeah I guess so, but I didn't get an incriminating sense from what the team reported.

 

[Foppa2118]

Well, yeah I guess so, but I didn't get an incriminating sense from what the team reported.

But after they downplayed it, Friedman reported a bunch of players didn't like it. Which kind of signals there's more to it than they wanted people to know.

Would also be a big deal if they found out they tried to cover it up or pressured players not to say anything. It's not the Chicago incident, but the optics wouldn't be good.

 

[UncleRisto]

But after they downplayed it. Friedman reported a bunch of players didn't like it. Which kind of signals there's more to it.

Would also be a big deal if they found out they tried to cover it up or pressured players not to say anything. It's not the Chicago incident, but the optics wouldn't be good.

A bunch of players didn't like it? Oh, too bad, stop doing it. I mean yeah, I get your point about the investigation, but let's get to that first.

 

[redacted]

Yeah what I got from the Biz tweet is a player sent him that DM(not on CBJ)and then Biz confirmed it with a CBJ player.

Not sure how that’s on them given Babs history.

It is all about context and spin though. We don't really have any proof Biz confirmed it with a CBJ player. He claims it in his tweet without actually claiming it.

The notice clearly came from a player with a bone to pick. Which likely leads to a biased slant on the events. The 'confirmation' could simply be that photos were shared and then they can run with a story whether or not that was the context of what really happened. This is all being played under the guise and shield of 'protecting the players.' Which gives some latitude.

 

[redacted]

A bunch of players didn't like it? Oh, too bad, stop doing it. I mean yeah, I get your point about the investigation, but let's get to that first.

There is about zero chance Scotty Bowman could have coached in the league today. It wasn't just abuse with that guy, but pure psychological warfare.

 

[Foppa2118]

Not sure why we keep acting like only one player with an axe to grind is saying this. We know Friedman said, "some of the younger Blue Jackets were uncomfortable with what had occurred."

Meaning plural and on the team currently. Not one past player with an axe to grind.

Biz also said he confirmed it with a member of the team currently.

Not sure why the impulse is to believe Babcock with his history and insinuate Biz is lying over the multiple players that said they felt uncomfortable with it. And we wonder why this and the old boys club culture is a problem.

 

[Chiarelli]

Mike Babcock is getting worse backlash than Brad Aldrich got. Just seems like there’s a vendetta against the dude

 

[LOFIN]

I just don't understand how we are talking about Babcock getting canned, unless something additional comes up which is certainly a possibility. Like I said, is it weird? Yes. Would that type of request most likely get you a talking to from the HR department in most jobs? Yes. Is it so bad that someone should get fired over it? No. Not even Mike Babcock with his track record.

 

[Balthazar]

According to LeBrun, at the last draft Barry Trotz offered Askarov and both of their first round picks (#15 and #24) to Montreal for the #5 pick.


They really wanted Michkov.

 

[Foppa2118]

Mike Babcock is getting worse backlash than Brad Aldrich got. Just seems like there’s a vendetta against the dude

When? Before the reports came out or after? Neither is true.

Before reports came out neither got any backlash.

After the reports came out, Aldrich faced multiple lawsuits, the Blackhawks have faced lawsuits, he's probably been blackballed in all of hockey, he's had his name removed from the Stanley Cup, his hometown is ashamed of him, the Blackhawks GM has been fired, the head coach who moved onto another team was fired, the players and members of the front office have had their reputations harmed for appearing to cover the events up, the NHL and storied Blackhawks franchise got huge black eyes, and plenty more fallout.

Right now Babcock still has his job, hasn't faced any repercussions, might not face any if they don't find anything too bad in the investigation, and people are defending him, and downplaying his actions.

 

[LOFIN]

According to LeBrun, at the last draft Barry Trotz offered Askarov and both of their first round picks to Montreal for the 5th OA pick.


They really wanted Michkov.

It was widely reported that Nashville wanted to make a splash. Trotz instructing the scouts to look for fliers instead of safe 3rd/4th liners etc, this attempt to move up.

Also has been reported that while Askarov is very promising and has a bright future, Nashville isn't opposed to keeping Saros. He's a top-5 goalie in this league after all, and has been that pretty consistently for the last few years. If you have one of those, might as well hang on unless it becomes too expensive IMO.

 

[95snipes]

Not sure why we keep acting like only one player with an axe to grind is saying this. We know Friedman said, "some of the younger Blue Jackets were uncomfortable with what had occurred."

Meaning plural and on the team currently. Not one past player with an axe to grind.

Biz also said he confirmed it with a member of the team currently.

Not sure why the impulse is to believe Babcock with his history and insinuate Biz is lying over the multiple players that said they felt uncomfortable with it. And we wonder why this and the old boys club culture is a problem.

e

 

[Foppa2118]

NHL hiring practices never cease to amaze. On one hand a team willingly hired Mike Babcock and on the other hand complete morons like Rachel Doerrie can somehow land a job.

I don't know much about Rachel Doerrie or her qualifications, but it would be interesting if the underreaction to the actions of members of the old boys club, led to overreactions to hire unqualified people for optics.

Maybe that's to be expected though and just part of the pendulum swinging process before things balance out. She has left the team after all. Babcock's still working though.

 

[LOFIN]

Wow, some update. Reminds me of this Finnish newspaper: "Now speaks Martti Lunden: I'm not saying anything"

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Generaelissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

 

[ANewHope]

It is all about context and spin though. We don't really have any proof Biz confirmed it with a CBJ player. He claims it in his tweet without actually claiming it.

The notice clearly came from a player with a bone to pick. Which likely leads to a biased slant on the events. The 'confirmation' could simply be that photos were shared and then they can run with a story whether or not that was the context of what really happened. This is all being played under the guise and shield of 'protecting the players.' Which gives some latitude."

"If you think the @spittingchicklets podcast rolls out that story without confirming it with a member of the team you need a brain transplant" .. he says that in his tweet before posting the DM he got the made him reach out. He's obviously not going to post his msgs with the current CBJ player. Would be pretty bizarre to make up a lie about talking with a CBJ player. Hasn't Friedman confirmed some players didn't like it anyways?

I don't really care what happens. I wouldn't be care if he coaches all year or gets fired tomorrow. It's purely about his history at this point. I guess I was just saying something clearly happened tho and it wasn't just made up by a podcast. People can like/hate SC but it's pretty clear they have a ton of connections.

 

[S E P H]

I 100% understand the reason why people dislike Biznasty, but I am on the side that he's better for the NHL. TNT is a breathe of fresh air.

According to LeBrun, at the last draft Barry Trotz offered Askarov and both of their first round picks (#15 and #24) to Montreal for the #5 pick.


They really wanted Michkov.

Michkov would have probably jumped ship from that franchise for one of the coastal cities when forcing his way to UFA, blessing in disguise there IMHO.

 

[redacted]

"If you think the @spittingchicklets podcast rolls out that story without confirming it with a member of the team you need a brain transplant" .. he says that in his tweet before posting the DM he got the made him reach out. He's obviously not going to post his msgs with the current CBJ player. Would be pretty bizarre to make up a lie about talking with a CBJ player. Hasn't Friedman confirmed some players didn't like it anyways?

I don't really care what happens. I wouldn't be care if he coaches all year or gets fired tomorrow. It's purely about his history at this point. I guess I was just saying something clearly happened tho and it wasn't just made up by a podcast. People can like/hate SC but it's pretty clear they have a ton of connections.

He doesn’t really say Columbus… team can mean a ton of different things. And SC has run with less info before. He has plausible deniability here. Though I’m sure someone said it was weird or awkward. Plus confirmation can simply mean a photo thing happened.

I’m positive some players didn’t like it. It has been that way in each stop. There is a difference between not liking something and it being malicious. And that’s the whole history thing. Babs has a whole group of current and former NHLers that never want to see him coach again. They will do things to see that through. Nobody forgets the Modano thing or Franzen or Spezza. Any piece of something they can use to get their piece of flesh, they will.

I think Babs is a POS and will do something that deserves punishment. This just doesn’t seem to pass that test.

 

[ANewHope]

Maybe I'm reading the tweet wrong but he straight up says "confirming it with a member of THE team" in a tweet where they are talking about Columbus and the entire story. I just don't see how it can mean anything else. What else can a team mean in that context?

I agree it's his history driving this entire thing. Doesn't seem like it was anything that bad. Just saying it was clearly something even if it wasn't that bad. It didn't just magically appear out of thin air. Biz got a DM, reached out for confirmation, talked about, Friedman has now confirmed, and now the NHL is looking into it.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Three sides to every story....

On one side, the only players (Jenner and Gaudreau) who I have seen actually quoted have said it was innocuous.

On the other, you have BizNasty, who clearly hates Babcock, throwing out unnamed sources saying it was akin to the Spanish Inquisition.

Then there is the players union and league. The NHLPA met with the CBJ players yesterday and with the league today. Both the league and the union said, "No comment."

There's just not enough information available for me to draw a conclusion here.

 

[ASmileyFace]

Three sides to every story....

On one side, the only players (Jenner and Gaudreau) who I have seen actually quoted have said it was innocuous.

On the other, you have BizNasty, who clearly hates Babcock, throwing out unnamed sources saying it was akin to the Spanish Inquisition.

Then there is the players union and league. The NHLPA met with the CBJ players yesterday and with the league today. Both the league and the union said, "No comment."

There's just not enough information available for me to draw a conclusion here.

The only other aspect is Babcock currently doesn't have a lot of good will around the league. I think a lot of folks are ready to pile on him, rightfully or not.

 

[redacted]

Maybe I'm reading the tweet wrong but he straight up says "confirming it with a member of THE team" in a tweet where they are talking about Columbus and the entire story. I just don't see how it can mean anything else. What else can a team mean in that context?

I agree it's his history driving this entire thing. Doesn't seem like it was anything that bad. Just saying it was clearly something even if it wasn't that bad. It didn't just magically appear out of thin air. Biz got a DM, reached out for confirmation, talked about, Friedman has now confirmed, and now the NHL is looking into it.

The team can mean his team, could mean Columbus (as in the org not the players), Columbus players or guys who have played for Babs. Not saying it clearly leaves deniability if he’s called on it. And as I said, if he just got confirmation of photos shared… that’s all he needs to ‘confirm’ it doesn’t have to be the context of the meeting. Just that it was photos and then he can ascribe Commie’s version.

The NHL looked into it earlier. Now that there is PR to deal with they have to look into it again. So does the union. Just the nature of the business (and unions… they’re are required to investigate) and why this isn’t coincidental. Happens right before camp and right after the I’m changed NHL.com article.

 

[ANewHope]

The team can mean his team, could mean Columbus (as in the org not the players), Columbus players or guys who have played for Babs. Not saying it clearly leaves deniability if he’s called on it. And as I said, if he just got confirmation of photos shared… that’s all he needs to ‘confirm’ it doesn’t have to be the context of the meeting. Just that it was photos and then he can ascribe Commie’s version.

The NHL looked into it earlier. Now that there is PR to deal with they have to look into it again. So does the union. Just the nature of the business (and unions… they’re are required to investigate) and why this isn’t coincidental. Happens right before camp and right after the I’m changed NHL.com article.

I just think that's a huge stretch. He's a guy with a ton of NHL connections who got a DM about Babs/CBJ and says he reached out to confirm it with a member of "the" team. Not "his" team. It absolutely could be with the org/assistant coach/trainer or whatever but he's clearly talking about Columbus in his tweet. All feels like a moot point anyways because we've already got confirmation some didn't like it.

Yeah I don't even think it's that bad. Something clearly has happened tho. How big/small is up for everyone to decide but it's not just some narrative created by Spitting Chicklets that came out of nowhere. Sure they poured gasoline on the fire with his history but it clearly wasn't made up.