I don't think anyone is defending Babcock. Its pretty universal that he's a POS. I just think that most are comfortable in saying that the source on this isn't much better. While I think Biz can be entertaining he's not a whole lot better.
Around the League - 2023 Offseason Edition
- Thread starter Ceremony
- Start date
- Status
MarkT
Heretic
- Nov 11, 2017
- 4,043
- 4,590
Someone was literally defending him on page 83-84 of this thread. There are probably more examples if you look back further.
UnkleKraker
Registered User
This whole thing is mind blowing. I assume every team has mandated Harassment Avoidance training. This is HR 101 and Babcock must have thought he was above it.
Foppa2118
Registered User
- Oct 3, 2003
- 52,678
- 32,071
This is the key issue and excellently articulated by Portzline. The last paragraph illustrates the power dynamic problem at the heart of this. They were afraid of going against Babcock.
"Burning question: Did the Blue Jackets know the extent of Babcock’s interactions with players when this was first revealed? If they did know the extent and tried to bury this story before it got started, that says not-great things about the club’s decision-makers, from president of hockey operations John Davidson to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and others.
But if they didn’t know the extent of Babcock’s invasion of privacy, that says something that should truly concern the Blue Jackets — all the way up to the ownership level.
That would suggest that Blue Jackets players — veterans and/or young players — feel more comfortable speaking their truth to people like Bissonnette and the NHLPA than they are to the people in charge of the Blue Jackets organization."
MarkT
Heretic
- Nov 11, 2017
- 4,043
- 4,590
I though that was interesting too. I'm looking forward to seeing if Portzline is able to really dig into this and find out what the power dynamics are like in Columbus. This could go a long way towards explaining why the team never seems to be able to improve over the long term, and why free agents keep leaving.
The Abusement Park
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2016
- 35,148
- 26,355
I think it’s kind of obvious why players don’t want to stay in Columbus. It’s a small market team in a pretty un-exciting part of the country relative to a lot of the other options out there. Maybe theres more to it, but they‘ve never built a team good enough to be a contender which helps build some staying power, but until that happens I can see why players would prefer to play in Florida, New York, LA, etc over Columbus.
MarkT
Heretic
- Nov 11, 2017
- 4,043
- 4,590
I'm not confused as to why players would prefer New York, Florida and LA to Columbus. That would make me pretty dumb. I always assumed Columbus' issues were exactly as you describe here. But given the point made by Portzline, maybe there is indeed more to it.
MarkT
Heretic
- Nov 11, 2017
- 4,043
- 4,590
Well, I guess Jarmo keeps his job for now, but that's not a ringing endorsement either.
The Abusement Park
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2016
- 35,148
- 26,355
I don’t think it’s that deep. Columbus is a bad team in a bad market. If Columbus was good players would be more likely to stay, but they haven’t been. There’s probably some management/leadership issues as well, but I don’t think that’s the leading issue with player retention there.
Bill Peckerskull
Fargin' Icehole
Nihiliste
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2010
- 11,576
- 4,732
Babcock being forced to resign before playing a single game is one of the funniest things to happen in a while
- Jul 27, 2021
- 2,495
- 3,808
Imagine how many hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars they had to give Babcock to have him resign peacefully. If I were the owner, I wouldn't be particularly happy about this.
- Apr 25, 2006
- 52,267
- 56,611
Just heard an interview with Pierre-Olivier Joseph from the Jackets.
He said that not all players had to show their phone to Babcock but some players had to do it and it was a bad experience for some of them (more than one).
Following that they had a player-only meeting and decided that Babcock had to go...and that was before Babcock's resignation.
He said that not all players had to show their phone to Babcock but some players had to do it and it was a bad experience for some of them (more than one).
Following that they had a player-only meeting and decided that Babcock had to go...and that was before Babcock's resignation.
Last edited:
dahrougem2
Registered User
Lol Babcock is f***ed. Genuinely deranged.
dahrougem2
Registered User
HAHAHA BABCOCK EVEN ASKED JARMO FOR HIS PHONE 
Tommy Shelby
Registered User
- Feb 26, 2012
- 7,849
- 5,487
HAHAHA BABCOCK EVEN ASKED JARMO FOR HIS PHONE
"Jarmo, are these all just selfies of you in various saunas?"
Foppa2118
Registered User
- Oct 3, 2003
- 52,678
- 32,071
All that's come out in Columbus and it still feels like there's more that's not being said publicly.
Hard to believe that they decided during a players only meeting that Babcock had to go before the season even started, simply because a couple players felt uncomfortable about sharing photos.
Also sounds like he had very different interactions with vets and young players. Which is troubling for many reasons.
Just one being that it almost feels calculated. That the young players would feel less inclined to speak out, and if they did, he knew the vets would give him cover. And they did.
Hard to believe that they decided during a players only meeting that Babcock had to go before the season even started, simply because a couple players felt uncomfortable about sharing photos.
Also sounds like he had very different interactions with vets and young players. Which is troubling for many reasons.
Just one being that it almost feels calculated. That the young players would feel less inclined to speak out, and if they did, he knew the vets would give him cover. And they did.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
- 67,095
- 53,592
Yup these details are clearly beyond the pale. The initial reporting of what happened and Jenner/Gaudreau's statements matched the normal instances. They likely didn't get the same treatment and didn't know the extent. The initial PA investigation was lead by Hainsey too, who played under Babcock and had experienced the Jenner/Gaudreau/Marleau/Kadri sort of event... which lead him to clear it early.
Good on the players (and Biz/SC) for not relenting when it was brushed over.
MarkT
Heretic
- Nov 11, 2017
- 4,043
- 4,590
It was already well known that Babcock has always had completely different standards for top of the lineup veteran players and rookie or marginal veterans. It seems like he does everything he can to stay in the good graces of the first group, and then pulls every psychological trick he can on the others. In his mind he probably thinks the second group need his "tougher" coaching methods.
As an example, the famous case of benching Spezza for the home opener, was probably Babcock's way of telling Spezza he needs to know and accept his role as a bottom of the lineup player.
Scrutinizing younger players' phones was probably his way of letting them know that he wouldn't tolerate any shenanigans.
Honestly everything I know about Babcock makes him sound like a completely exhausting person.
As an example, the famous case of benching Spezza for the home opener, was probably Babcock's way of telling Spezza he needs to know and accept his role as a bottom of the lineup player.
Scrutinizing younger players' phones was probably his way of letting them know that he wouldn't tolerate any shenanigans.
Honestly everything I know about Babcock makes him sound like a completely exhausting person.
Vk1ing
Registered User
- Feb 12, 2016
- 1,419
- 1,806
Apperently ovie is saw Babcock being the biggest story in the NHL and said hold my beer
- Status
Ad
Latest posts
-
-
Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XIII (Nanaki edition)
- Latest: Pawnee Rangers
