Babcock resigning as CBJ Head Coach *Mod note, post #687*

[Bounces R Way]

BizNasty not the hero the NHL deserves, but the hero it needs

 

[gach]

I wouldn't even let my boss see my lock screen wallpaper.

I agree, why the hell would players give their phone to him

 

[Kranix]

We'd previously hired a guy about whom similar stories were told and not only did he turn out to be much more of a generally decent person than advertised, he's still the winningest coach in franchise history. It's not unusual that folks here might get to thinking that It's All Just Paper Talk.

It worked the first time beyond anyone's wildest expectations, so he tried to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

Torts is irascible, tough, gruff with the media, but he never had the types of stories that follow Babs around.

 

[BKarchitect]

Hopefully the victims will get the support and therapy they will need to move on. Thoughts and prayers.

I know right? Hopefully they save some of those thoughts and prayers for the real victim here, Mike Babcock.

 

[gritdash60]

But it’s so obvious that Babcock is just a f***ing weirdo and f***ing with young players.

As well as veterans. I would love to hear the reasoning behind Chelios saying this, if "its just a cancel culture thing":

 

[Albatros]

In the business world, Jarmo and JD would be packing up and updating their LinkedIn. CBJ owner must be a patient dude. Its not like they've been any good along with all these bad optics.

Whom are you going to hire in late September in the world of NHL hockey? Time for Jarmo and JD to deliver, and if not, then fire them next spring.

 

[Viqsi]

Torts is irascible, tough, gruff with the media, but he never had the types of stories that follow Babs around.

We literally couldn't go two pages in any given thread without hearing some sort of comment about starting fights in the locker room.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I am confused by all of this, can someone give me an unbiased Cliff notes version?

From what I mostly understand, he went through peoples phones..?

 

[Kranix]

We literally couldn't go two pages in any given thread without hearing some sort of comment about starting fights in the locker room.

His temper is well known. He never had the sort of two-faced manipulation, and abuse that NHL players from different decades line up to point out about Babs. Correct me if I've missed something.

 

[gritdash60]

 

[Mr Positive]

I agree, why the hell would players give their phone to him

I recall these established players didn't think much of it but the rumor was that the young players had issue. It could be that these younger players were the ones where Babcock actually went through the phones.

Younger players are desperate to make a good impression and establish themselves so they are less likely to say no to anything

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Whom are you going to hire in late September in the world of NHL hockey? Time for Jarmo and JD to deliver, and if not, then fire them next spring.

Yah, I dont disagree, the timing sucks. If I'm McConnell, Im hiring a "special advisor" to plan the exit of the front office now though, even if it will need to be off-season.

 

[LOFIN]

Whom are you going to hire in late September in the world of NHL hockey? Time for Jarmo and JD to deliver, and if not, then fire them next spring.

Pretty much. I think with his last two hires, Jarmo deserves the boot. But because of the timing, probably better to stand pat and see how the season goes.

 

[NJDevs26]

Jenner and Gaudreau did a huge disservice to their own teammates.

If you're CBJ leadership - shouldn't you have a better relationship with your players than Biz? They tried to put out the flames at the cost of their players. At least talk to the players before telling the media "no one would have a problem with it."

Good on Biz for sticking with his story even with 'CBJ leadership' trying to throw their own players under the bus to protect Babcock. Maybe the team needs new leadership?

This is also why any of the players who ‘snitched’ to Biz pretty much had no choice, when your peer leaders shoo your concerns off what alternative is there?

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I've got nothing to hide or overly embarrassing but if my boss asked me to look through my phone I'd tell him to get f***ed.

 

[Divine]

We'd previously hired a guy about whom similar stories were told and not only did he turn out to be much more of a generally decent person than advertised, he's still the winningest coach in franchise history. It's not unusual that folks here might get to thinking that It's All Just Paper Talk.

It worked the first time beyond anyone's wildest expectations, so he tried to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

Torts and Babcock are completely different.

Frank Corrado talks about it on Leafs Radio, if you're interested - you can listen here:



He mentions Torts is straight to the point, which guys like. He can be direct - but you know where he stands.
Babcock plays mind games and never tells the player how he feels or where he stands.

They're almost opposites, the only similarity is that they're both tough coaches. Obviously, CBJ should have known that when they hired him.

 

[Chips]

The issue with John Tortorella was primarily his hardass nature and temper when things don't go his way, but he's still a professional. I don't look at John Tortorella and think "oh this guy is def gonna mind f*** his players."
He doesn't have a toxic reputation (at least that I know of) where his former players actively speak out against him, the same way that Mike Babcock has. In fact, I think there's only the Dubois thing that was "controversial"? Aside from that, players from CBJ, NYR, TBL still speak fondly of him. Meanwhile, we have a whole horde of players that have spoken out about what a gigantic asshole Babcock is.

I remember the athletic did a dive into why players leave CBJ, and it sounded more to do with the managements negotiation style making players feel undervalued in every sense


Torts seems pretty popular, not that his blunt style can’t rub players the wrong way especially if they’re the type who can’t take criticism.

 

[Murky]

I don't think CBJ are in a position to can Kekalainen and JD right now. But I think that their days are numbered and CBJ will start planning for the future without them. An amazing season might save them or at least one of them. But I think they are both gone in a week after the season is over.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

What a bizarre story and surely the end of the line for Babcock.

Didn’t this GM also hire Torts? Maybe this GM isn’t thinking straight.

 

[Kanedogg]

What a bizarre story and surely the end of the line for Babcock.

Didn’t this GM also hire Torts? Maybe this GM isn’t thinking straight.

Torts pulled off one of the greatest playoff upsets in NHL history.

 

[gritdash60]

I've got nothing to hide or overly embarrassing but if my boss asked me to look through my phone I'd tell him to get f***ed.

Exactly my feelings, there is literally nothing embarrasing on my phone but why in the f*** would i let my boss go through it, the more important question is why would he feel the need to do it?

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

What a bizarre story and surely the end of the line for Babcock.

Didn’t this GM also hire Torts? Maybe this GM isn’t thinking straight.

A lot of players like Tortorella. No one likes Babcock.

 

[Tuggy]

Lol what a loser.

 

[CarolinaBlueJacket]

I was not a fan of the hire, but because of Jarmo's hiring of Torts, I gave him some leeway. Turns out he screwed this one up. None of us KNOW what happened because we were not there, no matter how much you say you know, you in fact do not know. Now that does not mean that Babcock is innocent. Hiring him was yet one more disaster in 20 years of disasters. As a fan of the CBJ, I cannot think of a worse organization in all of sports. I am not sure how much longer I can hang with his team.

ps. Please take my comments out of context and mold them to what you think (e.g. I said Babcock was innocent, etc). I know that is the pastime of some people. But remember, how can people on the internet hurt us CBJ fans more than the team has done over the years? It is just not possible.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Why are there so many people who are defending Babcock. Nuts to me.

My working theory on this and many boomer takes is a lot of people got ahead in their careers because they were willing and able to tolerate demands from their bosses to a greater extent than others. They see this as toughness and grit.

They want that rewarded in their entertainment product, and not have the league be about people with top 99.9 percentile talent that you can't teach showcasing that talent, working largely for themselves and trying to maximize their career earnings.