Mike Babcock, Columbus Blue Jackets to part ways

The Mike Babcock era in Columbus is over before he even coached a single game with the franchise.

Following a storm of controversy, accusations and denials about his alleged invasion of his players’ privacy this week, Mike Babcock is set to step down as the team’s head coach, sources tell Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the news.

“Upon reflection, it has become clear that continuing as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets was going to be too much of a distraction,” Babcock said Sunday in a statement. “While I’m disappointed to not have had the opportunity to continue the work we’ve begun, I know it’s in the best interest of the organization for me to step away at this time. I wish everyone in the organization well in the upcoming season.”

The news comes after the NHL Players’ Association, led by executive director Marty Walsh and assistant executive director Ron Hainsey, conducted an investigation of the allegations toward Babcock, visiting Columbus to speak with Blue Jackets players this past week.

Sources say #CBJ and Mike Babcock are indeed parting ways.

Investigation by #NHLPA left no path for Babcock to continue as coach. Much of last 24-48 hours was spent negotiating his exit.

Strong message sent: Treat all players with respect, as you would in any proper workplace.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 17, 2023

The alleged incident first came to light Sept. 12 when former NHLer Paul Bissonnette told a story on his massively popular podcast Spittin’ Chiclets. Bissonnette claimed a current Blue Jackets player told him Babcock had asked to see players’ phones and then AirDropped (shared) them on his office television screen.

The Blue Jackets, Babcock and captain Boone Jenner were quick to respond to Bissonnette’s allegations.

“While meeting with our players and staff I asked them to share, off their phones, family pictures as part of the process of getting to know them better. There was absolutely nothing more to it than that,” Babcock said in a statement issued by the team on Sept. 12. “The way this was portrayed on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast was a gross misrepresentation of those meetings and extremely offensive.”

“While meeting with Babs he asked me about my family and where I’m from, my upcoming wedding and hockey-related stuff,” Jenner said in a statement from the team Sept. 12. “He then asked if I had pictures of my family and I was happy to share some with him. He showed me pictures of his family.

“I thought it was a great first meeting and good way for us to start to build a relationship. To have this blown out of proportion is truly disappointing.”

As reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman last week, the NHL and NHLPA were at first satisfied with explanations from Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau. “However, it appears things changed for both later that night when information was received that some of the younger Blue Jackets were uncomfortable with what had occurred,” Friedman reported. The NHLPA and NHL made the Babcock investigation a primary agenda item during their meeting Friday in New York.

“Our players deserve to be treated with respect in the workplace,” Walsh said in a statement Sunday, representing the NHLPA. “Unfortunately, that was not the case in Columbus. The club’s decision to move forward with a new head coach is the appropriate course of action.”

Babcock was not in a position to be given the benefit of the doubt the moment any notion arose of him treating players inappropriately. Following his firing as Toronto Maple Leafs head coach in 2019, reports arose suggesting he’d mentally abused his players, most infamously deceiving a Mitch Marner into privately criticizing teammates and then sharing Marner’s insights with his teammates in 2016-17. Other former Babcock players, such as ex-Detroit Red Wings Johan Franzen and Mike Commodore, have come forward slamming Babcock for his approach to coaching. In 2019, Franzen called Babcock “the worst person I have ever met.”

With the allegations of abuse staining his reputation, Babcock didn’t coach in the NHL for close to four years. His only stint behind a bench came with the University of Saskatchewan in 2021-22. His hiring by the Blue Jackets was controversial to say the least, but he claimed he had taken steps to learn from the revelations about his alleged treatment of players. In a recent interview with NHL.com, Babcock spoke about wanting to improve his ability to communicate with players and about the importance of being in tune with his players’ mental health going forward.