Blue Jackets expected to make unpopular hire.
The tweet from Darren Dreger seen above absolutely shook the CBJ social media world.
The Blue Jacket front office has been virtually silent in regards to its coaching search. Candidates such as Pascal Vincent, Gerard Gallant, Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy have surfaced. But in all circles there were two names that were highly discouraged, Joel Quenneville and Mike Babcock. There was virtually zero chance of Joel Quenneville being named coach. But Mike Babcock, no one thought it would be him either.
Soon after the Dreger tweet, other reporters including Elliotte Friedman and Aaron Portzline confirmed that the CBJ were looking into hiring him.
A local Columbus TV sports reporter tweeted that he reached out via text to Jarmo Kekäläinen and asked him if he could confirm the rumor. Jarmo apparently had a one word answer, "No".
Blue Jacket social media was sent into a frenzy. Most people were shocked that the CBJ would make this choice. Why not hire a young players coach? A veteran coach with less baggage? Some fans were up in arms, including some that said they would cancel their season tickets over this hire. Seems extreme, but that's the impact of this hire.
A few days have passed since this bombshell info was dropped on us. If you read the original tweet, he used the word "speculation", what does that mean? Fact of the matter is, the CBJ won't sign him until his contract with the Leafs runs out at the end of June. Seems odd for Jarmo to want to wait that long, considering he himself said he wanted a coach sooner rather than later, but here we are.
Mike Babcock comes with plenty of baggage. From allegations of mental abuse to mistreatment. Babcock himself came out a few years and admitted that he has made some mistakes. Admitting that he didn't take mental health seriously. It's no secret he's a hard nosed, intense coach, or at least was. It's been several years since he's coached, and in sports years, his last coaching tenure was light years go. Could he have calmed down being away from the game? Possibly. But a large number of CBJ fans are not willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Mike Babcock has coached in 1301 NHL games. Winning exactly 700 of those games, and throwing in a Stanley Cup in 2008 with Detroit. He was wildly successful overall, only missing the NHL playoffs twice. In regards to his Toronto tenure, his only real success, admittedly, was losing enough to secure Auston Matthews. He's a great coach, but is he a good person?
There are a few reports of him tearing down players and making them breakdown mentally. This Columbus team is full of young kids, is this what they need? Can they handle it? Some of these guys were here for Tortorella, so they know what brash means. But is Mike Babcock the same coach as he was years ago?
In terms of coacJohn E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sportshing, no players have ever said anything bad about his coaching. Johan Franzen loved Babcock's preparation and tactical acuity as a coach, but called him a "terrible man, the worst person I've ever met". Winning 700 NHL games, a Stanley Cup and only missing the playoffs twice is nothing to look down upon. Babcock has been accused of scratching players ahead of personally significant games for certain players, and when it comes to the Blue Jackets, it seems every night there are games of personal significance, whether it be playing in a certain number of games or playing former teams.
The hire most likely won't be official until July 1. And things could change between now and then, but as of now, all signs are pointing to Mike Babcock. A lot of fans were wanting Patrick Roy, and figured the hold up of hiring a coach was because Roy's team, the Quebec Remparts were playing in the Memorial Cup, and it still could be the case, considering the Babcock deal is "speculation" at this time. I guess we'll find out in a few weeks what the CBJ's plans are, but for now, fans are left frustrated by this rumor.