Mike Babcock, Boone Jenner respond to privacy allegations: 'Gross misrepresentation of those meetings' - Daily Faceoff

The NHL Player’s Association is investigating allegations of an invasion of privacy involving new Columbus Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock.

On a recent episode of Spittin’ Chiclets, former NHLer Paul Bissonnette claimed that a player told him that Babcock has asked various players to see their pictures on their cell phones.

UPDATE: Both Babcock and captain Boone Jenner released statements around 2:30 PM ET on Tuesday.

“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. “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. 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.”

Babcock was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019 in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Allegations also surfaced involving a toxic environment surrounding Babcock, which included many of Babcock’s former players, including Johan Franzen, Chris Chelios and Mike Commodore.

Babcock has not coached an NHL game since leaving the Leafs, but did serve as coach of the University of Saskatchewan’s men’s hockey team in 2021-22. He announced his retirement the following summer, but was named Columbus’ coach on July 1, 2023. Babcock has a 700-418-19-184 record in 1,301 games, winning a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2007-08. He also led Anaheim to the Stanley Cup final in his first year as coach in 2002-03.

Internationally, Babcock, who was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2018, has won gold at the world juniors, World Championship and at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games. He last won gold at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, giving him a 100 percent championship rate as Canada’s head coach.

The Blue Jackets finished the 2022–23 regular season with the worst record (25–48–9) in the Eastern Conference. Columbus enters 2023–24 having missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, but will be armed with top prospect Adam Fantilli and new offseason additions Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, among others.

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