He was a strong candidate for our head coaching position several months ago and is in the best position to help us navigate this change as we begin camp and lead our team moving forward. “He knows our players and organization and is respected by everyone here. “Pascal Vincent is an outstanding coach,” Kekalainen said. He was also a candidate for the job before Babcock was hired. In the end, it was an easy decision to make since he was there and was already familiar with the players. The Blue Jackets elected to hire associate coach Vincent. Paul Bissonnette was first to report the situation with the privacy concerns around the photos. I wish everyone in the organization well in the upcoming season.” “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. “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. “On behalf of the entire Blue Jackets organization, we want to thank Mike for his hard work and the professionalism he has shown in working together on a plan to step down.” The Columbus Blue Jackets wrapped up the 2023 National Hockey League Draft in Nashville.
“This was a difficult decision on everyone’s part, but one we felt necessary to ensure our focus remains on the players and the team’s upcoming season,” GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. Blue Jackets wrap day two of NHL Draft selecting another Wolverine. Now the Blue Jackets open camp in the midst of this situation. Until the news was made public Sunday, no one would comment on the status of the investigation or what might happen. At the time of writing, it’s unclear what path the Blue Jackets will take to name an interim head coach with training camp starting this week.īy resigning, Babcock walks away from the remainder of a two-year contract that was set to pay him a total of $8MM.Pascal Vincent replaces Mike Babcock as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets - Elliotte Friedman September 17, 2023
The Blue Jackets have yet to release a statement. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that the now-concluded NHLPA investigation “left no path for Babcock to continue as coach.” Friedman reported on an earlier edition of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast last week that while veterans Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau were comfortable with their exchanges with Babcock regarding the photo-sharing exercise, multiple younger players on the roster did not feel the same way.
BLUE JACKETS HOCKEY UPDATE
NHLPA officials met Friday after meeting with several Blue Jackets players and staff and said they “provided the NHL with an update on our ongoing review” in a statement released after the meeting. This week, Babcock was the subject of a joint NHL/NHLPA investigation spurred by allegations that Babcock asked to view phones and/or photographs of several Blue Jackets players, originally reported by former NHL player Paul Bissonnetteon a recent episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. Assistant coach Pascal Vincent has been named the club’s new head coach, and has signed a two-year contract extension.Ģ:48 PM: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcock is expected to resign his position this afternoon.Ĭolumbus officially named Babcock their head coach on July 1 after his previous contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who fired him in November of 2019, expired.
3:08 PM: The Blue Jackets have now officially announced Babcock’s resignation.
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