Mike Babcock expected to be named Blue Jackets head coach

[pmorrow]

https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/sta...bflCxd4Yg&s=19

Speculation around the Memorial Cup is Mike Babcock will return to the NHL as @BlueJacketsNHL new coach and the delay in announcing coincides with his existing contract with the Maple Leafs expiring the end of this month."

[snaxwell]

Booooooo and fart! I like that young CBJ roster, wish they went with a more progressive, interesting and less abusive coach.

[tweetdrivr]

This is an absolutely terrible idea. Why do NHL teams do this.

[metaldude26]

Ironic that they are opting for a coach who was last relevant during the civil war.

[Feenom]

Here comes trouble. I don’t get teams in the NHL. Recycled miserable old guys getting second chances. How bout some new ideas? New blood? Good luck to the Jackets.

[BloodSport]

I can’t imagine any of the player leadership were consulted about this. Just a horrible decision on every level.

[Daydream Nation]

Yuck! And I was really starting to become interested in Columbus.

[random-d]

Yuck! And I was really starting to become interested in Columbus.

Ditto. I was looking at CBJ players as buy low opportunities, now I'm much less interested.

[RizzeeDizzee]

Jarmo was so great in his first few years, lately.....not so much. I guess they figured if Johnny hockey could thrive under Sutter, why can't he under Babcock, of course neglecting to note the absence of any semblance of Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm to compliment him.

[Daydream Nation]

Jarmo was so great in his first few years, lately.....not so much. I guess they figured if Johnny hockey could thrive under Sutter, why can't he under Babcock, of course neglecting to note the absence of any semblance of Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm to compliment him.

A great article would be looking at Babcock in Toronto and Detroit to see how it affected the stars' performances. I don't remember in Detroit but I know one of the constant complaints in Toronto was that Babcock didn't give enough minutes to the top 6 and an over-reliance on veterans.

[blayze]

Poor Jackets players... first Torts and now Cock lol

[pmorrow]

I wonder how this affects the Jackets' already bad track record of retaining pending free agents.

Listening to the intermission 32 Thoughts segment last night, Friedman said the team leadership group was consulted about it before they pursued him. I didn't get the impression all of the feedback was positive from the way Friedman phrased it.

[ericdaoust]

If it was that big of a deal to the players, the Blue Jackets wouldn't be doing this

[tweetdrivr]

I disagree. They may have asked the “Leadership group” - whatever that means. But I think it’s a move calculated to motivate the players with a hard nosed coach. I don’t think it’s a good idea because Babcock plays mind games and is a jerk. It’ll be much like Sutter, he’ll lose the room in a year or two.

[2014olympicgold]

I don't think you make the hire without talking to the team, and believing Babcock has learned from his mistakes. And it's not like he was doing anything illegal, he was just a dick and a bully.

From a performance aspect, he has shown he has a system that works. CBJ needs to take risks to get starpower in their city, and this is it in terms of coaching. I don't actually mind him back in the NHL if there isn't any other stuff we don't know about when it comes to illegal or racial or homophobic practices.

Gudbranson might just have a lot of ice time this yr, same with Kuraly.