MOSCOW, September 18 – National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) executive director Marty Walsh said the Columbus Blue Jackets’ decision to fire head coach Mike Babcock was the right one because players in the league deserve to be treated with respect.

Babcock took over the team on July 1, 2023. His contract was for two years. In September, a scandal broke out involving a specialist. Former NHL player and host of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast Paul Bissonnette accused the coach of invading his private life. He said Babcock asked team captain Boone Jenner to show him the phone so he could examine his photo collection. Babcock later stated that the information had been misinterpreted. The coach said he asked to share family photos to get to know the players and staff better.

As a head coach in the NHL, Babcock also worked for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2008, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. As head coach of the Canadian national team, he won the Olympic Games twice (2010 and 2014), the World Championship (2004) and the World Cup (2016) once each. The Canadian youth team under his leadership won the World Championship in 1997. Babcock became the first coach to win all of these tournaments.