Another bizarre allegation has surfaced about ex-Leafs coach Mike Babcock

Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is in the news again for some rather unconventional off-ice tactics.

Babcock, who was hired as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this summer after a four-year hiatus from the NHL, is alleged to be asking his new team’s players odd personal requests.

According to former NHLer Paul Bissonnette via the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Babcock has reportedly been trying to gauge his players’ character by asking to see their photos on their phones.

“I get a text from a player. He goes, ‘Have you heard what Babcock is up to again?’ And I’m like, ‘No,'” Bissonnette told his co-host, Ryan Whitney. “He gets to Columbus; he calls in Boone Jenner, the captain of the f***ing team, and says, ‘I want to see the photos in your phone. I wanna know the type of person you are.'”

The story is currently being investigated internally by the Blue Jackets, according to a report.

“CBJ are aware of these allegations and looking into them. No official response yet,” The Athletic‘s Aaron Portzline reported. “Babcock and Jenner have not immediately responded to requests seeking comment.”

Portzline added in a follow-up tweet that the NHL Players Association is also looking into the claims.

Told that the NHL players’ association is looking into the Babcock allegations as put forth by the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 12, 2023

In a follow-up statement made via the Blue Jackets, both Babcock and Jenner replied to the  claims.

“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. These meetings have been very important and beneficial, not only for me but for our players and staff as well, and to have them depicted like this is irresponsible and completely inaccurate.”

Jenner also relayed that he didn’t think the request was a big deal.

“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,” Jenner said. “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.”

This isn’t the first time Babcock has been in the media for his off-the-ice coaching methods.

Following Babcock’s dismissal from the Maple Leafs, a story was reported by the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan that a rookie player in the 2016-17 season — later revealed to be Mitch Marner — was asked by Babcock to rank his teammates in order of their work ethic.

After Marner made the list, Babcock showed the teammates ranking at the bottom of the list Marner’s thoughts.

Meanwhile, former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen called Babcock the “worst person I’ve ever met” after playing nine seasons for him.

Babcock, who has coached for the Leafs, Red Wings, and Anaheim Ducks in his career, has an NHL record of 700-418-19-164 while winning Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 with Canada.

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