The NHL Players’ Association says its executive director and assistant executive director are in Columbus to investigate reports of Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcock invading players’ privacy.
Marty Walsh and Ron Hainsey were meeting with some Blue Jackets players on Thursday as part of the investigation.
Babcock said Tuesday he had done nothing wrong by asking players to show him family photos from their phones, clarifying he was trying to get to know them.
Ex-NHLer Paul Bissonnette said on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast he was told by an unidentified player that Babcock asked players to see photos on their phones and would then stream them on his television.
Babcock and Columbus captain Boone Jenner said in a joint statement released by the Blue Jackets that the report is “a gross misrepresentation of those meetings and extremely offensive.”
Babcock has spent nearly four years out of the league after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, with former players criticizing the Stanley Cup winning coach after his departure.