Former NHL Defenseman Opens Up on Being Bullied by Mike Babcock
The revelations regarding Mike Babcock's alleged aggressive coaching style have grown since his departure from the Toronto Maple Leafs in November 2019. His appointment as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 came under scrutiny, and his tenure was short-lived due to lingering concerns about his approach.
Former NHLer Reveals he Was Bullied by Mike Babcock
Jakub Kindl played for the Detroit Red Wings from 2010-11 until 2015-16 . He was traded to the Florida Panthers late in the 2015-16 season and played one more NHL season with Florida before returning to Europe to continue his career.
Mike Babcock was at the helm of the Detroit Red Wings from 2005 to 2015.
During that period, numerous players, including Mike Commodore and Johan Franzen, have shared accounts of how Babcock treated staff, media personnel, and players. However, very little was known about his treatment of other players until recently.
Kindl's Story: Another Testimony Against Babcock
Sharing his experiences on the Czech news platform, Bez Frazi, Kindl remarked:
"I wasn't his favorite player from the beginning, and even though (Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland) liked me, Babcock seemed to constantly test what I could handle and he let me know that he didn't like me as a player. I couldn't stand him as a person."
"I saw him making jokes with the others, but with me, he barely exchanged a few word. If he did, it was to humiliate me. For example, he once put me on the right side of the defense, and I was looking at the lineup in disbelief. He was just passing by and heard me, so he looked at the lineup and said, 'Yeah, you're on the right side. You have trouble playing on the left, and I'm making it harder for you, right?'"
One memorable moment for Kindl came in November 2015 during a Red Wings-Leafs match where he scored an overtime goal.
"They knew how hard it was under Babcock. That evening, I received a lot of messages from people all over the club, from chefs, guys who parked our cars, facility personnel, and from the people who worked in offices. They all congratulated me."
As seen on House of Hockey - Former NHL Defenseman Reveals How Mike Babcock Bullied Him
| POLL | ||
7 OCTOBRE | 100 ANSWERS Former NHL Defenseman Opens Up on Being Bullied by Mike Babcock Do you think Babcock is retiring for good? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 76 % |
| No | 24 | 24 % |
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