Blue Jackets' controversial coaching hire already facing allegations of troubling tactics

The Columbus Blue Jackets took a big gamble in hiring Mike Babcock to be their new head coach, and the decision already seems to be creating some problems.

The team is investigating a report that Babcock forced players on the team, including captain Boone Jenner, to show him the pictures on their phones and display them on a TV in his office so Babcock could learn about the type of people he was dealing with. 

The allegation was first revealed by former NHL player -- and current TNT analyst -- Paul Bissonette on his Spittin' Chiclets podcast on Tuesday (NSFW language warning). 

Following that report, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline said the organization is aware of the allegations and had already begun investigating them. The NHL Player's Association is also reportedly investigating the claims. 

In a vacuum it is very weird and problematic behavior for a coach to do that, not to mention a pretty significant invasion of privacy for the players. 

What makes it even worse is the allegations that Babcock has already had against him in the past for his questionable treatment of players.

Prior to being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was revealed that Babcock had forced Mitch Marner to rank the work ethic of all his teammates from hardest working to least hardest working during the 2016 seasaom. Babcock then revealed the list to the players. 

Another former player, Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios, once told a story of Babcock verbally assaulting one of his teammates, Johan Franzen, during a game to such a harsh degree that it resulted in Franzen having a nervous breakdown on the bench. 

And those are just a couple of the more noteworthy examples. Another of Babcock's former players, defenseman Mike Commodore, has spent his post retirement time criticizing Babcock for his attitude toward players and the way he treated them. 

He has not coached in the NHL since the 2019-20 season when Toronto fired him. 

All of those allegations, and the way he exited Toronto, made him a lightning rod for criticism when the Blue Jackets hired him earlier this offseason. He has not even gotten to training camp before more issues are arising. 

Aside from the allegations against him, Babcock's record over the past decade has been alarmingly mediocre for a coach with his reputation. He has not coached a team that finished higher than third place in its division since the 2010-11 season and has won just a single playoff series since then. Mediocre results and a questionable treatment of players is not exactly a great combination for a head coach to have.