Babcock's career as a Head Coach started with the Anaheim Ducks many years ago, and while he proved to be an effective coach, his method wasn't accepted by all, and ultimately, his first coaching role was a very short lived one.
Given his treatment of players and how off-putting it reportedly was, this story comes as no surprise, making it tough to see how he's continued to get chances over the past decade.
As the story goes, a player was taping their stick on the bench ahead of the final pre-season game for the Ducks, when a younger Babcock approached him and asked him how amazing this was, to which the player agreed.
The unnamed player didn't expect what was coming next however, as Babcock then told him "soak it in, it's the last time you'll ever be on an NHL bench", and even if this was an AHL player with no future in the NHL, there's just no reason to act like this.
Unsurprisingly, Babcock was fired soon after, and went on to have tumultuous end to stints in Detroit, Toronto and now Columbus, and after all that, it's tough to see him ever coaching in the NHL again.
As Read on Blade of Steel - A chilling story has surfaced regarding Mike Babcock's time with the Ducks
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Can Babcock adjust and make his way back to the NHL? | ||
Yes | 13 | 4.2 % |
No | 294 | 95.8 % |
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