SUNRISE. Jarmo Kekäläinen the name has been on the surface for the last few days in the NHL world. First, the North American media reported that Kekäläinen was hiring as his new head coach Mike Babcock.
According to various reports, the deal will only be made when the Canadian coach’s previous contract with Toronto expires at the end of June.
Just a couple of days ago, Kekäläinen made a player trade to acquire a Russian defender from Philadelphia Ivan Provorov.
Both choices have been praised but also widely criticized both in Finland and North America.
Provorov made headlines earlier in the season after refusing to wear a rainbow-themed warm-up shirt for the Pride match. Provorov refused, citing his religion.
Questionable methods
A few years ago, Babcock got a shoe from Toronto after wearing it at least as a youngster Mitch Marner’s with questionable training methods. The coach asked the player to list the hardest working and least hardworking players on the team and then revealed the list to the whole team.
Played in Detroit under Babcock in the past years, then ended his career Johan Franzen instead, has called the coach the roughest person he’s ever met.
Naturally, the salaries have also been talked about behind the scenes of the Stanley Cup finals tour.
Urheilu met in Sunrise, Florida, one of the most famous journalist names in the sport, Sportsnet Elliotte Friedman. Friedman is a long-time journalist, TV panelist and insider.
Friedman doesn’t sugarcoat Babcock’s hiring.
– I know he made mistakes that made many people angry for a long time. In Toronto, I heard from both players and staff that the atmosphere under him was really negative. It can’t work like that nowadays. You have to be able to demand a lot from the players, but you have to be able to enjoy the work environment, Friedman begins.
Has Babcock learned from his mistakes?
However, Friedman does not condemn Kekäläinen’s choice.
– First of all, I think that everyone deserves a second chance. If Babcock has learned from his mistakes, he can really succeed. He is an excellent coach. For example, many players on the Canadian Olympic team have said that Babcock was the most prepared coach they have ever played under.
– And I can’t imagine that the hiring would have been done without discussing the problem points according to a long formula. About how the coach previously treated certain players and people in the club, Friedman continues.
Friedman understands Kekäläis
Babcock is known as a coach with high standards. In the opinion of many, it is exactly what the doctor ordered for Columbus, who performed sluggishly last season.
– In Columbus, it was felt that during the previous couple of years, things got completely out of hand. The best years of that club have been under two tough and demanding coaches, by Ken Hitchcock and by John Tortorella under. Babcock is of the same tree.
– I completely understand why Kekäläinen hired him, although not everyone does.
Provorov’s case is not any easier.
– I would have worn the shirt myself, but I think that people also have the right to choose. The most important thing is not to hurt others. Provorov had problems with other players even before the shirt dispute, which made his position in the club even more difficult. He needed a change of scenery.
Kekäläinen’s position speaks for itself
Columbus’ situation as a club is a hot topic in the NHL anyway. Kekäläinen has worked as the director of the club’s sports side for ten years, but with poor results. The club has won one real playoff series in ten years. Last season, on the other hand, was a gut-wrenching loss for the club, as the team was the second worst in the NHL.
As an insider, Friedman knows the pulse around the club very well.
– Last season was something for them that they cannot accept. Now came Babcock and Provorov, and believe me, there will be more changes. Much better results are expected within the club.
Kekäläinen’s position has also been discussed in both domestic and North American media. In a recent interview with , Kekäläinen scolded the Finnish media about how it doesn’t understand NHL processes. According to Friedman, who has worked with the NHL for decades, the tension is starting to be tested on the North American end as well.
– Columbus knows how much Jarmo cares and how much pride he takes in his work. In the NHL, however, it’s all about results. You can talk about processes as much as you want, but in the end, the result is what matters. They had a terrible year, and people inside the club were really disappointed, Friedman says.
– I believe Kekäläinen himself knows that they have to improve a lot and quickly or he will be in trouble.
The next final will be played on Friday morning at 03 Finnish time. Live broadcast on TV2 and Areena.
Follow the final matches on Urheilu’s website in this article.