Toronto star coach Mike Babcock, the world's best-paid - and most respected coach - got fired after the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered six straight losses, and had a lead-heavy start to the season. After leaving his post, the testimonies of hard tag and mental breakdown have been mutually exclusive.
SVT expert Jonas Andersson, who himself played NHL hockey in North America, gives his picture.
- A traditional bully. Part of a hockey culture. A very clear hierarchy. If you look at it from the outside, it's a big part of hockey culture in North America.
- You've heard of Babcock, that no one likes him. But it is only now that it comes out. He has had the results with him, and then he has had a free pass.
Mike Babcock has won the Stanley Cup, double Olympic gold with Canada, and JVM. Andersson believes that the testimony after Babcock was fired, and the domino effects it has, will now have consequences.
- I think you have to think about a turn to how you behave. I think it is positive from a larger perspective to remove the bullying.