Zach Werenski publicly comments on the Mike Babcock hire in Columbus for the first time

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Mike Armenti
July 26, 2023 (10:03)

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After spending the past couple of years relatively inactive, other than a short stint coaching a College team in his native Saskatchewan, Mike Babcock was finally welcomed back into the NHL coaching ranks after being hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets this summer.

The move was puzzling, given Babcock's history, but according to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, the team is not at all concerned about Babcock's past. They're fired up to have him coming in.

"You want your head coach to fire you up and get your group going in the right direction. I think he's done that already just from a month being here, so everyone's really excited to get camp going and get a fresh start to the season." - Werenski on the arrival of Babcock in Columbus and the excitement from the team

During his interview with NHL.com this week, Werenski revealed that he has already met with Babcock and gotten to know him a bit as a person. The blueliner has given Babs his seal of approval.

"It was really good. We had a good conversation. I went to his house in Michigan and met with him not too far from me, actually. We talked about myself and what he expects out of me, the team.

I got to know him a little bit, and you know, I left impressed. That kind of fired me up. I think from that point on I just want to get to training camp to get the season going." - Werenski on how his first meeting with Babcock went this summer

Of course, the elephant in the room is how Babcock's reputation might have some feeling apprehensive about the hire and not knowing what to expect from the veteran coach. Werenski addressed that during his interview as well.

"I think that's out the window. I don't think guys have any second guesses on it. I think guys are really excited, actually, it seems from talking with the guys that have met with him already. Everyone kind of came away fired up and ready to go so that's important, right?" - Werenski about Babcock's previous reputation around the league

Will Babcock mess this situation up, just as he did with his opportunities in Toronto and Detroit? Only time will tell.