NHL Transactions, Injuries & Rumours

[KapG]

Not really a Babcock fan

Am I the only one?

Just in general or he do something tonight?

No, nothing about this game. More just in general I think.

He was ok at first, but he’s now starting to get on my nerves.

Just don’t like how he favours certain players in certain roles that they maybe aren’t fit for. He refuses to give Matthews the ice time I personally feel he deserves. The kid is averaging like 15 seconds above 18min/g again this year. In what world should our best player not be getting 20-21? It’s not like you have to give him tough shtoi minutes. Babcock could probably find him another 2 minutes of ice time on the power play alone! It frustrates me when I look at the box score and see guys like petan and ennis getting more pptoi. I’m not saying that happens ALL the time, but it does regularly enough that it’s a concern for me.

He’s also been terribly out coached in the last two postseasons. If we are bounced in the first round again this year I’d hope they look long and hard at replacing him.

*shrug*

[Shoalzie]

I don't follow the Leafs like most of you guys do. I think Babcock is a legitimately good coach but I think any successful coach rides talented players. I don't know if he could win with lesser talent but then again, could Quenneville win without Toews/Kane/Keith? Depends on where he ends up next. Coaches get too much credit and probably too much blame. Players should be held accountable for failures of a franchise but the coach is always the first one to go. At least in the Flyers case, they fired their GM before the coach.

If the talent level around the league is up, then I think what separates those players is work ethic. Talent is talent but you want to see is effort that matches that talent. You see what a driven Ovechkin looked like last year and he was as good as he's ever been. I don't know if it's coaching or the player needs to motivate themselves. Professional pride has be inside of all these guys. Can a player just get by with great wheels or great hands but doesn't have the mind or the desire to get more out of them. I think you find out over time who the really are the great players and who were just skilled players that "couldn't put it all together".

[Bruyns]

I have a lot of the same gripes as Kyle about Babcock. Part of me would rather give Keefe a shot and I believe we would see more synergy leading to better strategy between the coach and GM. It's never come out publicly but you know Babs didnt agree with losing Mcehillenny or Lindholm and didnt seem thrilled with adding a LD over a RD. Also seems to be a divide on Holl , should have rotated him in with Ozhiganov so hes better prepped to step in for injuries. That's all kind of nitpicking depth options, but his treatment of Matthews, Nylander and Marner at certain times in the last couple seasons has been questionable.

With that said this is the most talented teams of my lifetime and not riding on the backs of productive vets so they have a bright future.

[Handsome&FairMike]

Ya i’m With you guys. Also for me focuses too much on matchups and changes lines too often this year. Doesn’t really facilitate guys getting into a groove or flow. But he’s not the worst...

Will be interesting to see how the playoffs go when inevitably another real tough 1st round matchup. Think I would favour the bruins again... so not sure he should shoulder all the blame.

[Matthew]

No one ever loves their teams coach. What's the other option for coach? Probably Another guy who just lost his job...for reasons.

[Tony]

He always looks constipated

[Shep]

It is obvious that Babcock and Dubas are not on the same page, especially when it comes to how to build a team. I think Babcock is a good coach but he certainly makes some egregious decisions. The ice-time that he gives Matthews is absurd.

He is stubborn with his defence pairings and with how badly Rielly/Hainsey were run over by Boston last postseason you would imagine Babcock would try and get a different "shutdown" pairing. But instead, he rolls the same pairing over and over and it's going to be an issue again.

[Da_Hawks]

It is obvious that Babcock and Dubas are not on the same page, especially when it comes to how to build a team. I think Babcock is a good coach but he certainly makes some egregious decisions. The ice-time that he gives Matthews is absurd.

He is stubborn with his defence pairings and with how badly Rielly/Hainsey were run over by Boston last postseason you would imagine Babcock would try and get a different "shutdown" pairing. But instead, he rolls the same pairing over and over and it's going to be an issue again.

I almost feel like Babcock's strategy was to keep Matthew's ice time down to see if he could get that next level out of him. When you aren't getting 20 mins a night you have to produce with what's given to you. Or maybe Babs no longer trusts AM to play more than 15 mins a night - and this year I cannot blame him. He's not consistently been our best C, and many times his line has been awful and disengaged.

Doesn't much matter. This team is going to get wrecked in the first round because they have no grit/heart/single fucks to give. That's on Dubas/Lou for building a team of snowflakes.

[Shoalzie]

This is what a Wings fan has to get excited about these days...they sign two of the top 5 college scorers in Taro Hirose (Michigan State) and Ryan Kuffner (Princeton). With Zadina being sent down after two more games and Larkin is still hurt...I think both guys will get to play in some games this season. Hirose is a bit undersized but a very good setup man while Kuffner is a goal scorer. I'm happy with the additions plus a high lottery pick to boot.

In total, three Princeton players signed today.

[Monk]

^^ Veronneau is better

[Shoalzie]

Good on you and Matt for picking those guys last September.

[Shep]

Doesn't much matter. This team is going to get wrecked in the first round because they have no grit/heart/single fucks to give. That's on Dubas/Lou for building a team of snowflakes.

This is such an overblown aspect of hockey in the current NHL.

The Leafs were leading the Bruins in game 7 in the third period last year. That was in a series where Kadri missed 3 games with a suspension, Matthews had 1 goal and Andersen was terrible.

Are the playoffs more physical? Sure. But to think that you need to be a gritty, bruising team to be successful is asinine. Three of the top five teams in the NHL in points are among the bottom five teams in hits in the NHL. I don't think anybody is calling the Flames or Sharks "too soft", and they're in the supposed more physical Western Conference.

[kyuss]

waited almost 2 yrs to see the Sharks recognize that Simek was a better option than a couple of their defensemen.. just to see him getting his knee destroyed :/

[Bruyns]

Doesn't much matter. This team is going to get wrecked in the first round because they have no grit/heart/single fucks to give. That's on Dubas/Lou for building a team of snowflakes.

This is such an overblown aspect of hockey in the current NHL.

The Leafs were leading the Bruins in game 7 in the third period last year. That was in a series where Kadri missed 3 games with a suspension, Matthews had 1 goal and Andersen was terrible.

Are the playoffs more physical? Sure. But to think that you need to be a gritty, bruising team to be successful is asinine. Three of the top five teams in the NHL in points are among the bottom five teams in hits in the NHL. I don't think anybody is calling the Flames or Sharks "too soft", and they're in the supposed more physical Western Conference.

Curious what the series odds open at. Media seems to think BOS are this juggernaut that are in the Leafs head and I don't see it that way at all.

[Handsome&FairMike]

waited almost 2 yrs to see the Sharks recognize that Simek was a better option than a couple of their defensemen.. just to see him getting his knee destroyed :/

Still waiting for them to give Tim heed consistent game time. Dude produces

[Da_Hawks]

Doesn't much matter. This team is going to get wrecked in the first round because they have no grit/heart/single fucks to give. That's on Dubas/Lou for building a team of snowflakes.

This is such an overblown aspect of hockey in the current NHL.

The Leafs were leading the Bruins in game 7 in the third period last year. That was in a series where Kadri missed 3 games with a suspension, Matthews had 1 goal and Andersen was terrible.

Are the playoffs more physical? Sure. But to think that you need to be a gritty, bruising team to be successful is asinine. Three of the top five teams in the NHL in points are among the bottom five teams in hits in the NHL. I don't think anybody is calling the Flames or Sharks "too soft", and they're in the supposed more physical Western Conference.

The biggest team in the NHL won the Stanley Cup last year. You have to pay a different price in the playoffs versus the regular season and the last two years the Leafs did not. Sure it was a 7 game series last year - but in no way did the Leafs deserve to win. If you are a talented team, you need to pay a price when you play the more physical teams like Boston. Do that and your skill can take over. Fold and you fail.

[kimmer]

what do you mean by pay a price lol

[Shep]

Doesn't much matter. This team is going to get wrecked in the first round because they have no grit/heart/single fucks to give. That's on Dubas/Lou for building a team of snowflakes.

This is such an overblown aspect of hockey in the current NHL.

The Leafs were leading the Bruins in game 7 in the third period last year. That was in a series where Kadri missed 3 games with a suspension, Matthews had 1 goal and Andersen was terrible.

Are the playoffs more physical? Sure. But to think that you need to be a gritty, bruising team to be successful is asinine. Three of the top five teams in the NHL in points are among the bottom five teams in hits in the NHL. I don't think anybody is calling the Flames or Sharks "too soft", and they're in the supposed more physical Western Conference.

The biggest team in the NHL won the Stanley Cup last year. You have to pay a different price in the playoffs versus the regular season and the last two years the Leafs did not. Sure it was a 7 game series last year - but in no way did the Leafs deserve to win. If you are a talented team, you need to pay a price when you play the more physical teams like Boston. Do that and your skill can take over. Fold and you fail.

Marchand/Bergeron/Pastrnak were unstoppable. That was the difference. If the Leafs can actually contain them and not let them run show on the power play, they will be fine.

Babcock should be spending the final 20 games perfecting a shutdown pairing and shutdown line. Instead, he continues to roll a Rielly/Hainsey pair that was embarrassed by that line on a nightly basis.

[Shoalzie]

I don't think you necessarily need to match toughness...especially in today's game. You just can't be a push over. I can't believe this was 22 years ago but the seemingly smaller Red Wings went through the Legion of Doom Flyers in 4 straight. They did have grit where they needed it...the Grind Line, Konstantinov on defense, they added Shanahan up front...you don't need to be overrun with goons or big hitters. You can be a big team but you better be quick on your skates.

With Boston, I don't look at them as being the "big bad Bruins". The first thing I think of is Patrice Bergeron and how he's about as professional of a player as there is in this league. He can matchup with any center in the league and either neutralize or outplay them. You win with speed and skill but you need guys who can you can matchup against. Plus, it doesn't hurt if you have a competent goalie. Grit and toughness helps but you don't win just on that. You can win with a smaller, quicker team if they play a smart game and they outwork the other team.

[kimmer]

so by logic, if we were to argue semantics, would NOT a bit of more physicality IN combination of smart defensive plays/systems BE that shutdown pair we need??.. i mean jesus, who's gonna really stop marchand bergeron pasta when on fire?... you'll have to catch up to them on foot and then either stickcheck or hit em lol... guys that have "grit" would be likely to have the edge to do something like that lol. ie guys that backcheck and play "with grit" while being smart ?!/ basically ur arguing against physicality as if it's a frowned upon attribute, directly correlating it to "meathead" "brainless" characteristics that no longer "belong in NHL", so we need "SMART DEFENSIVE GUYS THAT DON'T HIT" ? what's the fucking difference? it's better if we get guys that hit like a truck AND play smart defensively. The solution is right within the requirement. I'd be happy to get defensive guys that don't necessarily hit, but would it be a sin if we get guys that HIT? ... lol like

i think a lot of people talkin about this lately (even guys at my work), but it's important to take this opinion contextually. They normally mean we dont want 6 radko gudas on our d core, but paying up at deadline to get in a guy or two that "play with grit and physicality" we wouldve been better off... lol