digitalmonkey 929 Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 "Tie goes to the veteran." Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 It's time to ask the question. Is Mike Babcock a bad coach? curious, whats the basis for this? wasn't he a genius 8 months ago? Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 curious, whats the basis for this? wasn't he a genius 8 months ago? Personnel decisions are terrible. Systems are starting to seem suspect. Continues to play Roman Polak heavy minutes despite the fact that he craters the team when he is on the ice and takes tons of penalties as a result of being a few steps behind the play. Leaves superior players in the press box (Carrick, Marincin), or the minors (Dermott, or literally any other D man on the Marlies). Gives Leo Komarov more ice time than all but 3 forwards. Plays him on the power play and even 3 on 3 OT recently. (He started the OT against Tampa Bay). This despite the fact that Leo has 2 primary Even strength points (excluding empty netters) on the season, despite playing on a scoring line. Leaves much more talented players in the press box (Leivo), or the minors (Kapanen and a bunch of other guys). Doesn't play William Nylander or Mitch Marner nearly enough. Or Matthews for that matter. He's a superstar, treat him as such and play him 20+ minutes a game. I don't care how young he is. Played an aggressive, offensive style at the beginning of the season that was resulting in high event games that the Leafs were dominating, although giving up a lot of goals. I think this hurt Babcock on some deep level and at some point, switched to a conservative style that is resulting in the leafs getting caved in from a possession standpoint on almost a nightly basis. This has been happening for quite awhile now but has been covered up by excellent goaltending from Freddie and a high shooting percentage. part of this is purely personnel decisions, as bad players are getting a lot of ice time, but at some point, systems are playing a part too. He's got a Ferrari and he's driving it like a Prius. Link to post Share on other sites
digitalmonkey 929 Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Polak playing instead of Dermott is baffling. Polak was brought back to kill penalties, but he takes too many penalties. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Also, the PK with him on the ice performs at the exact same level as without him. Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 2 awful losses. I dont know if that was coaching or just bad play, but those were frustrating to watch. Learn to hold a lead! Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafpoker 1,462 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Frederik Andersen with strong words after the #leafs fourth straight loss: “We have to figure out who wants to play for the team.” Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 We had a pretty eventful day Heading to philly we got delayed and was going to miss our connecting flight. We got a flight to New York with another airline and we had a small window to make the connection. We made it literally with 1 min to spare. Got into philly and get to the rental car and realize my passport and Otto is missing. On the phone for a hour with no help anywhere So we head to Wells Fargo and try to have a good time. I thought the Lindros ceremony was pretty good. I missed 2 calls from a local number so I call it after the first period. The lady found my passports. Whew!!!!!!! In the 2nd period the Leafs are up 2-0 and I keep saying they can’t hold the lead Well we know what happens and we lose 3-2 in overtime. Flyer fans are really on us and some are getting really rude. We go outside and another flyer fan is screaming at a leafs fan We run across the road and one guy speeds up and yells at Otto and threatens him to a fight. Now this idiot only did this because we are wearing Leafs jerseys. Says are team sucks and I jump in because I don’t like when someone is threatening Otto to fight him. I yell back you want him you have to get through me and I will rip your head off. He screams back that I am a fn korean and go back to Pearl Harbor. I stop and think that I was going to beat him stupid but it is impossible since he is dumb already Walking back to the hotel we got scream at by a few cars about how the Leafs suck Got to love the city of brotherly love Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 One other thing it’s otto Birthday so he is 21 and go to the casino. Otto lost $100 playing blackjack and I won it back. Happy to leave breaking even 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FCP Bob 1,312 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Philly fans in all sports take pride in being total assholes. Link to post Share on other sites
MapleLeafs 142 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Got into philly and get to the rental car and realize my passport and Otto is missing. Glad you found Otto. That would have put a damper on the trip. Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Glad you found Otto. That would have put a damper on the trip. Lol Otto passport Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Frederik Andersen with strong words after the #leafs fourth straight loss: “We have to figure out who wants to play for the team.” it's actually 4 terrible losses in a row. In the 2 games before the break, they blew a 2-0 lead in the last 5 minutes against the bolts, then lost to the worst team in the league the next night with a costly error in the last 2 minute (Senators). Both teams were on the tail end of a b2b, so no excuses there. I've always been a big Gardiner fan and apologist, but his play in OT last night was terrible. Nylander is backchecking and clearly goes straight for the puck carrier. His intentions were clear for about 80 feet. Gardiner needs to let Nylander take the puck carrier and pick up the trailer. Instead, Gardiner inexplicably tries to close on the puck carrier as well. Neither him or Nylander is able to stop the pass, and Coutourier is wide open in the slot for a mini breakaway. Link to post Share on other sites
mrdannyg 274 Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 that I was going to beat him stupid but it is impossible since he is dumb already Have to admit I got a good laugh at this line Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 Im glad I dont have to listen to the bullshit Toronto press..I bet they are having a field day with a few losses.. Its fine..We are a young team...They will learn from mistakes...Still in a very good position with really no threat of missing the playoffs yet.. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Serge, don't click. https://twitter.com/67sound/status/956271202817007617 Link to post Share on other sites
FCP Bob 1,312 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Serge, don't click. https://twitter.com/...271202817007617 private account so can't see the tweet, maybe you can copy and paste it. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 This is the article he is referencing: https://mapleleafsnation.com/2018/01/24/why-the-leafs-have-been-underperforming-at-home/ Link to post Share on other sites
Babying 613 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I am impressed with this win Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Ok. If Babcock can find it in himself to keep these line combos and somehow replace Polak with Zaitsev when he returns and not Dermott or Carrick, then this team could do some things this year. Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 Leafs are in a pretty interesting spot. Without an epic collapse the playoffs are pretty much clinched. And it would seem pretty tough to catch Boston or Tampa Bay. Have to go on a huge run to get there , but not out of the question either. Most likely a third place finish and start the playoffs on the road in Boston. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Boston is one of the best teams in the league IMO. A road first round matchup is very likely with them and is not a good spot. I definitely think the leafs could beat Boston and could go on a deep playoff run, but not with Komarov playing 2nd line/18 minutes a game and probably not with Polak playing significant "shutdown" minutes. The lines for the last 2 games have been very encouraging, and I hope they stay. I would still make some minor changes (Leivo in, Moore/Martin out), but overall, very nice. Link to post Share on other sites
serge 904 Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 Do you guys think we are going to add anything? Maybe a depth dman? I don’t see the Leafs making a blockbuster. Link to post Share on other sites
Dubey 1,035 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 maybe a RHD or a 3rd or 4th line center (like Boyle last year). Problem is, the cost to acquire anyone who would be a noticeable upgrade on Carrick/Dermott would be high. (this is in my dream scenario where Polak is the 7th D when Zaitsev and Reilly come back.) I don't see any other move that makes sense. Going to be tough to upgrade the top 9 Fs through any trade IMO. (AM34, Hyman, Nylander, Marner, Marleau, Kadri, Brown, JVR, Bozak). I suppose getting a decent center to push Bozak to the 4th line would be interesting and solve some issues. Bozak/Komarov/Kapanen would be a pretty good 4th line. Link to post Share on other sites
digitalmonkey 929 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Cody Franson could probably be had for a hot dog. Link to post Share on other sites
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