I barely remember the previous years honestly, but I thought they made a lot of questionable roster decisions did they not?
Everybody knew the year Babs won gold that that team would be the most structured and defensively adept unit perhaps in the history of hockey.
I agree that a coach can matter a lot and push good teams to do great things, but sometimes, great teams only need a good coach to win.
- UsernameUnknown

No the rosters were not questionable, just the results. They lost with superstar lineups. Coaching made a big difference IMO. Good coaches know how to manage that kind of roster, not all coaches can.

Exactly

So every player coach and gm has flaws?

but Babs is allowed to have flaws right? Make mistakes?

If this is the case then you agree with everything I have been saying.

why? because the difference between Babs and his flaws to any other coaches and their flaws is that Babs has the resume to back it up.
- Santo_44

I'm trying to remember how all this even started to be honest
I know Reverend Genius said putting Pleks on line 2 will bring us our Doom but I disagree with that until it happens. That being said, Babcock has made poor choices and is being outcoached this series. So far. And if we could recognize these flaws, we'd be better for it. As good as we are, there is obviously room for improvement.
However, tides will turn tonight and we'll get a groove on.

The officiating those first 2 games did not help. Not making excuses here, but wtf.

And Marchand and his kissing. Leo needs to start his #MeToo movment.

The officiating those first 2 games did not help. Not making excuses here, but wtf.

And Marchand and his kissing. Leo needs to start his #MeToo movment.
- mel_vin

OMG enough with the fake news....





That was a lick god damnit, not a kiss.

Who would you match up against Bergeron

serious question
- Santo_44

Kadri, ideally

But seriously I'm more mad at the fact that he put Komarov on the top line and PP. Pleks is sadly our best bet, but I don't think he'll fair any better than Marleau. Either one would need defensively adept wingers for support or they're screwed either way. I hope Marner is up to the task. Something like Hyman - Pleks - Brown would fair better, in my humblest of opinions.

I'm trying to remember how all this even started to be honest
I know Reverend Genius said putting Pleks on line 2 will bring us our Doom but I disagree with that until it happens. That being said, Babcock has made poor choices and is being outcoached this series. So far. And if we could recognize these flaws, we'd be better for it. As good as we are, there is obviously room for improvement.
However, tides will turn tonight and we'll get a groove on.
- UsernameUnknown

PROMOTION

- Drapz

There isn't one in my opinion. Everyone has sucked.


Edit: But I will emphasize the suckage brought upon us by Zaitsev, Hainsey and McElsen. The lackluster special teams and a couple poor coaching decisions. Everybody else not mentioned still don't get a free pass. The whole team has to step up.

What I'd like to know is what we'll all be talking about tomorrow morning if Plecs ends up +3 with a goal and and 2 assists tonight on way to beating the Bruins 3-0?
- Pen15

I think that would match his points total for the whole season

I dare you to find a single poster who says Babcock is a horrible coach.
You'll find a lot who think he has flaws, like literally every player and coach in the league.
- UsernameUnknown

It’s my belief that if Babs coached the Oilers this year they’d be playing now instead of watching. And the Leafs would be golfing.

Apparently he's being matched against Krejci so that leaves that Matthews line on Bergeron?

I don't know how I feel about that from a Leafs' perspective. Not necessarily on the defensive side alone, but because Matthews and Nylander will be lined up with Bergeron, Marchand, and Pasta (who has taken leaps an bounds in his 200ft game this year). My two cents
- RickJames77

Well he has history against Krejci so there is hope he can step up to the plate. Line matching only works so much it's still highly situational. All changes that don't happen on a face-off tend to expose lines, wingers go then the center.

There will be times where Plek likely sees Bergeron on a defensive zone face-off with the intent of a quick out then change on the fly. Babs is going to go all out with line shuffling tonight, due to desperation. A big risk is coverage breakdown due to it.

Kadri, ideally

But seriously I'm more mad at the fact that he put Komarov on the top line and PP. Pleks is sadly our best bet, but I don't think he'll fair any better than Marleau. Either one would need defensively adept wingers for support or they're screwed either way. I hope Marner is up to the task. Something like Hyman - Pleks - Brown would fair better, in my humblest of opinions.
- UsernameUnknown

I think the Bergeron line is too good just to have guys who can defend well and backcheck well, I think you need Marner to help keep the Bergeron line in their own end as much as you can.

It defeats the purpose if they are in our end all night

It’s my belief that if Babs coached the Oilers this year they’d be playing now instead of watching. And the Leafs would be golfing.
- shack67

I can respect your opnion but disagree. That's overemphasizing the importance of a coach. But I will meet you in the middle and say they'd both miss at roughly 9th in their conference. Leafs would be worse and Oilers, better.

Kadri, ideally

But seriously I'm more mad at the fact that he put Komarov on the top line and PP. Pleks is sadly our best bet, but I don't think he'll fair any better than Marleau. Either one would need defensively adept wingers for support or they're screwed either way. I hope Marner is up to the task. Something like Hyman - Pleks - Brown would fair better, in my humblest of opinions.
- UsernameUnknown

Yeah I don't get why Babcock thought Komarov on the PP again was going to be beneficial.

Pleks can show up but so can Matthews. If he wants to be considered a top guy in the game then he has to play against and beat the best.

He could be injured but he's useless out there if he is.

Kadri, ideally

But seriously I'm more mad at the fact that he put Komarov on the top line and PP. Pleks is sadly our best bet, but I don't think he'll fair any better than Marleau. Either one would need defensively adept wingers for support or they're screwed either way. I hope Marner is up to the task. Something like Hyman - Pleks - Brown would fair better, in my humblest of opinions.
- UsernameUnknown

I have NHL gamecenter and I'm on days off so I re-watched the first period for some sort of sick sadistic pleasure. I'd say likely 3/4 of all zone entries were dump and chase.

Is it fair to say that most of us thought the Komarov-Matthews-Nylander line came out firing in the first 5 minutes? Hyman will be back on the top line by far their best puck retrieval guy.

Brown hasn't played particularly bad, but he has been a little disappointing on retrieval. He looks small out there. Tenacious but small.

I think the Bergeron line is too good just to have guys who can defend well and backcheck well, I think you need Marner to help keep the Bergeron line in their own end as much as you can.

It defeats the purpose if they are in our end all night
- Santo_44

It's a good idea and if that's how Babs sees it, then I hope it works, and we'll find out tonight. I'd rather Marner get easier competition to produce more offensively, which we've also been severely lacking. It's a tough spot to be in.

Yeah I don't get why Babcock thought Komarov on the PP again was going to be beneficial.

Pleks can show up but so can Matthews. If he wants to be considered a top guy in the game then he has to play against and beat the best.

He could be injured but he's useless out there if he is.
- Aaron_85

He leads the team in shots through 2 games, not that corsi is be all end all but that doesn't qualify as useless.

Guess I'll put my new Leafs turtleneck on...

It's a good idea and if that's how Babs sees it, then I hope it works, and we'll find out tonight. I'd rather Marner get easier competition to produce more offensively, which we've also been severely lacking. It's a tough spot to be in.
- UsernameUnknown

I would've personally put Marner with JVR and Bozak.

Would've sicked Brown on the Bergeron line. He has more compete level.

What I'd like to know is what we'll all be talking about tomorrow morning if Plecs ends up +3 with a goal and and 2 assists tonight on way to beating the Bruins 3-0?
- Pen15

'bout time he showed up
see what happens when he plays with skilled players

blah blah blah

I have NHL gamecenter and I'm on days off so I re-watched the first period for some sort of sick sadistic pleasure. I'd say likely 3/4 of all zone entries were dump and chase.

Is it fair to say that most of us thought the Komarov-Matthews-Nylander line came out firing in the first 5 minutes? Hyman will be back on the top line by far their best puck retrieval guy.

Brown hasn't played particularly bad, but he has been a little disappointing on retrieval. He looks small out there. Tenacious but small.
- Blazed

It sucks Boston is so good at neutralizing us in the neutral zone. That was our most effective way to gain the zone throughout the season. Just skate it in with speed. We're a small team that isn't great at puck retrieval. If we do get it, we can cycle surprisingly well for our size Boston is a tough match
I would have liked the more exciting and open north/south game against Tampa, even if we lost that series too.

I've said it before.

This series will be a learning experience for Matthews.

Being stuck with Bergeron all the time will make him look for ways to counter him, to improve on himself.

Leafs might lose, but it might be beneficial for the player in the long run.

I can respect your opnion but disagree. That's overemphasizing the importance of a coach. But I will meet you in the middle and say they'd both miss at roughly 9th in their conference. Leafs would be worse and Oilers, better.
- UsernameUnknown

We went from 30th to 105 pts in two years. That’s on Babs, nobody saw that coming. A bunch of kids and nobody even close to being a number one D.
But we’re down two games to the Bruins and the pitchforks are out.

Sometimes I hate Leafs fans.

It sucks Boston is so good at neutralizing us in the neutral zone. That was our most effective way to gain the zone throughout the season. Just skate it in with speed. We're a small team that isn't great at puck retrieval. If we do get it, we can cycle surprisingly well for our size Boston is a tough match
I would have liked the more exciting and open north/south game against Tampa, even if we lost that series too.
- UsernameUnknown

Tampa would've been a better matchup. If it's Boston vs Tampa I still have my money on Boston.

I'm not sure the Leafs have pulled off a single successful stretch pass entry yet through 2 games, a big part of their success in the regular season.

I've said it before.

This series will be a learning experience for Matthews.

Being stuck with Bergeron all the time will make him look for ways to counter him, to improve on himself.

Leafs might lose, but it might be beneficial for the player in the long run.
- Scabeh

I agree. I'd also be giving Kap and Johansen (sp) more ice time. The experience is invaluable for the future.