The high road is a lonely road, just you and Marwood.
- hillbillydeluxe

LOL. I feel like Alex Burrows: "I don't think I said anything bad!"

LOL. I feel like Alex Burrows: "I don't think I said anything bad!"
- Carol Schram

LOL!!!!!!

The Babcock thing was just an offhand mention of a story that got quite a bit of play a week or two ago; a sidebar to the discussion about the dip in scoring and size of goalie equipment. I didn't think it was a big deal, just a snippet of snark.

Fair warning: since the Canucks will be in Hogtown this weekend, I do plan to talk more about the Leafs over the next couple of days as I set up and review the game, like I do with every Vancouver opponent.
- Carol Schram

LOL. I feel like Alex Burrows: "I don't think I said anything bad!"
- Carol Schram

It was more trocking than anything. Just honestly for the life of me, don't get this Toronto thing you guys and your blogger do. Ole Carol trying to say Mike Babcock was the first person to suggest bigger nets. Like wtf? Surely some level of research is required as a blogger? (Sans Esplen, Cloutier, Garf).

I don't get the obsession. You guys used to be good. The leafs not so much. Help me understand man.
- walshyleafsfan

You see, it's like this man. Why on earth would anyone choose to be a Leaf fan, right, well most sane people wouldn't, you're (not necessarily you) a fan because that's what you were born into.

Most of us are the same here on the coast, I don't know why I hate the Leafs, I just do, I was born into it. So you see, we're really in the same boat brother....it's not you, it's the team/organization. My dad taught me to hate them.

LOL. I feel like Alex Burrows: "I don't think I said anything bad!"
- Carol Schram

You see, it's like this man. Why on earth would anyone choose to be a Leaf fan, right, well most sane people wouldn't, you're (not necessarily you) a fan because that's what you were born into.

Most of us are the same here on the coast, I don't know why I hate the Leafs, I just do, I was born into it. So you see, we're really in the same boat brother....it's not you, it's the team/organization. My dad taught me to hate them.
- LeftCoaster

Plus everyone I ever met from Toronto was a major d!ck.

You see, it's like this man. Why on earth would anyone choose to be a Leaf fan, right, well most sane people wouldn't, you're (not necessarily you) a fan because that's what you were born into.

Most of us are the same here on the coast, I don't know why I hate the Leafs, I just do, I was born into it. So you see, we're really in the same boat brother....it's not you, it's the team/organization. My dad taught me to hate them.
- LeftCoaster

I am not sure if hate is something your born into, or that its bred.

Its like that song on the radio that you hear a few times and you think 'hey its not terrible' until you hear it like 43857 times per day and now the song and its singer is your mortal enemy for life.

(personally I dont feel as affected by the Toronto biased or the biased against Toronto bias, but thats how i see it)

You see, it's like this man. Why on earth would anyone choose to be a Leaf fan, right, well most sane people wouldn't, you're (not necessarily you) a fan because that's what you were born into.

Most of us are the same here on the coast, I don't know why I hate the Leafs, I just do, I was born into it. So you see, we're really in the same boat brother....it's not you, it's the team/organization. My dad taught me to hate them.
- LeftCoaster

Right on, man!!

I am not sure if hate is something your born into, or that its bred.

Its like that song on the radio that you hear a few times and you think 'hey its not terrible' until you hear it like 43857 times per day and now the song and its singer is your mortal enemy for life.

(personally I dont feel as affected by the Toronto biased or the biased against Toronto bias, but thats how i see it)
- WhiteLie

It's not genetic, it's a learned behaviour from a young age is what I saying. As a kid during the 70's we wanted to watch our team, but no, back then there was one game on tv, Leafs or Canadiens.

Flames vs Lightning?
WTF???

where is the game?

This isn't the first time we have heard people in the NHL say to make the nets bigger and I have no idea if this is the first time Babcock has said it.

I do think that Babcock is a very smart hockey person regardless of the fact he is coaching the Leafs now. Had this been Babcock saying this when with the wings would the comment be as easy to dismiss as sour grapes?

I think that bigger nets should be seen as an option, the reality is that goalies have gotten bigger as well as the their equipment to a large degree. Doesn't it make sense that the nets should be bigger as well ?

Goalies and the PA will fight smaller equipment or even standardized equipment and it might be easier to increase the size marginally. Will it be a shame to change something that has been the same for so long ?

Yes, but this is the reality of the evaluation of sport.
- belcherbd

Wasn't going to respond to this but now with walshy here, I'll give it a go.

1.)You are absolutely correct, this isn't the first time this subject has been raised, it's been bantered about for a few years now. Is this the first Babcock has broached the subject, I also have no idea, but if he was still in Detroit there's a pretty good chance the MSM would have referenced his comment.

2.) Babcock is a very smart hockey man, but his comment would still be viewed as (in a lot of peoples mind) ill conceived.

3.) You've taken one component of the game and seem to be advocating for change based solely on larger goalies with bigger equipment. So no, it doesn't necessarily make sense to change the size of the nets.

4.) If the league is serious about increasing goal production there is a multitude of scenarios to explore, several have already been posted...larger ice surface(i could care less whether billionaires lose a few thousand in seat revenue), smaller equipment, getting rid of the trapezoid, ice surface the same less players on the ice, yes exploring increasing the net size, I'm sure there are several more to be added.

Babcock is a good coach, but to me that was a knee jerk comment to take the focus away from one of the worst teams in the league. Do you really think Toronto is going to become relevant because they score an extra goal, Reimer or Bernier will let in 2
extra.

All else fails let's start putting restrictions on player size...no one over 6 feet, no goalies over 5'10"....yes I'm being facetious, but so is making knee jerk reactions. Do a proper analysis and determine whats best for the game, and not react to the most over priced coach in the league

Wasn't going to respond to this but now with walshy here, I'll give it a go.

1.)You are absolutely correct, this isn't the first time this subject has been raised, it's been bantered about for a few years now. Is this the first Babcock has broached the subject, I also have no idea, but if he was still in Detroit there's a pretty good chance the MSM would have referenced his comment.

2.) Babcock is a very smart hockey man, but his comment would still be viewed as (in a lot of peoples mind) ill conceived.

3.) You've taken one component of the game and seem to be advocating for change based solely on larger goalies with bigger equipment. So no, it doesn't necessarily make sense to change the size of the nets.

4.) If the league is serious about increasing goal production there is a multitude of scenarios to explore, several have already been posted...larger ice surface(i could care less whether billionaires lose a few thousand in seat revenue), smaller equipment, getting rid of the trapezoid, ice surface the same less players on the ice, yes exploring increasing the net size, I'm sure there are several more to be added.

Babcock is a good coach, but to me that was a knee jerk comment to take the focus away from one of the worst teams in the league. Do you really think Toronto is going to become relevant because they score an extra goal, Reimer or Bernier will let in 2
extra.

All else fails let's start putting restrictions on player size...no one over 6 feet, no goalies over 5'10"....yes I'm being facetious, but so is making knee jerk reactions. Do a proper analysis and determine whats best for the game, and not react to the most over priced coach in the league
- Makita

Flagged for obvious reasons.

where is the game?
- A_SteamingLombardi

SN Vancouver - I have to watch it in French, (frank)ing Rogers

Flagged for obvious reasons.
- Marwood

I'll head back to my hole now...crushed...

Friggin dumb and dumber put themselves off-side

I'll head back to my hole now...crushed...
- Makita

The Flyers thread is popular with those who feel sorry for themselves.

The Flyers thread is popular with those who feel sorry for themselves.
- Marwood

Wow I haven't seen our PK struggle this much in long time.

Cracknell's looking like a straight up liability tonight, hopefully WD shows him the far end of the bench

Man, Higgins shouldn't be swinging his stick like that, but that was no where near his face.

The Flyers thread is popular with those who feel sorry for themselves.
- Marwood

I'll head back to my hole now...crushed...
- Makita

3 Quick Things.

1. I think Babcock was just baptized into the Toronto media storm. It was not an intended comment to throw heat of his ice cold team... he is not THAT magical. Instead, it was a brief comment that Toronto media took to the Gospel According To Babcock. But I do think it is hilarious that NOW he thinks nets should be bigger since he is no longer in Detroit.

2. Toronto "hate" is too strong a word. Honestly... we do not care about you. Yet for decades we have been overexposed to you. Yes, it started in the 70s when there was only two teams to root for but as everyone else grew... Toronto Media became smaller yet louder. I will say that people get pissed off when our games in our building against you start at 4. That's just unfair and you seem to be very happy with it.

The more I think about it, the Leafs are now the equivalent of Donald Trump... superficial, simple, annoying, selfish and overexposed.

Get over yourselves.

3.I wish this Frank Corrado robbery got more media traction.

FM - trade Hamhuis that POS