Wait until they get Glendening.
- AdamFrench

I know. That's why I don't want Glendening. Babs would love him and play him more than NYlander.
I have a sense, Dubas is aware of this. Babcock and management don't seem to be on the same page based on usage of players. Babs plays Zaitsev more than Muzzin, who Dubas gave up futures for. Meanwhile, Dubas desperately wants to trade Zaitsev.

Wait until they get Glendening.
- AdamFrench

Babs lives in a world where 4th line players who "Work Hard" are more valuable than elite talent.

I know. That's why I don't want Glendening. Babs would love him and play him more than NYlander.
I have a sense, Dubas is aware of this. Babcock and management don't seem to be on the same page based on usage of players. Babs plays Zaitsev more than Muzzin, who Dubas gave up futures for. Meanwhile, Dubas desperately wants to trade Zaitsev.
- RogerRoeper

To be fair though. Weird usage aside. I would much prefer Glendening as the 4th line defensive centre over Gauthier. Or, at the very least having a natural centre able to PK. I really don't like that the best PKers on the team are wingers and play together.

They couldn’t get a shot through, couldn’t make a pass, everything they tried bounced off a leg or a stick.
Just one of those nights. I don’t know what Babs could have done to change the outcome. Next game will be better.
- shack67

Bench the 4th line in the 3rd period like every other coach. This makes particular sense for the Leafs, given who their top 3 centres are.
And don't play guys who can't score like Hyman so much.

Those who are like "fire Babcock" are just nutso. But those that can't or won't admit that Babcock makes mistakes or poor choices sometimes are just as bad.

But then again some just like pushing buttons it's hard to tell what game they're playing sometimes
- burn

This team is loaded with talent. Can't blame the coach for that game, it was one of the worst efforts of the year. At some point when you look at 5 shots on goal in the 1st and a generous 22 at the end of the game against one of the worst teams in hockey and arguably a goalie that wouldn't make most AHL teams. You have to say grow a pair of balls and shoot the (frank)en puck.

To be fair though. Weird usage aside. I would much prefer Glendening as the 4th line defensive centre over Gauthier. Or, at the very least having a natural centre able to PK. I really don't like that the best PKers on the team are wingers and play together.
- AdamFrench

My concern is that will make Babs want to use the 4th line even more. He's using it too much as it is, given the talent on those 1st 3 lines.

Matthews is already barely playing 18 minutes a game, and that's the most he's ever played. Guy should be getting 2+ minutes more per game.

This team is loaded with talent. Can't blame the coach for that game, it was one of the worst efforts of the year. At some point when you look at 5 shots on goal in the 1st and a generous 22 at the end of the game against one of the worst teams in hockey and arguably a goalie that wouldn't make most AHL teams. You have to say grow a pair of balls and shoot the (frank)en puck.
- winsix

They looked like they were going to roll over them easily in the first couple mins, lots of some time. Looked like nothing went in and they check out.

Based on Matthews comments last night he would have liked to see some sort of adjustment. "They were smarter than us"

Bench the 4th line in the 3rd period like every other coach. This makes particular sense for the Leafs, given who their top 3 centres are.
And don't play guys who can't score like Hyman so much.
- RogerRoeper

To me the top three lines looked fatigued. I don’t think playing them more would help. Hyman plays on the top line so his minutes reflect that.

To be fair though. Weird usage aside. I would much prefer Glendening as the 4th line defensive centre over Gauthier. Or, at the very least having a natural centre able to PK. I really don't like that the best PKers on the team are wingers and play together.
- AdamFrench

I agree with your post, but would add, that the pass first mentality on the team hurts the offense sometimes. Nylander had a clear shot from the low slot and passed it into the jungle in front of the net to produce a turnover. Need more shots less fancy passes.

They looked like they were going to roll over them easily in the first couple mins, lots of some time. Looked like nothing went in and they check out.

Based on Matthews comments last night he would have liked to see some sort of adjustment. "They were smarter than us"
- burn

No need to wait for the perfect opportunity to shoot sometimes. The only goal (disallowed) the Leafs scored was butt ugly. Putting a little dribbler into traffic in front of the net is preferable to passing until you turn it over. Coyotes were clutching an grabbing all night - put it in the kitchen and shovel it home for (frank) sakes.

They played like they had a hangover! So be it! You're not going to win every freaking game, and sometimes you're gonna lose against teams that have a worse record. They're like 7-2-1 or something in last 10 games. I swear if the Leafs went 81-1 on the season all people would do was female dog about the one game they lost! There's still 24 games to go, 48 potential points....and guess what, we're going to lose some of those games too!
And really, who gets pumped up for Hockey Night In Arizona anyway!

To me the top three lines looked fatigued. I don’t think playing them more would help. Hyman plays on the top line so his minutes reflect that.
- shack67

The marner/Tavares line has looked like a shell of itself for a couple games.

I thought the kadri/nylander line was the best last night

No need to wait for the perfect opportunity to shoot sometimes. The only goal (disallowed) the Leafs scored was butt ugly. Putting a little dribbler into traffic in front of the net is preferable to passing until you turn it over. Coyotes were clutching an grabbing all night - put it in the kitchen and shovel it home for (frank) sakes.
- winsix

Ageed. Lots of blocked shots

My concern is that will make Babs want to use the 4th line even more. He's using it too much as it is, given the talent on those 1st 3 lines.

Matthews is already barely playing 18 minutes a game, and that's the most he's ever played. Guy should be getting 2+ minutes more per game.
- RogerRoeper

Not sure if increasing Matthews ice time would have changed the result. When Par Lindohlm (1 goal in 58 games) has as many shots on goal as Tavares + Marleau + Kapanen - there is a bigger issue than icetime for star players. Note lead hands Par saw no time on the power play those other three saw plenty.

To me the top three lines looked fatigued. I don’t think playing them more would help. Hyman plays on the top line so his minutes reflect that.
- shack67

The Leafs top 3 lines are not playing more than any other team. Less in some cases.
You're really satisfied with Matthews playing barely above 18 minutes? How about one of the top 5 on 5 scorers in the entire NHL stuck on the 4th line (Until he was injured)We're giving the opposition an advantage. I don't find they look tired at all. They look rather lazy and disinterested against bad teams. They looked full of energy against Vegas.
My point is Hyman is not good enough to be a top 6 winger on this team.

The Leafs top 3 lines are not playing more than any other team. Less in some cases.
You're really satisfied with Matthews playing barely above 18 minutes? We're giving the opposition an advantage. I don't find they look tired at all. They look rather lazy and disinterested against bad teams.
My point is Hyman is not good enough to be a top 6 winger on this team.
- RogerRoeper

There is no way they should be tired. They're young (most of them lol) and they aren't being over worked game in and game out. The idea, as I understand it, behind the usage and TOI is to limit the amount of wear and tear on the stars. So if they are being underutalized and are still tired then we have a problem

There is no way they should be tired. They're young (most of them lol) and they aren't being over worked game in and game out. The idea, as I understand it, behind the usage and TOI is to limit the amount of wear and tear on the stars. So if they are being underutalized and are still tired then we have a problem
- burn

The issue is, Babcock is not consistent with that message. He plays 37 year-old Hainsey and 39 year-old Marleau into the ground. He also played Andersen far too much last season when they were completely locked into 3rd place. Andersen's play starting in late March really slipped.

He seems more concerned about tiring-out a 21 year-old than a 39 year-old.

I have concerns if the opposition plays their top lines 25% more, we are giving them an advantage (Like what will occur against Boston with their 1st line, did those 3 look tired in the playoffs?)).

Leafs won't manage to do any real damage in the playoffs until Jake is gone. Yet another goal given away by him last night. Until it's not accepted by the fans and management, Gardiner will continue to hold this team back.

Leafs won't manage to do any real damage in the playoffs until Jake is gone. Yet another goal given away by him last night. Until it's not accepted by the fans and management, Gardiner will continue to hold this team back.
- walshyleafsfan

If it comes down to 1 single player they are all screwed.
Gardiner's been solid in the playoffs aside from game 7 last year.

Zaitsev is a far bigger concern than Gardiner. especially given his contract.

If it comes down to 1 single player they are all screwed.
Gardiner's been solid in the playoffs aside from game 7 last year.
- RogerRoeper

Jake's been horrendous in playoff elimination games. Can't remember exact numbers, but something like being on the ice for 10 of the 14 goals conceded.

Just Jake being Jake. Accepted by way too many

The issue is, Babcock is not consistent with that message. He plays 37 year-old Hainsey and 39 year-old Marleau into the ground. He also played Andersen far too much last season when they were completely locked into 3rd place. Andersen's play starting in late March really slipped.

He seems more concerned about tiring-out a 21 year-old than a 39 year-old.

I have concerns if the opposition plays their top lines 25% more, we are giving them a disadvantage (Like what will occur against Boston with their 1st line, did those 3 look tired in the playoffs?)).
- RogerRoeper

Didn't everybody get UG banned for saying this?

Man the Leafs have loads of fans everywhere ...on the flight over from OC it was basically a Leafs party plane.

Leafs were coming off smoking Vegas and Yotes were sky high for this game. Bound to be a letdown. Plus Hammer / OEL / Goligosk are really good D men. Can’t believe Hawks traded Hammer, so dumb.
And Yotes have a lot of young forwards who can really skate.

They’ll probably blast the Blues ...

The Leafs top 3 lines are not playing more than any other team. Less in some cases.
You're really satisfied with Matthews playing barely above 18 minutes? How about one of the top 5 on 5 scorers in the entire NHL stuck on the 4th line (Until he was injured)We're giving the opposition an advantage. I don't find they look tired at all. They look rather lazy and disinterested against bad teams.
My point is Hyman is not good enough to be a top 6 winger on this team.
- RogerRoeper

On a road trip like the one they’re currently on fatigue is a factor. Or the Vegas flu kicks in.
Going into last night I think they were second overall in the standings so it amazes me how you can complain so much about the coach. Very UG like

Didn't everybody get UG banned for saying this?
- AdamFrench

I think it was the 500+ idiotic other comments