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

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
- shack67

This is a very talented team. I feel Leaf fans underrate the talent on this team. Babcock is very lucky. Their are teams far less talented right with them in the standings.

Tampa is more talented than the Leafs and that's about it. Even teams like Winnipeg and Nashville that get credit for being far better. Look at them. Very flawed teams. Nashville is going nowhere with that set of forwards.

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

You're preaching to the choir here. It makes no sense to acquire a dman like muzzin and have everyone say how it's going to drive hainsey down and shelter him in the 3rd pair. And yet muzzin is being used 5th most since the trade and hainsey still number 2, but muzzin is performing like #2 and hainsey is #5. But keep playing them like they are #5 and #2.

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

I cringe when I see Hainsey still on the top pair with Reilly. Marleau with Matthews again where he's done (frank) all, all year. I'm the same age as these guys and I think it's just madness. I'm not comparing my fitness level but there's no world where 37 year old me could keep pace with even 30 year old me, let alone 21 year old me.

Babschlong is a better coach than I would be, but I gotta wonder if his decision and style are getting left behind. Remember, Mike Keenan was a good coach at one time too.

You're preaching to the choir here. It makes no sense to acquire a dman like muzzin and have everyone say how it's going to drive hainsey down and shelter him in the 3rd pair. And yet muzzin is being used 5th most since the trade and hainsey still number 2, but muzzin is performing like #2 and hainsey is #5. But keep playing them like they are #5 and #2.
- burn

I find it hard to believe Dubas isn't royally pissed-off at this right now. It's a joke.
How dead will Hainsey be once the playoffs come around? But by all means, let's keep worrying about Matthews getting tired at 18 minutes per game at age 21 and a 1.23 PPG average when his peers are getting 21+ minutes a game.

It's 2019, you win with high end talent. We have a ton and are not using them adequately.

And why should Dubas give up more young assets in another trade without knowing if the coach will properly use them?

This is a very talented team. I feel Leaf fans underrate the talent on this team. Babcock is very lucky. Their are teams far less talented right with them in the standings.

Tampa is more talented than the Leafs and that's about it. Even teams like Winnipeg and Nashville that get credit for being far better. Look at them. Very flawed teams. Nashville is going nowhere with that set of forwards.
- RogerRoeper

You say Tampa is more talented than the Leafs. And going into the weekend the only team ahead of us was Tampa. But Babs isn’t doing a good job in your eyes. I don’t get it.

You say Tampa is more talented than the Leafs. And going into the weekend the only team ahead of us was Tampa. But Babs isn’t doing a good job in your eyes. I don’t get it.
- shack67

We were barely 2nd overall. This team can do much better. I have never seen such a talented team not putting out their best roster every night.

No coach would have had Johnsson on the 4th line while he was one of the 5 on 5 point leaders since late November. What sense does that make?

https://cdn.theathletic.c...ohnsson-5-on-5-points.png

Look at that. It's crazy he was on the 4th line. Look at his TOi next to everyone else.

Johnsson, Nylander, Kapanen, need to be in the top 6.

Patrick Marleau is sooo bad this year.

Hyman and Marleau both played over 17 minutes last night. Just far too much TOI. This is a problem.

So much female doging about Nylander making 6.9 million, but no one cares the corpse of Marleau makes 6.3 million.

Marleau is REALLY bad. He has lost a big step since last year. He's a bottom 6 winger at best but the coach does not notice,

Oh and Babs played the 4th line a lot in the 3rd period when they were down 2-0. Can anyone justify this?
- RogerRoeper

Because the 4th line was effective compared to the crapfest the top 2 lines were delivering? Marner, Matthews, Marleau, Kapanen were all very poor yesterday. And while the Coyotes apply mild interference as a defensive strategy, the Leafs show an alarming lack of fight to push through it.

They'll be better, but last night the top 2 lines didn't earn any favors from the coach.

Because the 4th line was effective compared to the crapfest the top 2 lines were delivering? Marner, Matthews, Marleau, Kapanen were all very poor yesterday. And while the Coyotes apply mild interference as a defensive strategy, the Leafs show an alarming lack of fight to push through it.

They'll be better, but last night the top 2 lines didn't earn any favors from the coach.
- Monkeypunk

4th line was terrible last night. And 4th line plays every 3rd period when they are down a goal or 2.

We were barely 2nd overall. This team can do much better. I have never seen such a talented team not putting out their best roster every night.

No coach would have had Johnsson on the 4th line while he was one of the 5 on 5 point leaders since late November. What sense does that make?

https://cdn.theathletic.c...ohnsson-5-on-5-points.png

Look at that. It's crazy he was on the 4th line. Look at his TOi next to everyone else.
- RogerRoeper

I’ll admit that his coaching decisions are puzzling at times. But being second overall in mid February is no small thing.
Alot of Oilers fans thought MacLellan was the issue too, but I think they might be eating their words now.

the end is near?
1967
still 5...


holy poop guys

Because the 4th line was effective compared to the crapfest the top 2 lines were delivering? Marner, Matthews, Marleau, Kapanen were all very poor yesterday. And while the Coyotes apply mild interference as a defensive strategy, the Leafs show an alarming lack of fight to push through it.

They'll be better, but last night the top 2 lines didn't earn any favors from the coach.
- Monkeypunk

Just one of those games. Only in Toronto it’s cause for concern.

the end is near?
1967
still 5...


holy poop guys
- 21peter

After every loss, it's Babcock's fault.

Nary a word said about ice time after a victory. It's what fans do. Lightning fans are moaning about Giradi's ice time. Lightning fans. Complaining.

the end is near?
1967
still 5...


holy poop guys
- 21peter

We were barely 2nd overall. This team can do much better. I have never seen such a talented team not putting out their best roster every night.

No coach would have had Johnsson on the 4th line while he was one of the 5 on 5 point leaders since late November. What sense does that make?

https://cdn.theathletic.c...ohnsson-5-on-5-points.png

Look at that. It's crazy he was on the 4th line. Look at his TOi next to everyone else.

Johnsson, Nylander, Kapanen, need to be in the top 6.

Patrick Marleau is sooo bad this year.
- RogerRoeper

Perhaps, as a rookie, Johnsson is benefitting from being put in a position to succeed and working his way up the lineup. Perhaps he's doing so well with limited ice because he's getting favourable matchups, which is one of the advantages of Toronto's forward depth. You can play guys lower than they would play on weaker teams, and that allows them to do well.

Letting guys slowly ripen and work their way up is a development strategy going back to the Detroit model, and Lou talked about that as well. No doubt Johnsson will gradually get more ice if he continues to do well, but it's part of a process.

I’ll admit that his coaching decisions are puzzling at times. But being second overall in mid February is no small thing.
Alot of Oilers fans thought MacLellan was the issue too, but I think they might be eating their words now.
- shack67

Connor Brown, Borgman and a 2nd for Puljujärvi.

After every loss, it's Babcock's fault.

Nary a word said about ice time after a victory. It's what fans do. Lightning fans are moaning about Giradi's ice time. Lightning fans. Complaining.
- walshyleafsfan

I’m old but I’m walking with a spring in my step unlike anything that’s been seen in years. When I go to Timmies all my old Leafs fans buddies have the same spring in their step. It’s a wonderful world.

Then I come on here and some of you guys are trying to ruin all the fun. Not happening dammit.

You're preaching to the choir here. It makes no sense to acquire a dman like muzzin and have everyone say how it's going to drive hainsey down and shelter him in the 3rd pair. And yet muzzin is being used 5th most since the trade and hainsey still number 2, but muzzin is performing like #2 and hainsey is #5. But keep playing them like they are #5 and #2.
- burn

If I were to guess it’d be because it takes time for players to get used to his team.

By playoff time Muzzin will be used way more. I’d put money on it.

Kind of like how the Raptors are playing Gasol right now.

Perhaps, as a rookie, Johnsson is benefitting from being put in a position to succeed and working his way up the lineup. Perhaps he's doing so well with limited ice because he's getting favourable matchups, which is one of the advantages of Toronto's forward depth. You can play guys lower than they would play on weaker teams, and that allows them to do well.

Letting guys slowly ripen and work their way up is a development strategy going back to the Detroit model, and Lou talked about that as well. No doubt Johnsson will gradually get more ice if he continues to do well, but it's part of a process.
- Zezel

This.

I think Leaf fans have a serious problem with overanalyzing things.

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

Lindholm and the Goat are so (frank)ing bad with the puck

Both are good without it but they can’t generate
poop with it.

I’m old but I’m walking with a spring in my step unlike anything that’s been seen in years. When I go to Timmies all my old Leafs fans buddies have the same spring in their step. It’s a wonderful world.

Then I come on here and some of you guys are trying to ruin all the fun. Not happening dammit.
- shack67

Right on shacky. Go Leafs Go.

If I were to guess it’d be because it takes time for players to get used to his team.

By playoff time Muzzin will be used way more. I’d put money on it.

Kind of like how the Raptors are playing Gasol right now.
- Santo_44

I think Hainsey's ice time is also a reflection of he's TO's best RHD at the moment, at +26 the top + on the team, and Zaitsev is pure sh!t. Could you imagine how much softer this team would be playing if Zaitsev started getting an extra 5 minutes a game?

Right on shacky. Go Leafs Go.
- Zezel

If I were to guess it’d be because it takes time for players to get used to his team.

By playoff time Muzzin will be used way more. I’d put money on it.

Kind of like how the Raptors are playing Gasol right now.
- Santo_44

yeah, no reason why Muzzin should play less than the 21:32 he played for LA - probably closer to 23-24 come playoff time.

I think Haisey's ice time is also a reflection of he's TO's best RHD at the moment, at +26 the top + on the team, and Zaitsev is pure sh!t. Could you imagine how much softer this team would be playing if Zaitsev started getting an extra 5 minutes a game?
- winsix

Agree with this.

You have to look at both sides of the coin. Hainsey is the best option we have on the RS...and add in that Muzzin is a new add and will take time to get used to the system/team.

But agree on Z...he could fit somewhere else but he’s just so bad sometimes.

He relys on his partner way too much.