So, no more Wash.

Tor. V Bos. Really was the ECF... ughh

This clickbait narrative is way overblown.

Babs overplays his veterans, dinosaur.

Barry Trotz plays Matt Martin at 5v5 as much as Matt Barzal, savant, visionary, legend.

Babcock loses a hard fought 7 game chess match against a veteran team that finished finished higher in the standing, fireable offense.

Jon Cooper gets swept by a WC after dominating the season, meh poop happens.
- Blazed

Care to explain the ‘Canes win tonight then?

They most definitely did not roll 4 lines and they went into double OT.

Seemed to work out fine there 🤷🏽‍♂️

Care to explain the ‘Canes win tonight then?

They most definitely did not roll 4 lines and they went into double OT.

Seemed to work out fine there 🤷🏽‍♂️
- Johnnytoronto

What's your point? Why do I have to explain that?

Babs coaches like Trotz, Trotz is loved Babs is vilified.

What's your point? Why do I have to explain that?

Babs coaches like Trotz, Trotz is loved Babs is vilified.
- Blazed

Trotz won a Cup last year.

Then he left, went to a new team and took an otherwise garbage team to the playoffs and won a series and will probably win the Jack Adams.

Babcock hasn't won jack poop in the NHL in over 10 years.

Results matter.

Trotz won a Cup last year.

Then he left, went to a new team and took an otherwise garbage team to the playoffs and won a series and will probably win the Jack Adams.

Babcock hasn't won jack poop in the NHL in over 10 years.

Results matter.
- JohnFergusonJr

k fair enough, see exhibit Jon Cooper.

Trotz won a Cup last year.

Then he left, went to a new team and took an otherwise garbage team to the playoffs and won a series and will probably win the Jack Adams.

Babcock hasn't won jack poop in the NHL in over 10 years.

Results matter.
- JohnFergusonJr

So is overplaying grinders/depth players and/veterans only acceptable when it works?

What's your point? Why do I have to explain that?

Babs coaches like Trotz, Trotz is loved Babs is vilified.
- Blazed

There must be something about Trotz that makes his players play better for him.

Guys don’t like confusion and stubbornness. That is what you get with Babcock.

There must be something about Trotz that makes his players play better for him.

Guys don’t like confusion and stubbornness. That is what you get with Babcock.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Or you just made that up and can't back that up with a credible source.

k fair enough, see exhibit Jon Cooper.
- Blazed

Pretty sure he's at least won a series and gone deep into the playoffs to buy himself some slack. Finals once, Conference Finals twice in the past 5 years.

And yes, the Lightning choked this year, maybe the biggest of all time but so did Washington two years ago when they finished 1st overall and followed it up with a Cup.

Babcock is living on a reputation at this point. He's got no real recent success.

That being said, there isn't a better replacement out there at the moment so the best course of action is probably to fire his assistants and see if that makes a big enough difference going forward.

So is overplaying grinders/depth players and/veterans only acceptable when it works?
- Blazed

Well, in short, yes. Why? Because it worked! What Babcock was doing, wasn't working but he kept doing it. People want results.

Pretty sure he's at least won a series and gone deep into the playoffs to buy himself some slack.

And yes, the Lightning choked this year, maybe the biggest of all time but so did Washington two years ago when they finished 1st overall and followed it up with a Cup.

Babcock is living on a reputation at this point. He's got no real recent success.

That being said, there isn't a better replacement out there at the moment so the best course of action is probably to fire his assistants and see if that makes a big enough difference going forward.
- JohnFergusonJr

Funny there was a time making the playoffs seemed impossible. Trotz himself was very complimentary of the excellent work Lou and Babs had done completely turning around the hockey program in Toronto.

Before I get the well duh Matthews retort, please review the career of Leon McDavid.

Funny there was a time making the playoffs seemed impossible. Trotz himself was very complimentary of the excellent work Lou and Babs had done completely turning around the hockey program in Toronto.

Before I get the well duh Matthews retort, please review the career of Leon McDavid.
- Blazed

Seemed impossible because the Leafs had a lot of garbage players.

And yeah, duh, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Andersen and Tavares made big differences in their own ways. Even McDavid blasted the Oilers past the 1st round one year on that otherwise horrible team.

Nobody is going to say Babcock is the worst coach in the league. Far from it. But is he the best? Probably not anymore. Probably average now. Probably not the guy who will be behind the bench if and when this team finally makes some playoff progress.

Well, in short, yes. Why? Because it worked! What Babcock was doing, wasn't working but he kept doing it. People want results.
- JohnFergusonJr

They won 3 games, there is no absolution in strategies only probabilities.

They came out flying in game 7, outshooting Boston early, getting more O-zone time, found a nice matchup for the fourth line and got the Tavares line away from Bergeron a bit.

But alas he coached Freddy to let them in from the icing line.

Or you just made that up and can't back that up with a credible source.
- Blazed

Won’t. I won’t engage in such tomfoolery..

Won’t. I won’t engage in such tomfoolery..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Why? I'm your huckleberry.

They won 3 games, there is no absolution in strategies only probabilities.

They came out flying in game 7, outshooting Boston early, getting more O-zone time, found a nice matchup for the fourth line and got the Tavares line away from Bergeron a bit.

But alas he coached Freddy to let them in from the icing line.
- Blazed

Where was that effort in Game 6? Or Game 4? They had a chance to take a 3-1 lead and then another chance to end the series at home. The special teams failed them.

Where was that effort in Game 6? Or Game 4? They had a chance to take a 3-1 lead and then another chance to end the series at home. The special teams failed them.
- JohnFergusonJr

I thought they came out strong in game 6 as well, but yes that was the biggest blown opportunity of all.

There is criticisms to be had for sure, and this is a hockey forum so take my snark with a grain of salt.

However, I chose to believe Dubas is level headed enough to make small adjustments at this time. Knee-jerk reactions rarely end well.

I couldn't think of a more Leafy thing than the will of the fans being listened to, Babs fired. O'Keefe crumples under the immense Toronto pressure and becomes Eakins 2.0. GLG!! We eat our own.

Why? I'm your huckleberry.
- Blazed

I apologize for missing the reference.

But I’ve had huckleberry jam, once. It was dece..

I apologize for missing the reference.

But I’ve had huckleberry jam, once. It was dece..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I don't understand the gif posting, so I guess you'll remain in blissful ignorance.

I thought they came out strong in game 6 as well, but yes that was the biggest blown opportunity of all.

There is criticisms to be had for sure, and this is a hockey forum so take my snark with a grain of salt.

However, I chose to believe Dubas is level headed enough to make small adjustments at this time. Knee-jerk reactions rarely end well.

I couldn't think of a more Leafy thing than the will of the fans being listened to, Babs fired. O'Keefe crumples under the immense Toronto pressure and becomes Eakins 2.0. GLG!! We eat our own.
- Blazed

Like I said, fire the assistants and see if that makes a difference because there's nobody else available that is better.

That being said, in the past 10 years, a lot of teams that won the Cup, fired their coach before they won it, sometimes mid-season. The coach that builds up the team, rarely is the guy who finishes the job. Same with the GM. So while Babcock serves his purpose, his time left might be rightfully limited, as with all coaches.

I don't understand the gif posting, so I guess you'll remain in blissful ignorance.
- Blazed

Am I a gif poster??

Not gonna lie, when you said I made stuff up I looked for the *Babcock shrugging shoulders* GIF

7 out of the top 10 teams are gone.

That's kind of gross.

The NBA has a joke of a 1st round but this is almost the opposite of it.

The playoff format doesn't help that either.

Wouldn't surprise me if Boston won it this year at this rate. Or the upset train continues and (frank)ing Colorado wins it all.
- JohnFergusonJr

Canes and Caps were separated by 5 points. Had the same number of ROW wins.

Like I said, fire the assistants and see if that makes a difference because there's nobody else available that is better.

That being said, in the past 10 years, a lot of teams that won the Cup, fired their coach before they won it, sometimes mid-season. The coach that builds up the team, rarely is the guy who finishes the job. Same with the GM. So while Babcock serves his purpose, his time left might be rightfully limited, as with all coaches.
- JohnFergusonJr

I understand your point and there is some truth. I can see the furor this can potentially lead to so I'm not so sure myself even more but I would love to see Babcock finish out his contract. It would be such a nice change from the previous history.

Ill take any bet that Babcock is around next season. Should the season be an utmost failure then I really dont know what happens next. 5-6 years out of 8 would be a reasonable tenure to expect results imo.

Am I a gif poster??

Not gonna lie, when you said I made stuff up I looked for the *Babcock shrugging shoulders* GIF
- Arctic_AARDVARK

No I meant I would smack you around with a gif or two but I'm impotent.

Canes and Caps were separated by 5 points. Had the same number of ROW wins.
- BINGO!

Just get in baby. Congrats.