YOU PEOPLE!!! YOU COME HERE!! YOU LOVE OUR WAY OF LIFE, YOU LOVE OUR MILK AND HONEY! YOU MARRY OUR WOMEN AND CHANGE OUR SPORTS!

Good to hear, Lumsy!
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I think it was you changing our sport by putting it on ice...

And

- daeth

23Million reasons to head up to the cottage, relax and watch the world unfold.

It will never happen ... but he would be hilarious for a short period of time on whatever panel discussion they replace CoachesCorner with
- BorjeFan4Ever

If NSH keeps going on the pace they are going they are a team I see Babs doing well with.

Veteran team.

Strong D and meh group of forwards.

Babs dream scenario.

I believe MacKenzie said yesterday that Babcock didn't have a front loaded contract... and that he was beign paid a linear 6M/year. Which will continue.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Well there's 3.7 years left, so that comes out to about 23 mill.

You are right maybe for regular season games - but Babcock has said 1000+ times it's all about process and long-term with him.
(he did get 95/96, 105 and 100 points last three seasons - that's not bad at all).

Most of the top young guys just didn't get it.
Or didn't want to get it.
I don't think that's a good situation - you have to have guys want to be open to work with the coach and not just think they're right always.

And by the way - the whole Spezza thing is so stupid; Spezza had indicated he was aware of his role with Leafs (100%!) and Babcock basically rewarded Timashov and Gauthier for playing well in the preseason - he went with the younger guys that deserved it.
That's not a bad thing in my opinion - every player on the team has to earn his playing time.
- MaximusAurelius

I'd start by noting that I believed that Babcock was about the process as well.

That said, his playoff record in the last decade is 32-42, or .432 winning percentage. From a series perspective, that's 3-9. So is the process working?

His record with the Leafs since January 1 is 29-37 (29-27-10) which is playing at an 85 point pace.

The roster construction could be fatally flawed as some speculate, but whether it is or isn't, Babcock never made any attempt to remedy the flaws by altering his strategies to utilize the strengths.

That's really the underlying part of this Dubas / Babcock conversation. Kyle Dubas has a vision - right or wrong, he has a vision, and he wants his coach to buy in and execute it, and he's the boss. Babcock didn't buy in and wouldn't execute it.

It's time for someone else to try.

- Arctic_AARDVARK

#MeToo

I think it was you changing our sport by putting it on ice...

And
- lumlums

Lol..

Canadians would never accept that. Our sport didn’t evolve out of a bunch of preppy brits prancing around after a ball on a field with goofy socks on.

We evolved from the violent native North American pastime murderstick Lacrosse. Where lumber jacks fashioned skates out of worn-out axes, and fired around a frozen lake trout with a stick made of maple.

I doubt teams will be lining up to give up a top2 RHD d-man for Nylander ++ though.
- MaximusAurelius

well... if he played as well as some in here believe... and he continues to do so...

that would make Mr Dubas' job a little easier.

that time where this becomes perhaps ideal is not too far off... teams that are looking for a kickstart (e.g. Calgary) or an infusion of offensive creativity (Columbus, LA) or a club looking to add what they consider high end talent at a reasonable price(Montreal, Vancouver, Carolina, Dallas) might be willing to bite...

need the club to finish November with a flurry to create the belief they can get back into a playoff spot, need Marner to return and get back going before mid-January...

if that happens... can Dubas sit on his hands... or does he have an obligation to give the team and Keefe a "bump" for the run up to the playoffs?

#MeToo
- AdamFrench

Right?

I’m surprised Warner Bros hasn’t been sued for inciting sexual assaults.

I'd start by noting that I believed that Babcock was about the process as well.

That said, his playoff record in the last decade is 32-42, or .432 winning percentage. From a series perspective, that's 3-9. So is the process working?

His record with the Leafs since January 1 is 29-37 (29-27-10) which is playing at an 85 point pace.

The roster construction could be fatally flawed as some speculate, but whether it is or isn't, Babcock never made any attempt to remedy the flaws by altering his strategies to utilize the strengths.

That's really the underlying part of this Dubas / Babcock conversation. Kyle Dubas has a vision - right or wrong, he has a vision, and he wants his coach to buy in and execute it, and he's the boss. Babcock didn't buy in and wouldn't execute it.

It's time for someone else to try.
- Monkeypunk

Sure.
My point still remains that Dubas did nothing to help his coach (backup goalie, a RHD, physical wingers).

Those 3 glaring issues remail - with to some extent Babcock having solved a bith the third issue by making sure Mikheyev would join the Leafs.

by the way - remember the comment after the last playoffs when Babcock was speaking about 'two big (Russian?) wingers joining the team next season?
He was referring to Mikheyev - maybe the other one was Korshkov?

If NSH keeps going on the pace they are going they are a team I see Babs doing well with.

Veteran team.

Strong D and meh group of forwards.

Babs dream scenario.
- Santo_44

perfect for Babs... perfect destination for Willy

Colorado, Detroit, Buffalo Buffalo

Good time to pick up 3 of 4 or even 4 in a row if they can beat Colorado this weekend.
- Santo_44

Go Leafs!!!

This one should be interesting, we got Barrie and Kerfoot with something to prove, and Kadri Im sure will be a pest right back.

Lets hope they get a little momentum going here, on the road, new coach and with first win udner his belt...I saw that Mitchy even went on the trip with them, and he seems fun to be around.

I'd start by noting that I believed that Babcock was about the process as well.

That said, his playoff record in the last decade is 32-42, or .432 winning percentage. From a series perspective, that's 3-9. So is the process working?

His record with the Leafs since January 1 is 29-37 (29-27-10) which is playing at an 85 point pace.

The roster construction could be fatally flawed as some speculate, but whether it is or isn't, Babcock never made any attempt to remedy the flaws by altering his strategies to utilize the strengths.

That's really the underlying part of this Dubas / Babcock conversation. Kyle Dubas has a vision - right or wrong, he has a vision, and he wants his coach to buy in and execute it, and he's the boss. Babcock didn't buy in and wouldn't execute it.

It's time for someone else to try.
- Monkeypunk

the comment from Dubas is pretty strong

Dubas told @OverDrive1050 that people may doubt #Leafs choices now, but, "if we hide from [change] and we never put ourselves out there, we'll never find out whether it can be truly successful or not. I have full belief it will be; I'm willing to bet my job and my career on it."

You can disagree and it might not work, but he is pretty confident his plan is going to work.

Agree.
But we then have to assume that teams can win games, and more particularly playoff series - with some players not playing team defense?
I don't think Babcock ever wanted Nylander to become a defense-first guy - but at least get him to a minimum level..
And I still think Matthews could be a great 2 way player - but so far he is 100% offense and not willing to actually play defense..
- MaximusAurelius

I think Matthews can be as well. I don't think he is 100% offense - but I think he is more Joe Sakic than Patrice Bergeron. I think he would rather be more Sakic than Bergeron, and I think his skills lend him into that category - which means he is far more offensive but has the talent to be a decent back checker as well.

But you're not wrong, I don't think, because I believe that he has the hands to be as effective as Stone at taking pucks away from people - but he needs the will.

Look, yesterday's game was very encouraging, but I know we need a much larger sample size. Leading into that game, though, in the past 10-15 days, Matthews has probably been the most active Leaf forward in the D-zone. If the team can implement a more collective defense by policy approach, then we should see better team D and we should see more from Matthews by virtue of his natural skills.

perfect for Babs... perfect destination for Willy
- BorjeFan4Ever

Dubas wouldn't do that to Willy

Wherever Babs goes Dubas will set up a no trade zone there. Sign of respect

simply by making that coaching change my optimism and excitement level did a 180

I had no intentions of watching the game last night, but once Babs was canned and Keefe put in place, i wasnt missing it. as each game went on I just felt worse and worse about watching the team.

And its all about Babs and his stuborness, I just felt nothing would change.

Now I cant wait for the next game, and we invited friends over to watch.

Go Leafs!!!

This one should be interesting, we got Barrie and Kerfoot with something to prove, and Kadri Im sure will be a pest right back.

Lets hope they get a little momentum going here, on the road, new coach and with first win udner his belt...I saw that Mitchy even went on the trip with them, and he seems fun to be around.


- mel_vin

Big opportunity here. They face Philly after Buffalo....This is a 5 game stretch where they don't face any elite teams. Pick up some wins here.

simply by making that coaching change my optimism and excitement level did a 180

I had no intentions of watching the game last night, but once Babs was canned and Keefe put in place, i wasnt missing it. as each game went on I just felt worse and worse about watching the team.

And its all about Babs and his stuborness, I just felt nothing would change.

Now I cant wait for the next game, and we invited friends over to watch.
- senstroll

They Leafs were cheering and laughing in the dressing room during and after the game.

Let these guys have some fun....results will show.

Lol..

Canadians would never accept that. Our sport didn’t evolve out of a bunch of preppy brits prancing around after a ball on a field with goofy socks on.

We evolved from the violent native North American pastime murderstick Lacrosse. Where lumber jacks fashioned skates out of worn-out axes, and fired around a frozen lake trout with a stick made of maple.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

the comment from Dubas is pretty strong



You can disagree and it might not work, but he is pretty confident his plan is going to work.
- senstroll

I do believe in it. At the very least, I believe that it should be tried. They have implemented it with successful results in the OHL and AHL. If it doesn't work, what it will do is emphasize the skill and hopefully associated value with some of the pieces on the team that we can use to trade for pieces we feel are a more required fit.

It also has the potential to attract like-minded players to the team.

I don't think Babcock was a bad coach at all. He is a good traditional coach. Traditions exist usually because they are reliable. In a league full of parity, non-traditional may give them an edge.

I do believe in it. At the very least, I believe that it should be tried. They have implemented it with successful results in the OHL and AHL. If it doesn't work, what it will do is emphasize the skill and hopefully associated value with some of the pieces on the team that we can use to trade for pieces we feel are a more required fit.

It also has the potential to attract like-minded players to the team.

I don't think Babcock was a bad coach at all. He is a good traditional coach. Traditions exist usually because they are reliable. In a league full of parity, non-traditional may give them an edge.
- Monkeypunk

that sounds all well, but let's see 30th of November vs Buffalo when normally Leafs' backup should start the game.
0 points by a backup goalie so far - that's not going to get you into playoffs.

Anyone who has issues with hyman hasnt been paying attention to how he has progressed. He even looks good offensively now. And on this, and only this im with max. Hes a better all round player than nylander. Hes the type of guy rhat wins you playoff games. Reminds me a lot of tucker without being a psycho.

Anyone who has issues with hyman hasnt been paying attention to how he has progressed. He even looks good offensively now. And on this, and only this im with max. Hes a better all round player than nylander. Hes the type of guy rhat wins you playoff games. Reminds me a lot of tucker without being a psycho.
- mykokes

Hyman for Captain!

I do believe in it. At the very least, I believe that it should be tried. They have implemented it with successful results in the OHL and AHL. If it doesn't work, what it will do is emphasize the skill and hopefully associated value with some of the pieces on the team that we can use to trade for pieces we feel are a more required fit.

It also has the potential to attract like-minded players to the team.

I don't think Babcock was a bad coach at all. He is a good traditional coach. Traditions exist usually because they are reliable. In a league full of parity, non-traditional may give them an edge.
- Monkeypunk

Same, I want to see them try.
We have seen 50 years of others trying to replicate others teams ways...and we are still waiting

Dubas wouldn't do that to Willy

Wherever Babs goes Dubas will set up a no trade zone there. Sign of respect
- Santo_44

ah... but would Dubas do it to spite Babcock... here's a guy you can teach to be defensively responsible?