Mike Augello: Leafs lose their way in the Valley of the Sun

Phoenix played great defensively. The Leafs should watch the tape and copy some of their stuff because they looked great. Especially blocking shots and clogging up passing lanes.

Yeah.. that stretch pass doesn't work against teams that play with their sticks on the ice. There was zero momentum this game. It looked even worse in person.

Phoenix played great defensively. The Leafs should watch the tape and copy some of their stuff because they looked great. Especially blocking shots and clogging up passing lanes.


- Buggy166

boy, greedy willi looks great 🤦‍♂️

so glad we didn’t trade him and garbagener for a grown man who can play defense and stick up for himself and doesn’t want to play house 🤦‍♂️

what a (frank)ing joke 🤦‍♂️

edit: nice alliteration 👍

Leafs looked like they had the Vegas Flu.

They even photoshopped in the (frank)ing suit

https://twitter.com/NHLCa...tatus/1097001126728220673

They even photoshopped in the (frank)ing suit

https://twitter.com/NHLCa...tatus/1097001126728220673
- lumlums

Yeah.. that stretch pass doesn't work against teams that play with their sticks on the ice. There was zero momentum this game. It looked even worse in person.
- leafsfann

- burn

Doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result - is it the definition of insanity, or just Babshlong's coaching...???

When they're near the top of the standings, or individual players excel in their roles, it's not anything to do with coaching. When they lose one game, it's all the coach lol.

When they're near the top of the standings, or individual players excel in their roles, it's not anything to do with coaching. When they lose one game, it's all the coach lol.
- Zezel

That's a pretty simplistic view. I don't think it works like that.

I think babs is a good coach and I'm happy he's the coach but to make it a line like that, black/white is just not accurate. It's obvious that there are things he does (or refuses to do) that aren't working.

We've seen complaints about the pp, it was struggling for over a month. An utter disaster. It came to a head and changes were made and low and behold it improved.

Now we're seeing complaints about in game adjustments.

These complaints didn't come from the fans or media, they're from the players.

When they're near the top of the standings, or individual players excel in their roles, it's not anything to do with coaching. When they lose one game, it's all the coach lol.
- Zezel

exactly what they said when I YELLED at that f'n frog eating imbecile Alain Vigneault...

Jan 28 leaf fans: muzzin is now our 2nd best dman

9 games since the trade: 5th most used dman, 2nd in pts, 3rd in corsi

Leafs fans this morning: exactly how I thought it should be.

That's a pretty simplistic view. I don't think it works like that.

I think babs is a good coach and I'm happy he's the coach but to make it a line like that, black/white is just not accurate. It's obvious that there are things he does (or refuses to do) that aren't working.

We've seen complaints about the pp, it was struggling for over a month. An utter disaster. It came to a head and changes were made and low and behold it improved.

Now we're seeing complaints about in game adjustments.

These complaints didn't come from the fans or media, they're from the players.
- burn

You're not as black and white about it, but some are. But I get it, playing laptop coach is part of the fun, I just find it funny.

You're not as black and white about it, but some are. But I get it, playing laptop coach is part of the fun, I just find it funny.
- Zezel

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

Didn't see the game, sounds like I didn't miss 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

Well said.

One adjustment I wonder about is putting AM in the middle ice position of the umbrella PP. He's probably the best in the league at getting the puck in traffic and snapping it. That could be a shooting gallery for him there.

This team keeps losing to mediocre teams that work harder than them. It's like they can't get motivated against bad teams. This is why they start on the road. So many points lost.

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

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?

Didn't see the game, sounds like I didn't miss much.
- AdamFrench

First 8mins or so looked like it was going to be a blowout. Never left coyote zone basically. Then just mailed it in.

Well said.

One adjustment I wonder about is putting AM in the middle ice position of the umbrella PP. He's probably the best in the league at getting the puck in traffic and snapping it. That could be a shooting gallery for him there.
- Zezel

Agreed. That's his bread a butter.

Pp has been better last 3 games or so. More movement, less predictable. Except for the entries

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

Nylander has been a stud for like a month, but no one cares still female doging about the contract and wanting to trade him for a song.

When they're near the top of the standings, or individual players excel in their roles, it's not anything to do with coaching. When they lose one game, it's all the coach lol.
- Zezel

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.

Nylander has been a stud for like a month, but no one cares still female doging about the contract and wanting to trade him for a song.
- burn

And when he's PPG, those same people will female dog about the terrible return for a good young player if he was traded

I love the argument Marleau's "Leadership" is worth so much. Look at the advanced stats, he's killing every line he's on. Useless. 6.3 million and almost 40.

And as good as Nylander looks, the coach plays him 13 minutes.

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

Wait until they get Glendening.