This is the first year where the Leafs are a serious contender, in spite of setting a season points record last year.
There have been rumblings in the media about a few things that are either related to Babcock’s unorthodox thinking or stubbornness that either goes against the eye test, logic or advanced stats.
- Babcock’s relationship with Matthews, a franchise player who isn’t allowed to play with his best friend Marner, gets some of the lowest ice time for a centre on a first/second line, has to drive linemates in a revolving door fashion
- Marleau is not able to keep up with the top two/three lines (finally got moved)
- Muzzin is better than a third line pairing defenceman
- Hainsey plays better with fewer minutes and as a third pairing and not a first
- Kapanen does not drive his line mates and doesn’t bring the puck in well and deserves less time
- Johnsson deserves to play more (this has currently been rectified)
- the power play is horrendous relative to the talent (may not be directly Babcocks fault, it’s more of an assistant coach thing) (the leafs are near last in the league in power play goals)
- stacking lines at all; especially when down a goal
- balanced ice time seems counterintuitive
- some opined that Mike was outcoached against Boston in the playoffs as his over line matching and balancing did not contain Boston’s number one line
- his love of Brown and Hyman (this has been rectified a bit and Hyman is good on his current line and as a second line winger)
- Nylander deserves more time, but with the concussion to Kadri, has to be a centre for now
I know it feels like complaining, but it’s frustrating watching them not being played to their potential.
I know the media and fans don’t have all the info, but it seems Mike is too stubborn or has some other plan that is not clear as a typical coach would correct many of these things. It’s to the point that comments have been made about trading Mikes favourites to stop him otherwise he keeps playing them.
Personally, I was happy with the Muzzin trade but I knew it wouldn’t last long and Hainsy would be back up. Hainsy is good on the penalty kill and as a third pairing, but he gets exposed with the minutes he gets played.
I also don’t consider the Leafs a serious contender this year. They still need more experience and even at this late juncture, they don’t have proper lines other than the first and fourth. For a team that has some of the fewest injuries in the league, the fact that there’s been so much line juggling and lack of time to develop chemistry is almost excusable.
Rant over...for now. My point is, if there isn’t success in the next few years, the media and fans will use this year and all the above examples as to why it didn’t work with this coach.
There have been rumblings in the media about a few things that are either related to Babcock’s unorthodox thinking or stubbornness that either goes against the eye test, logic or advanced stats.
- Babcock’s relationship with Matthews, a franchise player who isn’t allowed to play with his best friend Marner, gets some of the lowest ice time for a centre on a first/second line, has to drive linemates in a revolving door fashion
- Marleau is not able to keep up with the top two/three lines (finally got moved)
- Muzzin is better than a third line pairing defenceman
- Hainsey plays better with fewer minutes and as a third pairing and not a first
- Kapanen does not drive his line mates and doesn’t bring the puck in well and deserves less time
- Johnsson deserves to play more (this has currently been rectified)
- the power play is horrendous relative to the talent (may not be directly Babcocks fault, it’s more of an assistant coach thing) (the leafs are near last in the league in power play goals)
- stacking lines at all; especially when down a goal
- balanced ice time seems counterintuitive
- some opined that Mike was outcoached against Boston in the playoffs as his over line matching and balancing did not contain Boston’s number one line
- his love of Brown and Hyman (this has been rectified a bit and Hyman is good on his current line and as a second line winger)
- Nylander deserves more time, but with the concussion to Kadri, has to be a centre for now
I know it feels like complaining, but it’s frustrating watching them not being played to their potential.
I know the media and fans don’t have all the info, but it seems Mike is too stubborn or has some other plan that is not clear as a typical coach would correct many of these things. It’s to the point that comments have been made about trading Mikes favourites to stop him otherwise he keeps playing them.
Personally, I was happy with the Muzzin trade but I knew it wouldn’t last long and Hainsy would be back up. Hainsy is good on the penalty kill and as a third pairing, but he gets exposed with the minutes he gets played.
I also don’t consider the Leafs a serious contender this year. They still need more experience and even at this late juncture, they don’t have proper lines other than the first and fourth. For a team that has some of the fewest injuries in the league, the fact that there’s been so much line juggling and lack of time to develop chemistry is almost excusable.
Rant over...for now. My point is, if there isn’t success in the next few years, the media and fans will use this year and all the above examples as to why it didn’t work with this coach.