GDT: Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins 7 PM CBC

[Doug Gilmour]

I'm waiting for the posters that came to support Marincin and tell me that he's 3rd on the team in terms of possession numbers, tell me how good he is now.

Marincin has been brutal the whole season.

The Leafs defense as a whole has looked brutal for the past couple games. Any sort of pressure and they've buckled. Lots of turnovers. Hasn't been pretty.

I can't understand why Marincin keeps getting minutes based on some stats. I understand that the longer you control the puck the less chances your opponent will get but come on, when he does turn it over or has a lapse it generally leads to a very, very good scoring opportunity for the opponent.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock addresses the media following Toronto's 3-2 loss against Boston on Saturday night.

[NHL]930741[/NHL]

Does he do it on purpose? I mean not giving the media anything to report on. Marincin was bad, the whole group when on defense was very sloppy tonight, Bernier looked unaware, zoned out tonight and gave up too much for the Bruins and they cashed in on those opportunities. I don't know what everyone else saw but that's my take, if I'm wrong please enlighten me.

 

[dubey]

I can't understand why Marincin keeps getting minutes based on some stats. I understand that the longer you control the puck the less chances your opponent will get but come on, when he does turn it over or has a lapse it generally leads to a very, very good scoring opportunity for the opponent.



Does he do it on purpose? I mean not giving the media anything to report on. Marincin was bad, the whole group when on defense was very sloppy tonight, Bernier looked unaware, zoned out tonight and gave up too much for the Bruins and they cashed in on those opportunities. I don't know what everyone else saw but that's my take, if I'm wrong please enlighten me.

Who does he benefit by throwing the team under the bus to the media?

 

[gabeliscious]

Who does he benefit by throwing the team under the bus to the media?

hes just not use to having a coach who nows what he is doing. nothing good comes from blaming players publicly. if a player ****s up they know it.

 

[saltming]

I can't understand why Marincin keeps getting minutes based on some stats. I understand that the longer you control the puck the less chances your opponent will get but come on, when he does turn it over or has a lapse it generally leads to a very, very good scoring opportunity for the opponent.



Does he do it on purpose? I mean not giving the media anything to report on. Marincin was bad, the whole group when on defense was very sloppy tonight, Bernier looked unaware, zoned out tonight and gave up too much for the Bruins and they cashed in on those opportunities. I don't know what everyone else saw but that's my take, if I'm wrong please enlighten me.

Well they are creating a safe environment for the players here, perfect. Also, what he said was true, all of it. He acknowledged the break downs and said they needed to be better in those areas.
Your assesment of the game is your view but I dont think babcock contradicted anything you said except the bit about bernier, he just didn't throw anybody under the bus. Again thats creating a safe environment.

 

[Gabriel426]

Seriously, do u expect the coach to come out and say player x was crap, so was player y.....that's how you lose the locker room and get fired. If he is unhappy with certain players, he will just bench them, no point blaming them for media sake.

 

[Gabriel426]

I think they thought adding Paul Martin(top 4 dmen) and Jones, who looked like a num 1 waiting to break out, would solve their issues. Stupid move on their part. With the new lotto system, you only trade 1st rounders if your comfortably in a playoff spot, or if your doing it for a surefire star. Otherwise lotto protect that pick.

Think their GM knows this is make it or break it, thus he doesn't care about the 1st rounder since if the pick is in the lottery, he will be out looking for job.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Are people really freaking out that we suck in our first tank year where it was said before by management we would suck and there would be pain? lol

 

[Bluelines]

Are people really freaking out that we suck in our first tank year where it was said before by management we would suck and there would be pain? lol

To be fair its really our 49th year of tank ..

Management can say till they are blue in the face its going to be painful but in realty fans are hoping more for the November/December Leafs than the October Leafs, unfortunately the only thing worse than an October Leaf is a January Leaf.

January 2016 : 2 wins 6 losses
January 2015 : 1 win 11 losses 1 SO loss


37 days till pitchers and catchers report!!!

 

[Morguee]

Are people really freaking out that we suck in our first tank year where it was said before by management we would suck and there would be pain? lol

Reality sucks. I think what is happening now is that teams have had a chance to scout the new look Leafs and see what works and what doesn't. It is like when a new goalie comes in the league and is lights out for the first ten games and then falls back to earth. Teams are now anticipating the passes and outlets and the better coached ones are plugging up the holes.

This team was getting by on teams not knowing what they were doing. Now that the cat is out of the bag they need talent as well to pull it off.

 

[SprDaVE]

6 more weeks 'til the trade deadline.

6 more weeks 'til the trade deadline.

6 more weeks 'til the trade deadline.

6 more weeks 'til the trade deadline.

 

[Pookie]

Are people really freaking out that we suck in our first tank year where it was said before by management we would suck and there would be pain? lol

They ran out of Kool aid on the parade.

That 104 point pace thing left people parched.

 

[ULF_55]

honestly at this point, even if Edmonton won, it wouldn't even bother me because truthfully, I don't believe their entire management structure has the guts to make the moves that needs to be done to legitimately get better.

but yah i'd like them not to win the lottery either.

and i just realised san jose CAN'T because Boston has their pick.

Leafs and Oilers management has been in place about the same length of time.

What leads you to believe one is better than the other?

 

[Warden of the North]

Does he do it on purpose? I mean not giving the media anything to report on. Marincin was bad, the whole group when on defense was very sloppy tonight, Bernier looked unaware, zoned out tonight and gave up too much for the Bruins and they cashed in on those opportunities. I don't know what everyone else saw but that's my take, if I'm wrong please enlighten me.

Yes. He said as much when he was named head coach. Quinn was the same way.

 

[happyaccident]

Are people really freaking out that we suck in our first tank year where it was said before by management we would suck and there would be pain? lol

The greatest disappointment, ultimately, is to watch the value of guys like Grabner and Parenteau go down, down, down...
GMs are people too, there's always one or two who will get caught up in the hype at deadline time and fork over a 3rd if a guy is on a hot streak. You could lump them all in a bag if they keep playing like this and not get jack.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Are people really freaking out that we suck in our first tank year where it was said before by management we would suck and there would be pain? lol

To be fair its really our 49th year of tank ..

Management can say till they are blue in the face its going to be painful but in realty fans are hoping more for the November/December Leafs than the October Leafs, unfortunately the only thing worse than an October Leaf is a January Leaf.

January 2016 : 2 wins 6 losses
January 2015 : 1 win 11 losses 1 SO loss


37 days till pitchers and catchers report!!!

If you are thinking about this from the perspective of the tank, this latest losing streak and the game last night is a good thing.

Having said that, I hate the Bruins and a win in a winnable, close game like this is always nice to see.

Can't believe no one has laid a beating on Marchand before.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

When Marincin was acquired for a 4th round pick, I wonder if management considered what his strengths were. No physical play, no skating ability to speak of, not physical, no production, and obviously can't take care of the puck. These types of acquisitions legitimately make me worried about management. Did they think they were getting a diamond in the rough, or a player to intentionally run the team into the sewer. Where is the accountability for Marincin, that one play alone is more than enough for a significant benching. There are MANY others available to take his minutes, it doesn't necessarily have be a Percy/Loov/Harrington.

At the end of the day its a wasted draft pick for a team that can't be wasting draft picks.

The theory is, and its been said countless times is that we will turn players like this (Spaling, Beck, Boyes, etc., etc.) into 1st & 2nd rounders, maybe the occasional 3rd.

Don't believe people when they say it sounds too good to be true.

 

[deletethis]

I think JVR's absence has less to do with this current slide as the usual change in the level of play that happens right around this time of the year. This is the time of the year when the pretenders start to be exposed.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Since 1993, Toronto were in 22 playoff rounds. Montreal and Vancouver have finally been able to catch-up and pass Toronto. (with 26 playoff rounds.)

Toronto was in the thick of things for years before JFJ. Allot of blame has been put on Toronto's draft record... but Leafs were so good. Since `93, there's been 23 years the Leafs didn't have a top 10 pick. That right there is 230 players Leafs had no chance on because of there place in the standings.

Honestly I think Toronto was allot like Montreal is right now. They had their upswing, and for whatever reasons, they threw it away.

Not surprising. Before the 2004 CBA, we were one of the richest teams (maybe the richest) and could use our financial strength to buy players to make the team better. We could also buy players to bury our previous mistakes.

With a team cap in place, we have not been able to have the same success (still pretty limited really prior to 2004) as its much harder now than before. Money isn't a big advantage, you have to use it wisely and manage the cap, and the key to building is the draft. Its a skill versus money paradigm now.

 

[ULF_55]

Rielly, Marincin, and Froese, from youngest to oldest, are the only regulars under 25 years of age. Froese will be 25 in March.

Rielly was a 5th. overall pick, and he looks like a #2 defender most of the time. Marincin was a 2nd. rounder, and is hardly the finished product ... kind of like 23 year old Garndiner wasn't a finished product. Froese was a 4th. rounder and can win face-offs.

 

[GoonieFace]

I think JVR's absence has less to do with this current slide as the usual change in the level of play that happens right around this time of the year. This is the time of the year when the pretenders start to be exposed.

100% correct. We are well on our way to a lottery pick. Hoorah!

 

[ULF_55]

The greatest disappointment, ultimately, is to watch the value of guys like Grabner and Parenteau go down, down, down...
GMs are people too, there's always one or two who will get caught up in the hype at deadline time and fork over a 3rd if a guy is on a hot streak. You could lump them all in a bag if they keep playing like this and not get jack.

I don't believe the only reason the Leafs signed l those hangers on, and never were's was to parlay them into draft picks.

I think they were to fill out a scrub line-up, and keep the prospects developing in the minors.

If a team comes calling at the deadline, excellent. If no one comes calling, they'll be kept to finish out the season and protect the development of the youngsters.

Unless there was a bidding war, I don't expect a great haul at the deadline.

Parenteau might be a decent pick-up for a 2nd. PP unit, and Grabner with most of his contract covered as a PK specialist for 3rd./4th. round picks?

Polak would seem to be a player many teams could utilize maybe even get a 2nd. rounder. I bet most contenders could fit his expiring

To me Hunwick should be a player that teams ask about, he's overplayed on the Leafs, but he certainly looks like a player you could use on a 3rd. or 2nd. pairing, and he's cheap and signed for another year. If he fell off the edge almost all of his contract can be buried in the minors.

Maybe the Leafs come out of the deadline with 3 picks, maybe another asset or two.

Matthias has 6 weeks to build up some value.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Watched the condensed game because I was busy last night. 3rd period looked like a thriller and what a garbage way to end it. Yikes.

 

[ULF_55]

100% correct. We are well on our way to a lottery pick. Hoorah!

Leafs are actually worse than I thought they'd be, but I expected Bernier to be okay not 6 and 12, with an .899.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Leafs and Oilers management has been in place about the same length of time.

What leads you to believe one is better than the other?

the only significant change they've ultimately did was install Chia up there. I'll stand corrected if they made other true changes. But Lowe is still there, MacTavish is still there. Katz (who has basically stated he wants something akin to the 80's Oilers team) is still there. They haven't truly addressed their scouting (one of their biggest buggaboos). they haven't traded any one of their golden children which - while their contracts are high, I would imagine would have a lot of value (vs. ours with Bozak/Dion/Lupul, which do not).

they to me, have just shuffled the deck chairs.

Toronto as we know, pretty much fired everyone and started all over again managerial wise. Now we don't know if they are "better" or not, but at least significant change in every area (scouting and managing, analytics, you name it, it got changed), has happened.

i also didn't say that we were better than them, (and I certainly wouldn't have said that they are better than us).just that I don't think they have the guts to trade one of the pieces their truly need to help their team. i would be shocked if they ever did.

 

[burpsalot]

I think JVR's absence has less to do with this current slide as the usual change in the level of play that happens right around this time of the year. This is the time of the year when the pretenders start to be exposed.

That's right & it's the time when the real playoff teams & Stanley Cup contenders tighten up their game.