Canada is playing Babcock hockey, they need to play Keefe hockey

[Judas Tavares]

Not everything has to be about the Toronto Maple Leafs

If this mere example (which is actually relevant and interesting in this context) triggered you to post this and garner 45 likes, maybe it is always about the Leafs. Not our fault you love to hate us.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Cringe title bro. Why you gotta make it about the leafs?

 

[Garl]

Need new school! evolution! progressive coaches! Like 63 y.o Valery "Back to the USSR" Bragin!

 

[Icejoker]

They play Toronto style, the headcoach is coach for the same team as Shanahan playd for as junior.

 

[miscs75]

And what specifically is Babcock hockey?

Did they all dye their hair a rediculous and non existent hair color???

overplaying your superstars while playing lazy team defense and hoping to out score the opposition roller hockey style

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

I don’t want our team playing Babcock OR Keefe style hockey...

 

[Howie Hodge]

overplaying your superstars while playing lazy team defense and hoping to out score the opposition roller hockey style

Yeah, I just couldn't help the hair color comment. Old face with dyed hair on people is a tad creepy....

 

[Mickey Marner]

Yeah, Dale Hunter doesn't get modern hockey. That's why players like Tavares, Marner, Tkachuk, Domi, Horvat, Kane, Perry etc. always struggled when they played for him and London has always posted losing records.

The actual reason this team isn't any good is because the players aren't any good. 2018 and 2019 were two of the worst drafts ever for Canadian talent. Only 4 top-10 picks between the two. Brutal.

 

[ijuka]

Yeah, Dale Hunter doesn't get modern hockey. That's why players like Tavares, Marner, Tkachuk, Domi, Horvat, Kane, Perry etc. always struggled when they played for him and London has always posted losing records.

The actual reason this team isn't any good is because the players aren't any good. 2018 and 2019 were two of the worst drafts ever for Canadian talent. Only 4 top-10 picks between the two. Brutal.

That is kinda funny, though. I mean, if we look at the teams Finland iced for their gold runs, they weren't all that amazing in comparison to even this team. You don't need high draft picks to build a good team.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Babcock the punching bag.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

"Modern Hockey"

 

[DuklaNation]

Lot of weak half full half empty arguments here. Embarrassing.

 

[HSF]

Hunter isn't that good maybe? Perhaps another example of a coach having good players in London because of being a richer CHL team.

In a tournament like this you are much closer to your opponents in terms of skill and compete level

 

[SupremeTeam16]

I forget who coached team Canada at the last two Olympics where they absolutely dominated?

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

f*** Babcock and Keefe hockey, they’re playing DJ Smith hockey this game

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Is Keefe hockey essentially Frost hockey?

 

[Stephen]

This is obviously a very “Leafs fan biased” view, but IMO a huge problem with team Canada’s international teams, for years, is the coaching style. They hire a lot of old school, traditional coaches, who preach “grind it out, finish your checks, get the puck in deep, dump and chase, get pucks on net.” This is fine for an under skilled team trying to play a safe, defensive game, but a terrible waste of high end talent.

IMO, they need to start bringing in new-school, creative coaches, who encourage them to play a style that emphasizes their skill. Guys who get their team holding onto the puck, trying creative strategies like “3 guys high” with lots of east west movement. Where you don’t settle for a quick “one and done” with a low quality shot, but hold onto the puck, make tonnes of east-west moves and passes until you can generate a high quality chances. Basically, they need to play “Keefe style hockey”, not “Babs style hockey”. Some will say there’s not enough time to institute a system like this in short international tournaments, but I disagree, we saw Keefe make major changes in very few days with the Leafs.

Thoughts? Is Canada’s “old school coaching” a problem?

I don't think we need to see everything through the Toronto Maple Leafs lens.

But yes, Canada has often been suspicious of its own talent on the international stage, turning all-star team after all-star team into muck it up, grind it out, lean hard on the goalie kind of winners (when they win).