Your opinion. I think this Babcock thing is really going to cause a rift between the media and him, between him and his teammates and the media and team. Thankfully for you guys he will more then likely be fired after this year if they fail to win their first round since the days ray Ferraro was still playing. Lol
I see Barrie, Ceci and kerfoot as recent replacements for Kadri, Gardiner, Brown, Zaitsev, Hainsey, Marleau, Borgman, Rosen, Sparks, Ennis. Oh yeah Spezza too he’s a rich man ennis now likely, version but fourth liner.
Dude...can I just say I appreciate your posts haha!
I think Dubas did an interesting thing with realizing his core (AM, JT, MM, WN, MR, FA) and “building around” those six. The only problem building around is going to be tough when your a good team that makes the playoffs but doesent go anywhere, so they’re not going to get a high first rounder likely any time soon nor have they since Auston.
It also doesent help with that in mind that six players in depth roles have 20-30 or more goals and have been given away in the last year, JVR, Bozak, Komarov, Brown, Marleau, Kadri, that’s six guys who scored at a level of as I said at least twenty a couple of them 30.
I realize they have Kapanen And Jonson It’s just the leafs we’re amazing in depth before but now they’re top heavy. It’s fine though because they got a good core, better then a lot of teams but can they take the next step and can they do it with babcock? Dubas was intelligent to not give Babcock a vote of confidence but retain him another year not just because their paying him but because now he has a “fall guy” this year if things go wrong.
I just don’t know if they’re “a lot better” Gardiner gets blown up in leaf nation but his skating and offense was great, Zaitsev gets blown up in leaf nation after his good rookie year but still brought some things to
The table, it’s like Ben hutton leaving Van? Good first year and then tailed off and leaving but fans just can’t automatically look at that as a win. Because the guy who takes his spot has to not only Be, but play at his level and better and it’s not a guarantee. Sometimes the devi You know Is better then the devi you dont know, the backup will be in the air if it should work we will see, but that’s On Dubas to not keep Curtis M.
The highest two issues though that make me
Feel if Toronto will actually be better outside The obvious Babcock issues is they lost a lot of things that can’t be replaced very easily. People think Marleau (he’s old! Easily replaceable) uh no...there’s more to hockey then points. You don’t realize what a veteran like that isn’t he room, leadership ca being to a table with young kids. Not just him but Hainsey brought the experience and leadership on the back end too. That’s tif is the things we don’t see behind closed doors. It’s important In pro sports especially hockey or it wouldn’t be so universally touted.
Brown was a hometown boy and Kadri was a veteran leaf, one of if not the last of he old and was the only sandpaper they had really, his contract was also amazing and was a perfect two way center. Mention his mistakes sure hit it wouldn’t of happened again in all likelihood and his checking ability is great, also plays the agitator roll well.
I know as in life you have to spend to gain, the leafs did and have I’m just not sure if Barrie, Ceci, Kerfoot and 4th line Spezza can overcome all of the above to make the team better, could it happen? Sure the leafs could even make the finals, but I want to see them win a round before I label them higher. I still think they’re going to finish third out of 8 in the best division in the league so that’s still great.
