Dreakmur
Registered User
No, that's not what happened. Babcock didn't just use Komarov in situations where the team needed to defend or protect a lead, and even if that was the case, that wouldn't justify how he got as much ice-time as Matthews. Babcock would play Komarov in all situations of the game, far too often, including when they needed a goal. There were times he would put him on the ice in OT before Matthews, and when the team had the goalie pulled. He did nothing to help the powerplay either. Babcock's obsession with him was detrimental to the team, he did nothing offensively and the alleged grit he brought was greatly overstated.
The team was also doing more than fine without Komarov before January, and there's nothing wrong with the team right now that he would fix. So, this notion about "games we won" because of Komarov is a fantasy.
I didn't think anyone needed that explained to them.
To me, it looks like Babcock is still trying to teach the Leafs core what it means to compete. Guys like Matthews, Nylander, and Marner needed to pick up their intensity levels on a regular basis. As I've said before, skill us useless without the puck, and getting the puck is usually a dirty job.
Marner figured it out, and look how much he's improved.
If the top skilled guys don't want to work, then the coach is forced to put out less skilled players who do.