What do you want/expect from a 5th/6th defenceman? Big solid net presence and get the puck out of the zone. Asking for more, is like asking your K-car to do 200km/hr. The problem with Polak... or K-cars, they're never going to do anything you 'love'. An exotic car is being kept in a heated garage, washed and waxed while the K-car is off to the crusher. Both leave you wanting more, but it is what it is.
Babcock has been dealing with exotics for a long time. When he sees a car doing 200km/hr, it's no big deal to him. So when he sees how the car is doing in the corners, how it's braking, etc., he notices any problem. There's a lot of fans who watch Nylander and just think he's perfect. I know who I'd choose to get Nylander into the winner's circle however.
If you take all the stats since the Leafs last won the Cup, last season, Zaitsev tied for 38th worst +/-. With all those Ballard-era, JFJ-era teams... Zaitsev is right in the mix. And I'm not bothering to
check, but his name might go straight to the top for players that played on Leaf teams that scored more then they let in. I think Zaitsev is playing with more confidence which isn't a good thing. A cautious Zaitsev might be for the best. If he's learning from his mistakes, this isn't a problem.