Mike Babcock

[FerrisRox]

How did I know you'd come back here trying to peddle this again.

The Leafs didn't lose either Bruin series because they were "soft".

you were wrong, are wrong, and will continue to be wrong on this.

you really have no idea what you're watching in a hockey game, it's quite amazing.

If you are happy with the physical play of the Maple Leafs in this series, particularly the engagement among their forwards and their willingness to go to the net, go to traffic and fight for pucks then we can agree to disagree.

What I saw - and apparently I have no idea what I'm watching so take it with a grain of salt - is that Zach Hyman was the only player on the team that was constantly driving to the net and heading into traffic and physically engaging in the offensive zone and making any effort whatsoever to take away time and space from the Bruin defenders and wearing them down with physical play.

The rest of the forwards simply didn't engage and it made for a much easier time for Tuukka Rask and the Bruin defenders.

 

[saska sault]

As a Wings fan, Babcock will get results. Is he my favorite coach? No. But he will win... People forget how young the Leafs are. Not every team just comes out of a rebuild and instantly competes for a Cup. Yes they are a legitimate regular season team and make the playoffs, but sometimes it take a few years, taking beatings in the playoffs and learning lessons. This may happen another year or two or three.. but keep the core together and let them learn and grow.

Look at Yzerman and the Wings back in 97.. it took a few years. It's not always instant success. The sky is not falling after an early exit with a team loaded with star players all in their early 20's.

 

[GoBuds14]

Leafs did well just to get to 7 games. Babcock isn't a problem.

really? I honestly thought you could argue Boston did well to force game 7, and was arguably outplayed the first 2 periods last night. Its hard to justify Babcocks ice time decisions, I don't want to be an armchair coach but man, Matthews with only 18 minutes in game 7? Matthews Tavares and Marner should have been 23+

 

[The Winter Soldier]

really? I honestly thought you could argue Boston did well to force game 7, and was arguably outplayed the first 2 periods last night. Its hard to justify Babcocks ice time decisions, I don't want to be an armchair coach but man, Matthews with only 18 minutes in game 7? Matthews Tavares and Marner should have been 23+

Matthews played 18:48 last night. Tavares 21:19, Marner 20:53
Bergeron played 17:14, Marchand 18:28, Pasta 18:19

The difference was the Bruins are built deeper into their 3rd and 4th lines. Look at who scored last night. Their bottom 6 players. Blame the GM for not building as good a surrounding cast as the Bruins GM has.

 

[LeonDraisaitl]

I would agree actually. Rolling 4 lines in the last 10 minutes down 3 goals? I don’t get it and it obviously didn’t work out

 

[The List Of Jericho]

Keep him. I like seeing Toronto out in the 1st-Round.

A team that had 48 total points only 2 seasons ago has won a Playoff series before the Leafs did.

A team that wouldn't have had a sniff of the playoffs in the East?

 

[razor8]

Your my favourite poster to call out. When I’m home from work I will destroy this post. Cheers.

You've been here a whopping 1,5 weeks and you're already "destroying" people left and right.

Just another normal Toronto fan, right?

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Leafs did well just to get to 7 games. Babcock isn't a problem.

How many years are they going to accept the mentality though?

You really think that after going out and signing Tavares and trading for Muzzin, the same outcome as last season is acceptable? If yes I don't know what to tell you

Personally I don't think he is the main problem, but I do think he is overrated as hell!!!

 

[LeonDraisaitl]

Babcock and Dubas will be gone. I wouldn't be surprised if Matthews asks for trade, he will not want to waste his career with this club.

Dubas is worst gm in NHL now. His body of work is a disaster.

Jesus Christ what an overreaction

 

[Dr Pepper]

Babcock is one of the most stubborn coaches I've ever seen, and it cost his team yet again.

Sure, Babs, keep playing Nylander and Marleau, I bet it'll pay off eventually. Give Zaitsev and Gardiner extra minutes. Go for it. He neglected to push his top guns, and now the Leafs are done. Simple as.

 

[Eye Test]

You've been here a whopping 1,5 weeks and you're already "destroying" people left and right.

Just another normal Toronto fan, right?

This is my phones account I just created to call out the ridiculous hot takes

 

[Morbo]

If you are happy with the physical play of the Maple Leafs in this series, particularly the engagement among their forwards and their willingness to go to the net, go to traffic and fight for pucks then we can agree to disagree.

What I saw - and apparently I have no idea what I'm watching so take it with a grain of salt - is that Zach Hyman was the only player on the team that was constantly driving to the net and heading into traffic and physically engaging in the offensive zone and making any effort whatsoever to take away time and space from the Bruin defenders and wearing them down with physical play.

The rest of the forwards simply didn't engage and it made for a much easier time for Tuukka Rask and the Bruin defenders.

I saw the Leafs giving as good as they got for the most part, except where the Bruins were allowed to board, charge, interfere, and hit high with impunity of course. Muzzin for example dealt out plenty of punishment. Not sure how you missed that.

I saw another series that went 7 games, was closer than last year, and could have gone either way.

A soft team unwilling to engage physically doesn't take the Bruins to 7 games(again). It doesn't make any sense.

your thesis doesn't work and it doesn't hold up under any real examination, as popular a narrative as it might be around here. It's simply good-sounding folksy stuff that you've been waiting in the weeds with in case they lost the series.

 

[The Podium]

Babcock needs to go, it’s time for the Leafs to get a new school coach. Look at how well Boston did replacing Julien with Cassidy. In this series alone there were many questionable coach decisions that, imo, was the difference between winning a losing.

- Last 5 minutes of any game we are trailing, play Matthews and Tavares as much as possible. Why is Marleau and the 4th line going out there?
- If you’re pulling you goalie with 2.5 mins left at least make sure your line forechecker is fresh, has support and has possession
- Why is the Goat playing at all late in the games? Sure the 4th line is buzzing, but that’s largely on the backs of Moore and Ennis. Double shift Matthews and Tavares, or make the adjustment and move Moore and Ennis up with Nylander instead of the struggling Brown and Marleau
- Special teams were a problem all year, how do you go 82 games + playoffs without making an adjustment? I know this is more on the assistants, but still is overseen by Babcock.
- Play your best players! In game 7 you’re playing Matthews for 18 minutes? Are you kidding me? He has been your best and most productive player in this series, there’s no excuse for that.
- Why is your #1 PP unit still getting 50s shifts? Especially in a game 7 when you’re down by 2.
- With 1 minute left in the period, or with the net empty, stack a line. Play Matthews - JT - Marner to close out each period.

 

[razor8]

This is my phones account I just created to call out the ridiculous hot takes

Well, I wish you luck in your endeavor. I mean, we all know that there's nothing more important than being right on the interwebz.

I salute you, my good sir.

 

[SpezDispenser]

I would agree actually. Rolling 4 lines in the last 10 minutes down 3 goals? I don’t get it and it obviously didn’t work out

I also didn't understand what he was doing. From about the 7 minute left mark of the 3rd on, I'd make sure I had either the Matthews line or Tavares/Marner out there. I mean, what are you resting them for, next year?

 

[Channelcat]

How many years are they going to accept the mentality though?

You really think that after going out and signing Tavares and trading for Muzzin, the same outcome as last season is acceptable? If yes I don't know what to tell you

Personally I don't think he is the main problem, but I do think he is overrated as hell!!!

Tavares and Muzzin are outstanding acquisitions, its the bottom half of that roster that just isn't good enough. You look at these remaining teams, they are mostly rock solid 18 or 20 guys deep.

 

[sufferer]

Matthews played 18:48 last night. Tavares 21:19, Marner 20:53
Bergeron played 17:14, Marchand 18:28, Pasta 18:19

The difference was the Bruins are built deeper into their 3rd and 4th lines. Look at who scored last night. Their bottom 6 players. Blame the GM for not building as good a surrounding cast as the Bruins GM has.

All this tells me is that Babchoke should've played his top guys more given the lack of quality depth (which contradicts what everyone was saying about the Leafs heading into this series).

 

[Marner]

Toronto needs to evaluate him imo. Cassidy out-coached the guy.
Swan song?

He makes some really dumb decisions with player ice time but other than that I think he is doing fine. Boston was just better than us, i think it’s pretty hard to say we would have won game 7 in Boston with a different coach.

Make the needed tweaks to the roster and get back at it.

 

[El Travo]

A team that wouldn't have had a sniff of the playoffs in the East?

Which makes it even funnier.

 

[Egghead1999]

Only issue I had with him is why he didn't play Tavares/Matthews/Marner 20+ minutes in a game 7.... should have had them on as much as possible

Because he is a good canada socialist, every player needs to have their ice-time

 

[Egghead1999]

He makes some really dumb decisions with player ice time but other than that I think he is doing fine. Boston was just better than us, i think it’s pretty hard to say we would have won game 7 in Boston with a different coach.

Make the needed tweaks to the roster and get back at it.

It should not have a game 7. No in-game adjustment in #4 / #6 made Leafs lose the series

 

[The List Of Jericho]

Which makes it even funnier.

No, it makes it more sad and irrelevant.

 

[Sansbacon]

This is my phones account I just created to call out the ridiculous hot takes

This is one of the stranger things I’ve ever read on here.

You know you can just use your... main account on your phone, right?

 

[joestevens29]

Is there a reason Matthews wasn't playing more? In a game like that you need to lean on your star players. A young player like that should be able to play more.

That would be my one beef with Babcock. Overall though with a defense like that I don't know how much more you can expect.

 

[Aceboogie]

This thread is hilarious. Back when he was unsigned, you had tons of people saying he was overrated, not a good coach, and made his reputation on the back of all-star teams. Yet you had all the Leafs fans saying that this wasn't the case, everyone was jealous and Babcock was the best coach of all time (yes even creating polls)

Babcock is not a good coach, this is not new. Just like Holland is not a good GM

I cant pile on Leafs fans though. Edmonton fans went thru the same thing when Chiarelli was hired and so many willfully ignored the warning signs