Speculation: Theory about odd D-Pairings tonight

[LucicAndChong]

I have a feeling Dubas is up to something.

Lets assume that Hainsey isnt actually going to stay with Rielly, and instead he is a placeholder for this game. Dubas made Babs split the Gardiner - Zaitsev pairing, and to bolster depth he wants them to be spread out, and also to see if they work together as a bottom 4

Muzzin - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Dermott

or

Gardiner - Muzzin
Dermott - Zaitsev

my theory is that dubas wants to see how these guys mesh together because he is working on getting a top pairing RHD for Rielly

you could also do

Rielly - Muzzin
Gardiner - ?
Dermott - Zaitsev

but I think Dubas is doing this to see how it would all work together

thoughts?

Click to read more...

 

[Warden of the North]

I doubt it.

Babs doesnt strike me as a coach who lets the GM tell him pairings.

 

[StevenB]

Babs is just experimenting different pairings. It’s a good sign, shows he’s open to change. Nothing to read into here imho

 

[LucicAndChong]

I doubt it.

Babs doesnt strike me as a coach who lets the GM tell him pairings.

I mean for one game he might, especially with a lead like this, and if he can promise babs a big boy coming into the lineup (Gudas?)

 

[613Leafer]

Babs made adjustments around this time last year with Kapanen/Johnsson vs Komarov/Martin. Might be similar, the stubbornness is finally giving way and he's trying a few different combinations out (e.g. Dermott on the right side is a big one to try out).

 

[DarkKnight]

Or Zaitsev and Gardiner have been pure shit for the last while. One of the two.

 

[smitty10]

OP: I hope your theory is true, but I doubt it is.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I mean I hope Babs is accidentally showcasing Hainsey and Zaitsev...

Rielly-
Muzzin-
Gardiner-Dermott

I love as a base..

 

[The Iceman]

Hainsey 3rd in the NHL in +/- playing the right side...impressive!
Having a great season. This team needs him badly.

 

[zeke]

better theory - our coach is a stubborn mule.

 

[Mr Hockey]

I have a feeling Dubas is up to something.

Lets assume that Hainsey isnt actually going to stay with Rielly, and instead he is a placeholder for this game. Dubas made Babs split the Gardiner - Zaitsev pairing, and to bolster depth he wants them to be spread out, and also to see if they work together as a bottom 4

Muzzin - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Dermott

or

Gardiner - Muzzin
Dermott - Zaitsev

my theory is that dubas wants to see how these guys mesh together because he is working on getting a top pairing RHD for Rielly

you could also do

Rielly - Muzzin
Gardiner - ?
Dermott - Zaitsev

but I think Dubas is doing this to see how it would all work together

thoughts?

I doubt Shanny has the balls to try and tell Babcock how to coach or who to play.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Alternatively, Babcock could've just acknowledged the train wreck pair that is Zaitsev-Gardiner.

 

[Leafs87]

He needs to ship off Zaitsev realistically

 

[Finnish your Czech]

Changing lines is a normal thing that coaches do, and don't signal that trades may be happening.

 

[Gary Nylund]

better theory - our coach is a stubborn mule.

This.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

Changing lines is a normal thing that coaches do, and don't signal that trades may be happening.

Lol one might say are you new to the Leafs coach?
But in reality yeah he changes things enough despite some of the rants here

 

[LucicAndChong]

Alternatively, Babcock could've just acknowledged the train wreck pair that is Zaitsev-Gardiner.

yes but thats not fun to speculate about

 

[93LEAFS]

We aren't trading one of our most valuable players who is under-paid entering a cap-crunch.

 

[LucicAndChong]

We aren't trading one of our most valuable players who is under-paid entering a cap-crunch.

who do you think I want to trade?

we can get gudas for either straight picks or brown + picks to alleviate cap hits

i dont want to trade any of our current d (apart from zaitsev)

 

[Polaris1010]

thoughts?

The Hainsey - Dermott pairing ... ... they were awful together.

They were so bad, they will not be together again.

That is what stood out tonight in Denver. If I can see it .... ... then the NHL level coach can see it.

 

[tmlfan98]

I would make one change to these pairs.

Muzzin-Rielly
Gardiner-Dermott
Hainsey-Zaitsev

Gardiner and Dermott is not a 3rd pair and Hainsey and Zaitsev should not both be back in the top 4.

 

[93LEAFS]

who do you think I want to trade?

we can get gudas for either straight picks or brown + picks to alleviate cap hits

i dont want to trade any of our current d (apart from zaitsev)

I misread or interpreted what you said. You wrote, "get a top pairing RHD for Rielly." I thought you meant, get a top pairing RHD by trading Rielly, not as in getting a top pairing RHD to play alongside Rielly. For works either way in that sentence.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Babcock talks about the d pairings from the game in his post game interview

 

[glue]

Haven’t had a chance to watch many leaf games this season entirely from start to finish, this was one. Nice road win! but there were some concerns in my opinion.
1. Too much reliance on Freddy. The 5-2 game is flattering given some ridiculous saves by Andy and I’ve seen that all season.
2. Defense still looks bad at times particularly Zaitsev. If only there was a way to magically subtract him and add Pesce
3. Something not right with the Matthews line. Given the recent success of the Nylander-Kadri combo, I’m inclined to keep them together. So how about bump Johnson up and move down Marleau. Johnson-Matty-Kappy could be very good

Other then that pretty happy with this one

 

[LucicAndChong]

I would make one change to these pairs.

Muzzin-Rielly
Gardiner-Dermott
Hainsey-Zaitsev

Gardiner and Dermott is not a 3rd pair and Hainsey and Zaitsev should not both be back in the top 4.

yeah i agree, but then you gotta put hainsey with zaitsev and... yeeaaaaaaah no thank you