News Article: This year’s Game 7 was Mike Babcock’s Tipping Point

[Dough72]

this word 'adapting' is getting annoying already. At least people stopped pushing the narrative that Babcock was getting out-coached because he didn't panic and break up his top line. It was biarre listening to Boston's coach get praised for "adapting" before we even knew if it worked. Not surprisingly it didn't and the biggest "adapting" ended up gift-wrapping the series for the Leafs who unfortunately flubbed scoring chances that would have put that series away in about 5.

 

[Beanzy]

As much as I believe a fresh face behind the bench would benefit this young core, I just can't see Shanny giving Dubas the green light to fire Babcock. I bet he gets 2019-2020 as a last chance. What I do hope for, in the very least, are two new assistants. Maybe, Keefe and ?

 

[Blanche Blanche]

As much as I believe a fresh face behind the bench would benefit this young core, I just can't see Shanny giving Dubas the green light to fire Babcock. I bet he gets 2019-2020 as a last chance. What I do hope for, in the very least, are two new assistants. Maybe, Keefe and ?

Two new assistants and babs on the hottest seat and grilled for his decisions for now on....Will Suffice.

The player distribution and not using stars when we need 1 goal in gm 7 is almost unforgivable...

We have a window guys... 2019 was a babcock caused dud... no way our team is playing .500 hockey since Feb.

FFS.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Guys remember when we spent every shift in our own zone?

Good times.

Babcock changed that now we want to go back.

How do you come to that conclusion?

 

[Mess]

And maybe just maybe a minor peewee hockey mom could see that Moore and Ennis were 5x the offensive threats and had 5x the energy of either Marleau or Brown and the clown continued to give that deadweight combo Line 3 minutes, while wasting Willie to boot.

Respectfully, you're confusing energy with efficiency here . Trevor Moore is a rookie and a 4th line level player .. He scored 2 goals on the season, and he is an AHLer. He was excellent in his role but that was all energy but not efficiency producing lots of offense, but playing limited minutes against the other teams 4th line and 3rd pairing D. Ennis wouldn't even have dressed for the series if Kadri had not been suspended.

Nylander was brutal in the regular season and outside a few flashes was awful in the playoffs. This is the guy remember the GM gave a new market setting near $7 mil deal.. He wasn't suppose to be "wasted" on that line he was suppose to drive that lines offense, and he had a polished vet with Marleau with him and the 2-way Brown. Nylander and Marleau after JT are the Leafs 2 next highest paid players on the roster, both making over $6 mil. Any coach is going to play them and give them ice-time to allow them contribute.

After Nylander scored on his stretch pass breakaway in game #1 and Boston got physical in game #2, Nylander checked out of the series and went invisible instead of filling Kadri's spot in the middle and contributing.. It was suppose to be Leafs depth that beat Boston if their stars played the Bruins stars at even.

With Kadri suspended this was Nylander's opportunity to shine in his preferred position C, and he went 0-0-0 in the 5 games as did his wingers as a result. I sorry but that is on them not the coach, trying to pass blame elsewhere to make excuses for their play. I'm saying that line let the Leafs down, as opposed to blaming the coach for their ineffective play.

The only way Nylander was going to centre Moore and Ennis was if Babcock demoted Willy to the 4th line for his poor play, like we have seen the coach do in the past when Nylander is coasting/floating and contributing nothing.

 

[Mess]

Pp was 20%+ going in to Game 7. While they didn't change the setup, they did start working different plays and angles as well.

So is the issue that he didn't make changes or did so too late?

Remember also Kadri got himself suspended and he is a member of that #1PP unit.. Babcock replaced him with Johnsson and AJ set up one goal by Matthews and scored the winner on the PP for the Leafs in one game. That adjustment accounted for 2 of Leafs successful PPs in the series and one victory.

Leaf fans always want to see Babcock stack the lines and on the PP they get JT and Matthews and Marner with Rielly just as they wanted ,and then when the PP goes 3 for 13 in the series they blame the coach for not switching things around..

Then in game #7 Babcock does flip Matthews and Marner on opposite wings for the PP, showing completely different looks and formations and once again fans criticize Babcock because the same star forwards don't score on their PP opportunities, but now they wanted him to make that move sooner despite the fact that the adjustment didn't work, hasn't been practiced and Leafs looked out of sync.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Remember also Kadri got himself suspended and he is a member of that #1PP unit.. Babcock replaced him with Johnsson and AJ set up one goal by Matthews and scored the winner on the PP for the Leafs in one game. That adjustment accounted for 2 of Leafs successful PPs in the series and one victory.

Leaf fans always want to see Babcock stack the lines and on the PP they get JT and Matthews and Marner with Rielly just as they wanted ,and then when the PP goes 3 for 13 in the series they blame the coach for not switching things around..

Then in game #7 Babcock does flip Matthews and Marner on opposite wings for the PP, showing completely different looks and formations and once again fans criticize Babcock because the same star forwards don't score on their PP opportunities, but now they wanted him to make that move sooner despite the fact that the adjustment didn't work, hasn't been practiced and Leafs looked out of sync.

Changing the PP formation in the third period Game 7 when we’re down by two goals is a perfect case of too little too late. The PP was broken since arguably December and Babs chose the do or die game to try something new and untested?

Adjustments should’ve started happening in February. That’s 100% on him and his staff for being too pigheaded to try anything different and just keep barreling ahead. That change in formation screamed desperation move.

 

[Mess]

Are you being ironic?

I'm was being facetious playing Monday morning QB after the fact, and suggesting things the coach could have done differently with hindsight after seeing what went wrong, but realistically wouldn't have happened in a million years..

A lot of these tipping point posts and that OP article do the very same thing but blaming the coach, once they have seen the results that they don't like and then suggesting their own solutions that might have avoided the outcomes via retrospective analysis after the fact.

Me criticizing the coaching, saying Babcock should have played Sparks in game #7 instead of Freddy, because he should have known Andersen would have let in a couple of soft goals and Leafs lose postmortem, is no different than some of the suggestions in that article only more outrageous to make the point..

If the PP goes 0-3 in the game, and in the post game show you blame the coach for the wrong players and wrong formations etc its the same thing, providing solutions after the fact trying to change historical events only because someone knows the earlier results and didn't like the outcome.

ie Why didn't Babcock do this or do that differently, but first having seen what went wrong, before making suggestion afterwards. If Leafs had won game #7 this thread wouldn't exist

 

[81Leafs50]

"It really felt like Babcock, at a certain point had decided that he’d rather risk losing his way than try winning a different way"
This year's Game 7 was Mike Babcock's Tipping Point

An absolute great read if anyone is interested

No, not so great.

 

[therealkoho]

Here is the real tipping point of game #7 Leafs loss.

Freddy Andersen lets in a real soft first goal on a Dermott turnover making it 1-0 Boston.
Marcus Johanssen scores on a Jake Gardiner drop pass to no one in his own zone, making it 2-0 Boston. (eventual series GWG).
John Tavares scores Leafs only goal of the game making it 2-1 Boston.
Sean Kuraly skates in 1 on 4 as Leafs players lazily try and stick check him, and beats an unscreened Freddy Andersen from 50 feet out on a wrist shot making it 3-1 and Game Over.

Clearly Babcock is to blame standing behind the bench watching this like the rest of us..

Why didn't he change things up in game #7 and play Hutchinson & Sparks instead of Andersen?
&
Why not play Calle Rosen and Justin Holl as his 3rd pairing and not Dermott and Gardiner in game #7?

All that could have been avoided if only the coach wasn't so stubborn and locked into his ways, unwilling to make changes that could have helped the Leafs win.

you can pin that on Dermott, but he was set up for it by 51

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Two new assistants and babs on the hottest seat and grilled for his decisions for now on....Will Suffice.

The player distribution and not using stars when we need 1 goal in gm 7 is almost unforgivable...

We have a window guys... 2019 was a babcock caused dud... no way our team is playing .500 hockey since Feb.

FFS.

Babs well do you see him taking any orders from either Shanny or Dubie? I think he sees those 2 guys like his prince and the prince's kid while he is the King. We will find out soon enough. The changes you contemplate above depending on how his contract is drafted legally could amount to constructive dismissal. This will be some very enlightening times next few weeks.

 

[Mess]

Changing the PP formation in the third period Game 7 when we’re down by two goals is a perfect case of too little too late. The PP was broken since arguably December and Babs chose the do or die game to try something new and untested?.

Boston scored 2 goals in the 1st period, Leafs first PP happened in middle of the 2nd period and then another in the 3rd. Unless you have some kind of magical solutions to change the course of events of time those PP opportunities can only come after the Boston goals not before.

Lets not forget PP are not guaranteed, as the Bruins didn't get a single PP in game #7. There could have been no Leaf PPs nevermind the criticizing the formation of them. Planing on mounting a comeback and relying on optional pp opportunities at the Refs discretion to do so, seems more clairvoyant than coaching issues to me.

Too bad for Babs the Refs called a couple penalties as it provided criticism opportunities for those welding their pitchforks.

Isn't Babcock getting a lot of heat for refusing to make in-game adjustments, and then he did exactly what fans wanted with the PP formation based on trying something different, and now he didn't do that sooner? Too bad it didn't work and Leafs scored on the PP, because then there would be singing and dancing in the streets.

 

[Nineteen67]

Boston scored 2 goals in the 1st period, Leafs first PP happened in middle of the 2nd period and then another in the 3rd. Unless you have some kind of magical solutions to change the course of events of time those PP opportunities can only come after the Boston goals not before.

Lets not forget PP are not guaranteed, as the Bruins didn't get a single PP in game #7. There could have been no Leaf PPs nevermind the criticizing the formation of them. Planing on mounting a comeback and relying on optional pp opportunities at the Refs discretion to do so, seems more clairvoyant than coaching issues to me.

Too bad for Babs the Refs called a couple penalties as it provided criticism opportunities for those welding their pitchforks.

Isn't Babcock getting a lot of heat for refusing to make in-game adjustments, and then he did exactly what fans wanted with the PP formation based on trying something different, and now he didn't do that sooner? Too bad it didn't work and Leafs scored on the PP, because then there would be singing and dancing in the streets.

Using the one-legged defender on the PK and the goalie pull in game 6 are head scratchers.

Blame goes all around. But...with Mike Babcock’s history in the NHL, it’ll be abnormality for his team to get out of the first round, win a game 7 or win a series even if he has a series lead after 5 games. His record is that bad and it can’t all be the players’ fault.

 

[NiftyMits]

EXCEPT HE DID MAKE MAJOR CHANGES. He finally changed the power play in GAME 7. You don't do that, especially when it's very clear the setup was barely practiced.

And he waited till the last minute. We were complaining all season that the PP needed a switch up December onwards and it took to game 7 for something to happen (literally just switching two players to their off wing)

 

[ToMaLe]

Most coaches, especially successful ones don't drastically change their gameplan, if you do that's actually a pretty bad sign. Contrary to what people want to believe, the Leafs have found success with Babcock so far, and yes they have been getting better statistically every season under him, so why would you make drastic changes? Especially in a game 7 where the Leafs actually played well and outplayed Boston for a good chunk of that game. There's no sense in throwing away your gameplan , especially considering that game plan wasn't at fault for the Leafs going down 2-0 in the first period. You can criticize Babcock for certain things(pulling Anderson too soon in game 6 to name one), but I'm not sure the overall gameplan is 100% at fault for the Leafs not moving on this year.

Leafs have found success with Babcock so far???????? He has been here for 4 years, one last place overall in the league and ZERO playoff series wins! Thats success to you? Holy Christ man give your head a shake!

 

[NightTrain1]

ie Why didn't Babcock do this or do that differently, but first having seen what went wrong, before making suggestion afterwards. If Leafs had won game #7 this thread wouldn't exist

This is not entirely true. Simply because the problems so many people have here were pointed out throughout the entire season. Sometimes it works out for him, but mostly it was failing and he continued to push it anyway.

So yes if we win he gets less flack, thats just a natural reaction to accept something bad with a favourable result. It does not fix the underlying problems that have existed far longer than just hindsight on a couple of games. So the reaction is even louder than it normally would be now that its actually cost us something important.

 

[Mess]

Using the one-legged defender on the PK and the goalie pull in game 6 are head scratchers.

Blame goes all around. But...with Mike Babcock’s history in the NHL, it’ll be abnormality for his team to get out of the first round, win a game 7 or win a series even if he has a series lead after 5 games. His record is that bad and it can’t all be the players’ fault.

Dubas took full accountability for the PK because he failed to provide his coach with the personal needed to succeed.

The coach having to play a 1 legged player and Gardiner at 60% because its better than any alternative including his useless healthy scratches available.

There were no Boston PKs in the 7th game so no tipping point as it didn't matter how many legs were available to kill penalties.

 

[KuleminFan41]

Leafs have found success with Babcock so far???????? He has been here for 4 years, one last place overall in the league and ZERO playoff series wins! Thats success to you? Holy Christ man give your head a shake!

It's quite sad(And telling) that you're willing to distort history the way you did because you want to push an agenda. The Leafs have had back to back 100+ point seasons which is the first time in franchise history(seriously look it up) and they made the playoffs in 2017 when they weren't supposed to which garnered a Jack Adams nomination for Babcock. Are you saying those are all failures? I think the only one who needs to give their head a shake is you

 

[ToMaLe]

It's quite sad(And telling) that you're willing to distort history the way you did because you want to push an agenda. The Leafs have had back to back 100+ point seasons which is the first time in franchise history(seriously look it up) and they made the playoffs in 2017 when they weren't supposed to which garnered a Jack Adams nomination for Babcock. Are you saying those are all failures? I think the only one who needs to give their head a shake is you

100 point season means nothing if you cant win in the playoffs, absolutely nothing! He is a failure any way you slice it. If you want to defend Babcock thats up to you, you can be in the minority, but to say he has been successful is moronic. The only coach that has been in the league the last SIX years that do not have at least ONE playoff series win, and you call this overrated idiot successful? lmfao I seen it all now.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Dubas took full accountability for the PK because he failed to provide his coach with the personal needed to succeed.

Nonsense

 

[Nineteen67]

Dubas took full accountability for the PK because he failed to provide his coach with the personal needed to succeed.

The coach having to play a 1 legged player and Gardiner at 60% because its better than any alternative including his useless healthy scratches available.

There were no Boston PKs in the 7th game so no tipping point as it didn't matter how many legs were available to kill penalties.

Dubas was being a bit too diplomatic. Mike Babcock was a complete failure this year. According to who is a one-legged PK better than the alternative? Babcock’s record in the playoffs is the atrocious.

 

[KuleminFan41]

100 point season means nothing if you cant win in the playoffs, absolutely nothing! He is a failure any way you slice it. If you want to defend Babcock thats up to you, but to say he has been successful is moronic.

Most teams don't win cups on their 3rd(but really 2nd) try. Hell, even Gretzky's Oilers took 5 years under Glen Sather before winning a cup, and it took Barry Trotz 4 years to bring a cup to Washington. Cup winning teams typically have a good wealth of experienced players, something the Leafs don't actually and the more experienced players like Hainsey and Gardiner are leaving with Marleau gone in the near future as well

Take a look at cup winning teams vs Toronto

Toronto average age 27.5 with 11 that are 25 or older and 2 players in their 30s(10 if Kadri wasnt suspended)

Washington average age 28.4 with 15 players 25 or older and 6 in their 30s

Pittsburgh average age 28.7 with 15 players 25 or older with 7 in their 30s

Pittsburgh average age 29 with 14 players 25 or older with 5 in their 30s

Chicago average age 29.3 with 15 players 25 or older with 9 in their 30s

LA Kings average age 27.4 with 13 players 25 or older with 5 in their 30s

The Leafs average age is only that high because of Hainsey(37) and Marleau(39) or else they'd likely be the youngest if not top 3 youngest teams in the league while still making the playoffs. It's very difficult to win cups with such an inexperienced team. And no, I'm not suggesting the Leafs get rid of their younger players, but experience matters when winning and if you don't think that and don't think babcock got more out of this team than you think, then well to use your words "give your head a shake

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

As much as I believe a fresh face behind the bench would benefit this young core, I just can't see Shanny giving Dubas the green light to fire Babcock. I bet he gets 2019-2020 as a last chance. What I do hope for, in the very least, are two new assistants. Maybe, Keefe and ?

Can't believe it is Dubas's decision. It is Shanahan's and gee it might not even be his, but the delegates of the owners.
I just wonder if Shanhan has it in him to hire the guy he hired. It's difficult to do because it happens in any business, no one wants to admit they made a mistake to signing/hiring a person that they then want to fire.
Gotta believe though that Shanny knows, Babcock has no more to give with group. Babcock should be gone as coach.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Most teams don't win cups on their 3rd(but really 2nd) try. Hell, even Gretzky's Oilers took 5 years under Glen Sather before winning a cup, and it took Barry Trotz 4 years to bring a cup to Washington. Cup winning teams typically have a good wealth of experienced players, something the Leafs don't actually and the more experienced players like Hainsey and Gardiner are leaving with Marleau gone in the near future as well

Take a look at cup winning teams vs Toronto

Toronto average age 27.5 with 11 that are 25 or older and 2 players in their 30s(10 if Kadri wasnt suspended)

Washington average age 28.4 with 15 players 25 or older and 6 in their 30s

Pittsburgh average age 28.7 with 15 players 25 or older with 7 in their 30s

Pittsburgh average age 29 with 14 players 25 or older with 5 in their 30s

Chicago average age 29.3 with 15 players 25 or older with 9 in their 30s

LA Kings average age 27.4 with 13 players 25 or older with 5 in their 30s

The Leafs average age is only that high because of Hainsey(37) and Marleau(39) or else they'd likely be the youngest if not top 3 youngest teams in the league while still making the playoffs. It's very difficult to win cups with such an inexperienced team. And no, I'm not suggesting the Leafs get rid of their younger players, but experience matters when winning and if you don't think that and don't think babcock got more out of this team than you think, then well to use your words "give your head a shake

I disagree, I think Babcock actually suppressed their potential with his mind boggling lineup decisions night after night. In the playoffs, he consistently gets his lunch handed to him by Cassidy. They absolutely should have won this series. Babcock, instead of being the difference, is just a hindrance.

 

[ToMaLe]

Most teams don't win cups on their 3rd(but really 2nd) try. Hell, even Gretzky's Oilers took 5 years under Glen Sather before winning a cup, and it took Barry Trotz 4 years to bring a cup to Washington. Cup winning teams typically have a good wealth of experienced players, something the Leafs don't actually and the more experienced players like Hainsey and Gardiner are leaving with Marleau gone in the near future as well

Take a look at cup winning teams vs Toronto

Toronto average age 27.5 with 11 that are 25 or older and 2 players in their 30s(10 if Kadri wasnt suspended)

Washington average age 28.4 with 15 players 25 or older and 6 in their 30s

Pittsburgh average age 28.7 with 15 players 25 or older with 7 in their 30s

Pittsburgh average age 29 with 14 players 25 or older with 5 in their 30s

Chicago average age 29.3 with 15 players 25 or older with 9 in their 30s

LA Kings average age 27.4 with 13 players 25 or older with 5 in their 30s

The Leafs average age is only that high because of Hainsey(37) and Marleau(39) or else they'd likely be the youngest if not top 3 youngest teams in the league while still making the playoffs. It's very difficult to win cups with such an inexperienced team. And no, I'm not suggesting the Leafs get rid of their younger players, but experience matters when winning and if you don't think that and don't think babcock got more out of this team than you think, then well to use your words "give your head a shake

i am shaking my head , at you! lmfao just silliness on your part. He won nothing with the Leafs, nothing! if that is successful to you then i have some rare rain forest penguins to sell you, you will believe anything no matter how stupid it is. Guys like you would rather a 110 point regular season and put out in the first round of the playoffs then a 78 point team that wins a cup in the playoffs. Like I said just moronic!