https://twitter.com/penguins/status/923537219272544256
Look who's not NOT a NHLer anymore Babs!
Look who's not NOT a NHLer anymore Babs!
2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs - General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
cabber24 said:
Seth Griffith.
herman said:
I mean that underlined part is like 100% untrue. Leivo was practically one of the Leafs best players in that 10 game or whatever stretch he played last season and went directly back into the pressbox once we got healthy after that despite playing "good enough".
What I don't quite understand is the Mitch Marner demotion. Ever since Babcock did that, the Leafs haven't been the same. Then last night he shuffled the lineup again. There's that old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The Leafs were in first place overall in the league when Babcock demoted Marner. He is not a fourth line player. He is an elite offensive talent. I will say Kapanen is better than a bunch of the other forwards currently with the club, so I say keep him up. Aside from that, though, they should revert to the forward lines they used at the beginning of the season.
I'm not saying Marner is perfect or that he doesn't have stuff to work on. He does. Don Cherry was right last night when he pointed out Marner's lazy backchecking that led to a goal by Philly. Players shouldn't have to be demoted when they have to work on something. Marner is young and I'm sure he's coachable.
I'm not saying Marner is perfect or that he doesn't have stuff to work on. He does. Don Cherry was right last night when he pointed out Marner's lazy backchecking that led to a goal by Philly. Players shouldn't have to be demoted when they have to work on something. Marner is young and I'm sure he's coachable.
OldTimeHockey
Active member
sickbeast said:
But it was broke. The team was scoring in bunches and their defensive issues were being covered up. The scoring slowed down and the defense remained terrible over the last few games.
Is Marner a 4th line player? No. He knows that and Babcock knows that. When players stink, the first step is to try and correct their habits. When that doesn't happen, what choice does a coach really have other than to send a message by demotion?
OldTimeHockey
Active member
sickbeast said:
He's young and bound to make mistakes. How much he learns from those mistakes will show what kind of hockey player he really is.
Highlander
Active member
Finally Babs is getting it. Perhaps Lou put him in a headlock. Half Nelsondisco said:
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Active member
Highlander said:
I like to imagine a figure four leg lock.
The Leafs have a really tough schedule the next few games. Chances are they will come out at around .500. Not good at all considering their hot start. I really think Babcock is going to be able to fix this though. The opposing teams have figured out how to neutralize the Leafs' offense, and the Leafs aren't much of a team with their offense neutralized. Babcock just needs to figure this out, and I think he will. Andersen hasn't been bad, either. The defense and team play in front of him hasn't been good enough. Sure he could be better but he is the last guy they should be blaming or worrying about.
I notice that the opposing teams are lining up five guys on their defensive blue line and then the Leafs are unable to penetrate the zone. The Leafs need a new strategy, it might be dump and chase or something else. It's hard to carry the puck over the line with five guys standing there waiting for you.
I notice that the opposing teams are lining up five guys on their defensive blue line and then the Leafs are unable to penetrate the zone. The Leafs need a new strategy, it might be dump and chase or something else. It's hard to carry the puck over the line with five guys standing there waiting for you.
Mike Kelly highlighting a few plays that make Connor Brown the top offensive zone stick check'er (by whatever his and his company's criteria for that is):
https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/926472778206859264
I get why Babcock likes Hyman on that top line but most of what he does in terms of board work Brown can do just as well, and he has a much better scoring touch. Both are right-handed shots so there's no difference there. Brown might not have as much experience on the left side but I don't think Hyman did either when he first went there. You can't tell me a player as smart as Brown wouldn't be able to figure things out on his off-wing.
https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/926472778206859264
I get why Babcock likes Hyman on that top line but most of what he does in terms of board work Brown can do just as well, and he has a much better scoring touch. Both are right-handed shots so there's no difference there. Brown might not have as much experience on the left side but I don't think Hyman did either when he first went there. You can't tell me a player as smart as Brown wouldn't be able to figure things out on his off-wing.