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Leafs @ Blues - Nov. 4th, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

azzurri63 said:
I just started watching Nylander benched?
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Kind of absurd if the case.  The number of veterans who have played like garbage and it seems like the punishment falls on the guys like Leivo, Marner, etc.
 
herman said:
azzurri63 said:
I just started watching Nylander benched?
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He missed a couple of shifts (skate?) but is on Marleau's wing with JvR now.
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I knew this road trip was going to be tough -- said it would be a real test for them.  The way they've played has been very disappointing.  They really look as bad as they did before Babcock came.
 
The Leafs made the playoffs last year.  This lead people to believe that they were only going to get better which lead to a set of expectations on this team.  The problem is that the team can't reach those expectations.  There isn't really a reason to get upset over it, this team overachieved last year, and now they are returning to their regular place, and they just aren't the same caliber of team as the Blues, Kings and Tampa Bay.
 
I like Nylander on the Marleau - JvR line as Matthews will auto-draw the heavy shutdown match up on the road. And Marleau's line really needed someone who could transition into the OZ.
 
Man, this team is approaching unwatchable.  They're back to the same problems as years passed.  If it weren't for Matthews and Nylander, it wouldn't be worth watching at all...

Time to jettison the crap (JvR, Bozak, Polak, Carrick), demote Borgman (who's not quite ready), and make some major changes on defense (at least one of Reilly or Gardiner out for something different - Trouba, Dumba, Ekholm, etc).

I can't stand another year of shit hockey, Matthews or not.
 
I hate to say this because I love Babcock, but the Leafs are being out-coached right now, plain and simple.  They started off the season on fire, and the league adjusted to them.  Babcock has failed to come up with a new game plan.  To make matters worse, he altered the lineup when they were playing well, and he's playing guys who shouldn't be playing, and he's benching guys who shouldn't be benched.  I wouldn't panic and make trades just yet.  Babcock needs to figure this mess out and do it quickly.
 
Third period, let's go crazy with the lines:

Kapanen-Matthews-Marner
Komarov-Kadri-Hyman
Marleau-Nylander-Brown
JVR-Bozak-Martin

Benching that 4th line for the most part.
 
Agree with the Babcock comment, this team doesn't look very well coached right now. Earn that contract, coach! The players look like they have no idea what to do in the defensive zone, rely too much on lobs and long passes to exit the zone, aren't making clean zone entries or sustaining much offensive pressure. There's too much offensive talent on this team to be playing like this.
 
Significantly Insignificant said:
The Leafs made the playoffs last year.  This lead people to believe that they were only going to get better which lead to a set of expectations on this team.  The problem is that the team can't reach those expectations.  There isn't really a reason to get upset over it, this team overachieved last year, and now they are returning to their regular place, and they just aren't the same caliber of team as the Blues, Kings and Tampa Bay.
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This. Patience everyone, the teams is still young,  there's still work to be done, I see some trades coming,  we'll be fine.
 
sickbeast said:
I hate to say this because I love Babcock, but the Leafs are being out-coached right now, plain and simple.  They started off the season on fire, and the league adjusted to them.  Babcock has failed to come up with a new game plan.  To make matters worse, he altered the lineup when they were playing well, and he's playing guys who shouldn't be playing, and he's benching guys who shouldn't be benched.  I wouldn't panic and make trades just yet.  Babcock needs to figure this mess out and do it quickly.
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I don't know if they are being out coached.  Look at the way St. Louis is playing.  They are forechecking, they are skating, they are in the Leafs face every step of the way.  There is no time or space for the Leafs to do anything.  The Leafs just don't have the skill or the mindset to pressure the Blues back.  They don't seem to be able to make plays, and when they can't make plays, there isn't a whole lot for this team to fall back on.
 
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