Coach Mike Babcock

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

If they can maintain close to this level, you'd have to think they'll get some goaltending and tighten up a bit too, things could get interesting.

Sample size I know...

[tweet]793143695562444804[/tweet]

I know our goaltending hasn't been good, but the eye test doesn't match the numbers here and shows some flaws in the calculation of xGoals:

We may be giving up 8.99 chances against/60 mins of 5 on 5 play, but only expecting 2.63 goals against(/60 5on5) means expecting Carey Price playing behind our frantic defensive play.  I doubt even he would have us under 3.00 considering the number of virtual open-net goals we've given up.

I hear you, but I think it's interesting that on the defensive side of things, they are in the bottom 10, and on most of the offensive side they are in the top 10.

If they have to give a little offensively to improve defensively, they should at worst be a middle of the pack/bubble team.

They have a lot of game breakers now.

My point is that they are probably better than they have shown so far.

But of course it's early.

 

[bustaheims]

I know our goaltending hasn't been good, but the eye test doesn't match the numbers here

I was thinking that the other day, as well. The Leafs current play exposes some of the limitations of the current possession metrics as they relate to defensive competence. I don't really buy the chances numbers, on either side - both numbers feels like they should be higher. Also, the number of "Grade A" scoring chances they're giving up definitely feels like it eclipses the number they're getting. There's no debating that this team is excellent when they have the puck - that's a big part of the reason for their league leading corsi numbers - but, they are largely a mess in their own end right now. They should be able to tighten up over the course of the season, but, with a young, inexperienced team like that, there's a good chance they'll struggle to find the balance in that - in other words, they'll likely overcompensate at first, then adjust too much to address that, etc. It'll probably take them most of the season to find the balance - which likely means really good things for next season, but we're still likely to see losses pile up this season.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I know our goaltending hasn't been good, but the eye test doesn't match the numbers here

I was thinking that the other day, as well. The Leafs current play exposes some of the limitations of the current possession metrics as they relate to defensive competence. I don't really buy the chances numbers, on either side - both numbers feels like they should be higher. Also, the number of "Grade A" scoring chances they're giving up definitely feels like it eclipses the number they're getting. There's no debating that this team is excellent when they have the puck - that's a big part of the reason for their league leading corsi numbers - but, they are largely a mess in their own end right now. They should be able to tighten up over the course of the season, but, with a young, inexperienced team like that, there's a good chance they'll struggle to find the balance in that - in other words, they'll likely overcompensate at first, then adjust too much to address that, etc. It'll probably take them most of the season to find the balance - which likely means really good things for next season, but we're still likely to see losses pile up this season.

Maybe the chances against are so low because the first chance keeps going in.  8)

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I know our goaltending hasn't been good, but the eye test doesn't match the numbers here

I was thinking that the other day, as well. The Leafs current play exposes some of the limitations of the current possession metrics as they relate to defensive competence. I don't really buy the chances numbers, on either side - both numbers feels like they should be higher. Also, the number of "Grade A" scoring chances they're giving up definitely feels like it eclipses the number they're getting. There's no debating that this team is excellent when they have the puck - that's a big part of the reason for their league leading corsi numbers - but, they are largely a mess in their own end right now. They should be able to tighten up over the course of the season, but, with a young, inexperienced team like that, there's a good chance they'll struggle to find the balance in that - in other words, they'll likely overcompensate at first, then adjust too much to address that, etc. It'll probably take them most of the season to find the balance - which likely means really good things for next season, but we're still likely to see losses pile up this season.

Maybe the chances against are so low because the first chance keeps going in.  8)

 

[Coco-puffs]

I know our goaltending hasn't been good, but the eye test doesn't match the numbers here

I was thinking that the other day, as well. The Leafs current play exposes some of the limitations of the current possession metrics as they relate to defensive competence. I don't really buy the chances numbers, on either side - both numbers feels like they should be higher. Also, the number of "Grade A" scoring chances they're giving up definitely feels like it eclipses the number they're getting. There's no debating that this team is excellent when they have the puck - that's a big part of the reason for their league leading corsi numbers - but, they are largely a mess in their own end right now. They should be able to tighten up over the course of the season, but, with a young, inexperienced team like that, there's a good chance they'll struggle to find the balance in that - in other words, they'll likely overcompensate at first, then adjust too much to address that, etc. It'll probably take them most of the season to find the balance - which likely means really good things for next season, but we're still likely to see losses pile up this season.

Maybe the chances against are so low because the first chance keeps going in.  8)

Well, when the first chance is into an empty net half the time you'd expect it to go in 8)

Nicely done though 

 

[bustaheims]

Maybe the chances against are so low because the first chance keeps going in.  8)

You say that as a well crafted joke, but . . .

 

[hockeyfan1]

Jeff Veillette  @JeffVeillette
Oct 29
There's probably a light at the end of the tunnel

 

[TBLeafer]

[tweet]797117601902198784[/tweet]

Kristen Shilton ‏@kristen_shilton  12m12 minutes ago
Babcock labeling zones as "work zone" (D), "speed zone" (N) and "fun zone" (O)...so play better w/o puck so you can have more fun, kids.

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/Proteautype/status/803024553760923648
"I'm here for 8 more years. And then I'm going to stay for another two because we'll be really good."
- Coach Mike Babcock

 

[Tigger]

[youtube]2i4zEUHbKoQ[/youtube]

Interesting comments overall, after 5:30....

 

[hockeyfan1]

In praise of Babcock ...


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-turnaround-season-arguably-mike-babcocks-finest-work/

 

[disco]

Thank-You-Bab-cock. Clap. Clap. Clap-clap-clap.
Jack Adams for turnaround/team-full-of-rookies/life-time-achievement

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/PCampbell8616/status/913045236443738112
relgudpro

 

[disco]

"Mike, we took nine penalties tonight..."
"....."
https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/915737701160275968