Game 7: Leafs @ Bruins - Apr. 23rd, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[cabber24]

I am not on the tar-and-feather squad for Babcock, but someone needs to knock some self-entitlement out of him, because he's got some real flaws in how he manages this team.

Yeah. I don?t think he needs to go just yet, but he needs to be put on notice. Fire his assistants, takeaway some of his favourite toys (aka vets who are no longer useful in the role they?re being given), bring in some fresh ideas, and see how next year goes. No need for rash, drastic moves, just some smart changes.

Today, Babs is not a good coach. He?s so entitled and blames his players and is incapable of changing. His coaching regressed as the series went on. He went backwards and rolled 4 lines and didn?t play his best as series went on.

 

[ZBBM]

Also, while I don't think Rosen would have been a difference maker (Gardiner played OK most of the series), it didn't help that Gardiner has obviously hurt.

 

[Chris]

Rask won it for them tonight, but the Leafs had to win that 6th game at home.

I know people are in gripe mode, but the Leafs impressed me more this year than last year. Need to work on the pp
and pk big time and a lot of that falls on the coaches. Should be interesting to see what changes come this off season.

Have a good summer everyone.

Had less points with an 11 million dollar addition. That?s a great impression. Sorry disagree.

Not talking about the regular season, talking about the playoffs. Thought they looked better than Boston most of the series but
were done in by special teams and Kadri's stupidity (and Babcock's stubbornness). They showed the ability to play good team defense at times in this series.

Need to shed the Marleau contract and strengthen the defense. We'll see what Dubas is able to do.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Ah well, it was a good effort. They didn't lose because of Babcock, or their effort - they lost to a slightly better, more experienced team.

Was a great series, and I've no axes to grind.

 

[TML fan]

Every time this happens the core learns something.

One thing that happened to the Leafs this year that didn't happen last year or the year before, is they had a chance to close out the series and didn't finish them off. I promise you that's all they were thinking about tonight. Now they know what they have to do, and they've felt the result of not doing it.

If you believe in the core of this team and what they hope to accomplish with it, then there is value in this loss. I know it's hard to see right now but the Leafs improved this year in a number of ways. This is not the end guys. Not even close.

 

[ZBBM]

Ah well, it was a good effort. They didn't lose because of Babcock, or their effort - they lost to a slightly better, more experienced team.

Was a great series, and I've no axes to grind.

That's a fair assessment, but they had the series in hand and couldn't get it done in Game 6.  I'll grind that axe a bit.

 

[dappleganger]

 

[cabber24]

Can someone tell me why they should bring Babcock back? Why?

 

[Highlander]

Well, the silver lining is that Mitch is no longer in the running for an $11M contract.

I would agree. He had a terrible series overall. I've said it all year, he is not as good as Matthews. He's a bonafide star but let's remember who his linemate was. Without Tavares he doesn't get near 94 points.

Marner had one great playoff game, we needed 7 or even better 4 or 5 games. Nylander had one period and had no support (Ennis and Moore could have helped), Kadri (needs to go, anyone who can't keep his head on two years in a row is a huge liability), Goodby Jake (I loved Good Jake, tried to forgive Bad Jake) thanks for the memories, we need to keep Muzin past next year to mentor the new young Leaf D.  Reilly stunk tonight as did Dermott, hoping for better playoff days from both of them.  Zaitzev can go with Jake.
I want at least 3 new D on this team next year. Sandin is ready.  So is Rosen.  Hopefully Lilipad can play some right D. Surprisingly I would sign Hainsey to a 1 year deal and play him a lot less.  He did try his guts out tonight, I will give him credit for that. Anderson is a great Goalie, getting better, a bad bit of Bruin luck on that first Goal but this wasn't our year. We all have to be honest here, it was a bit of topsy turvy kind of year!. Didn't quite feel right.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

Ah well, it was a good effort. They didn't lose because of Babcock, or their effort - they lost to a slightly better, more experienced team.

Was a great series, and I've no axes to grind.

That's a fair assessment, but they had the series in hand and couldn't get it done in Game 6.  I'll grind that axe a bit.

I agree with this.  The truth is, we can talk about growth and learning from experience all we want, but ultimately they actually have to win something.  Until they show progress by actually winning a series, it?s difficult to me to accept they are on the right track.

 

[AvroArrow]

Every time this happens the core learns something.

One thing that happened to the Leafs this year that didn't happen last year or the year before, is they had a chance to close out the series and didn't finish them off. I promise you that's all they were thinking about tonight. Now they know what they have to do, and they've felt the result of not doing it.

If you believe in the core of this team and what they hope to accomplish with it, then there is value in this loss. I know it's hard to see right now but the Leafs improved this year in a number of ways. This is not the end guys. Not even close.

What he said.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Well, the silver lining is that Mitch is no longer in the running for an $11M contract.

I would agree. He had a terrible series overall. I've said it all year, he is not as good as Matthews. He's a bonafide star but let's remember who his linemate was. Without Tavares he doesn't get near 94 points.

Marner had one great playoff game, we needed 7 or even better 4 or 5 games. Nylander had one period and had no support (Ennis and Moore could have helped), Kadri (needs to go, anyone who can't keep his head on two years in a row is a huge liability), Goodby Jake (I loved Good Jake, tried to forgive Bad Jake) thanks for the memories, we need to keep Muzin past next year to mentor the new young Leaf D.  Reilly stunk tonight as did Dermott, hoping for better playoff days from both of them.  Zaitzev can go with Jake.
I want at least 3 new D on this team next year. Sandin is ready.  So is Rosen.  Hopefully Lilipad can play some right D. Surprisingly I would sign Hainsey to a 1 year deal and play him a lot less.  He did try his guts out tonight, I will give him credit for that. Anderson is a great Goalie, getting better, a bad bit of Bruin luck on that first Goal but this wasn't our year. We all have to be honest here, it was a bit of topsy turvy kind of year!. Didn't quite feel right.

Good post Highlander. It was a bit of a weird year for sure. I think we're going to be surprised with some of the guys that leave. I think they will resign Hainsey on the cheap. I had no complaints about him in this years playoffs. We also have to expose someone for the expansion draft.

 

[Guilt Trip]

And before everyone forgets, the Bruins were 3rd overall in the league. That's a very tough opponent for the 1st round. Were a very young team that will get better with time and some adjustments along the way.

 

[Highlander]

Support the Raptors brothers and sisters.  They had the guts to trade their franchise player and fire the Coach of the Year. 

That's what it takes.  True courage.  The Leafs are bunch of wussbags.

Frikk the Raptors, let's get behind the Marlies who form a huge part of our future. NBA players are the most spoiled entertainers in the pro sports universe. Do you see the Raptors at the Sick Kids as much as the Leafs or at all?  Let stick with hockey, baseball and TFC, got no time for the NBA. 

Go Marlies Go!

 

[Highlander]

Dang Leafs played well.

Bring on the Sheldon Keefe era, why wait?

Because it's part of the Dubas/Shanahan process, Bab's gets one more year. Then let's smoke some Keefe!
We need a year with some D, we got the O, sorry thats my new mantra.

 

[azzurri63]

Kadri, Gardiner, Nylander and Babcock.
Ship them out.

 

[Highlander]

Rask won it for them tonight, but the Leafs had to win that 6th game at home.

I know people are in gripe mode, but the Leafs impressed me more this year than last year. Need to work on the pp
and pk big time and a lot of that falls on the coaches. Should be interesting to see what changes come this off season.

Have a good summer everyone.

Good post, its part of the process, I am 62 now will be 63 if the Leafs can pull it off next year.  Last time is saw them win I was 11.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Support the Raptors brothers and sisters.  They had the guts to trade their franchise player and fire the Coach of the Year. 

That's what it takes.  True courage.  The Leafs are bunch of wussbags.

Frikk the Raptors, let's get behind the Marlies who form a huge part of our future. NBA players are the most spoiled entertainers in the pro sports universe. Do you see the Raptors at the Sick Kids as much as the Leafs or at all?  Let stick with hockey, baseball and TFC, got no time for the NBA. 

Go Marlies Go!

Could care less about the Raptors. Go Marlies Go! I guess Hutch will be going back to the them now. I think he and Rosen can go back.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I am not on the tar-and-feather squad for Babcock, but someone needs to knock some self-entitlement out of him, because he's got some real flaws in how he manages this team.

Yeah. I don?t think he needs to go just yet, but he needs to be put on notice. Fire his assistants, takeaway some of his favourite toys (aka vets who are no longer useful in the role they?re being given), bring in some fresh ideas, and see how next year goes. No need for rash, drastic moves, just some smart changes.

The only way Babcock could ever be fired this offseason is if Matthews blew up at him.  Which would be very bad all the way round.

I agree with your comments.  Very level-headed.

I think I would put Kadri and Nylander on an Uber out of town before I would get rid of Babcock. Such a close series the past 2 years and Kadri could have been the difference. We'll never know, but I'm not prepared for a 3-peat. Nylander... meh... Money has to move in the near future and I'm okay if he's part of that money (Marleau and Zaitsev too, please).

 

[TML fan]

I need a break from this site to allow the vitriol to die down.

See you guys later. Try not to fret. Lots of good years left in this team.