Kings @ Leafs - Nov. 8th, 7:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[herman]

Which is great and everything but it sounds like the question is whether or not Matthews and Nylander are frustrated which is actually more interesting.

Matthews has been asked that for the past two weeks, and he says pretty much the same thing: we're getting chances, so we'll just keep doing that.

Matthews is pretty polished with saying the right thing. What Babcock has seen is a different matter.

Babcock's always going to tell us a truth, not necessarily the truth.
Like Frank E said, that's good deflection.

This was interesting for me because it's another line to file under the "Leafs don't actually care about the scoreboard result this season" category.

 

[Kin]

Doesn't seem like the sort of thing to be guarded about. Does being frustrated make them seem immature or more competitive? There's no right/wrong there.

 

[herman]

Doesn't seem like the sort of thing to be guarded about. Does being frustrated make them seem immature or more competitive? There's no right/wrong there.

Not that I think this would've happened, but it's pretty easy to spin any direct answer to this question into a negative narrative.

Yes: oh noes, Matthews and Nylander are frustrated about not scoring; have they hit a wall? is the NHL getting too tough now that the book is out on their abilities?
No: these kids don't care about winning, all they do is sing.

What I liked about this answer was a) Babcock's got their back; b) play to make the coach happy and you're good; c) Leaf-wide embrace of not worrying about PDO ('Percentage Driven Outcomes').

 

[Kin]

Not that I think this would've happened, but it's pretty easy to spin any direct answer to this question into a negative narrative.

Yes: oh oes, Matthews and Nylander are frustrated about not scoring; hnave they hit a wall? is the NHL getting too tough now that the book is out on their abilities?
No: these kids don't care about winning, all they do is sing.

Don't Really Answer: Clearly he's hiding something which must mean it's the worst case scenario.

Spin's easy, it's why you want to foster good relationships by being hoenst when there's nothing to lose by doing so.

 

[herman]

Spin's easy, it's why you want to foster good relationships by being honest when there's nothing to lose by doing so.

That's very true.

In this case, I do think Babcock was being honest here. He's basically told her exactly what he would say if/when Matthews/Nylander expressed frustration in their lack of scoring. It's a variant of his oft-repeated 'do good things, and good things will happen' mantra.

Shilton does not sound put off by the 'evasion' either and she knows the soundbyte isn't personally directed at her (she has her own eyes and access to Matthews/Nylander as a beat reporter).

 

[TBLeafer]

Babcock wants them to develop as 1st liners on the 1st line, not the 3rd.  In the season opener we saw what they could do on a third line.

They'll piece it all together.

 

[herman]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/matthews-drawing-comparisons-to-kopitar~990047
1:39 - 2:01

Babcock's full answer:

"I didn't know they weren't producing, myself. I just look at quality chances, and they are producing. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't. She's 82-long, you get up, get ready for the next day, and keep on going, and sometimes it goes in, and sometimes it doesn't. But if you do good things, good things will happen. His most scoring chances were last game. [Shrug] You know, he's going good.

Transcribed by me, so if there are errors, my bad.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Whether or not Matthews and Nylander are frustrated isn't particularly interesting to me.

 

[TBLeafer]

Remember when Doughty spazzed out on Uncle Leo?  Good times!

[youtube]VN4alFhbcGU[/youtube]

 

[disco]

It's GAMEDAY: Yeahhhhhh boyeeeeeeee  ;D

 

[TBLeafer]

[tweet]796086046668845056[/tweet]

Toronto Maple Leafs ‏@MapleLeafs  9m9 minutes ago
Happy Birthday, Johnny! #TMLtalk

 

[ZBBM]

Tonight's battle isn't the most important one on the docket, not by a long shot.  All I can say is, my family and I are doing everything we can to deliver Michigan to Hillary's column.  If we don't get it done nationwide, the Leafs will have to figure out how to play w/o Kadri whenever they come here to the states. 

Don't forget Matthews. The Leafs are chock full of folks for Trump to side-eye.

Alas, a good point (just got back from 2 hours of GOTV phonebanking).

 

[CarltonTheBear]

(just got back from 2 hours of GOTV phonebanking).

*thumbs up*

 

[herman]

Setoguchi texted Lamoriello today to thank him for PTO last yr
"Means a lot for guy like that to take me back just 3 months out of rehab"
? Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 8, 2016

twitter.com/markhmasters/status/796097190703796224

http://www.tsn.ca/sutter-excited-to-be-back-in-canada-1.603326

- On Saturday night, Devin Setoguchi scored two goals as the Kings beat the Flames. It was the first time Setoguchi had scored in the NHL since March 1, 2014. It has been a long journey back to the NHL for the Taber, Alta., native, who has battled alcohol addiction. He attended Leafs training camp on a pro tryout last year, which was a key stepping stone. "It all kind of started back with Lou [Lamoriello] when he invited me to camp and talked to me. I sent him a little text this morning, because it means a lot for a guy like that to take me back in just three months out of rehab. It kind of helped me this year going into a training camp having been able to go to one the year before and I have him to thank for that." Setoguchi readily admits he wasn't in good enough shape to play in the NHL last season and is grateful that Lamoriello and the Leafs released him from the PTO early in camp ? "They did me a solid" ? so he could pursue a job overseas. Setoguchi eventually landed with HC Davos in the Swiss league. "He earned a spot in training camp," said Sutter. "He came in on a tryout, had a really good camp, and somebody that the coaches pushed for. Not very often that the coach gets what he wants, but it's a good story and he's a guy you want to see do well, and he's played really well for us. I know he was here last year in training camp, but I think he, for sure, would be a fitter player and a more focused player than he would've been a year ago."

 

[mr grieves]

Which is great and everything but it sounds like the question is whether or not Matthews and Nylander are frustrated which is actually more interesting.

Matthews has been asked that for the past two weeks, and he says pretty much the same thing: we're getting chances, so we'll just keep doing that.

Matthews is pretty polished with saying the right thing. What Babcock has seen is a different matter.

Babcock's always going to tell us a truth, not necessarily the truth.
Like Frank E said, that's good deflection.

This was interesting for me because it's another line to file under the "Leafs don't actually care about the scoreboard result this season" category.

But we've also heard that Babcock's aiming for 6 points every 5 games (~98 point pace?).

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Whether or not Matthews and Nylander are frustrated isn't particularly interesting to me.

Don Cherry says you don't know hockey.

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/796086046668845056

Ninety-Two! Go for the century.

 

[Kin]

I forgot that games against the Kings tend to be brutal to watch.

 

[azzurri63]

Wow u guys giveaways galore. Some of their decisions are mind boggling.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I forgot that games against the Kings tend to be brutal to watch.

Yeah, this is rough.