Lightning @ Leafs - Oct. 25th, 7:30pm - SN1, TSN 1050

[herman]

Also, Babcock knows better than to put Hunwick with Polak now.

I've got a feeling that we're stuck with those 2 still for awhile though. Remember last season when Polak started the season in the pressbox and everyone was amazed that Babcock would sit him? Once he got into the line-up though he never left.

I agree with your assessment. We were spared last year due to injury.

On the one hand, this is obviously a head-desk decision. On the other hand, Liljegren. I maintain that this is a growth process season. This will force the forwards to excel in coming back to support if they ever want to actually win a game.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I like Gardiner fine and everything but our second and third pairings are butt.

Playing your 7th and 8th (maybe) best defencemen over your 5th and 6th best defencemen will do that.

Rielly-Zaitsev 28 minutes
Gardiner-Carrick 23 minutes
Hunwick-Polak 9 minutes (mostly PK)

If he insisted on dressing this six, that's how I'd run it and just ride the top four and rest them as needed with Corrado and Marincin filling in.

 

[herman]

[tweet]790939710361366528[/tweet]

 

[rdowdall]

[tweet]790939710361366528[/tweet]

What I take from that is that he shouldn't play with Rielly or Hunwick.

 

[TBLeafer]

[tweet]790966119418961920[/tweet]

Toronto Maple Leafs ‏@MapleLeafs  20m20 minutes ago
Nazem Kadri speaks to the media following morning skate today: http://atnhl.com/2erhKpw

 

[ZBBM]

Also, Babcock knows better than to put Hunwick with Polak now.

I've got a feeling that we're stuck with those 2 still for awhile though. Remember last season when Polak started the season in the pressbox and everyone was amazed that Babcock would sit him? Once he got into the line-up though he never left.

I agree with your assessment. We were spared last year due to injury.

On the one hand, this is obviously a head-desk decision. On the other hand, Liljegren. I maintain that this is a growth process season. This will force the forwards to excel in coming back to support if they ever want to actually win a game.

Right on target.  Babcock is going to drill 2-way play into the respective crania of Matthews/Nyl/Brown/Marner.  BE LIKE ZACH

 

[Kaberle15]

I wonder when a minus Hunwick and a plus Corrado will be in place...

Anyway, this should be another fun game, hope they score 5...  :

Go Kids Go!!!

 

[rdowdall]

I wonder when a minus Hunwick and a plus Corrado will be in place...

Anyway, this should be another fun game, hope they score 5...  :

Go Kids Go!!!

Can't tie a game anymore people.

 

[Zee]

How long is Babcock going to keep giving Komarov top-line minutes?

 

[mr grieves]

How long is Babcock going to keep giving Komarov top-line minutes?

How long are we going to pretend Babcock has a top line?

link: http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=0&gameType=2&report=timeonice&teamId=10&pos=F&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20162017&seasonTo=20162017&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,&sort=evTimeOnIcePerGame

 

[disco]

How long is Babcock going to keep giving Komarov top-line minutes?

How long are we going to pretend Babcock has a top line?

link: http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=0&gameType=2&report=timeonice&teamId=10&pos=F&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20162017&seasonTo=20162017&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,&sort=evTimeOnIcePerGame

Yeah, Bozie/Marner/JVR, Auston/Willie/Zach, Naz/Leo/Brownie are all at like 13 minutes. Everyone being asked to be responsible defensively, Brown strengthens Babs' use of Naz's line going against opponents top line because someone has to do it 

 

[McGarnagle]

How long are we going to pretend Babcock has a top line?

link: http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=0&gameType=2&report=timeonice&teamId=10&pos=F&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20162017&seasonTo=20162017&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,&sort=evTimeOnIcePerGame

Wow. Now that's rolling a bench.

 

[Coco-puffs]

How long is Babcock going to keep giving Komarov top-line minutes?

How long are we going to pretend Babcock has a top line?

link: http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?aggregate=0&gameType=2&report=timeonice&teamId=10&pos=F&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20162017&seasonTo=20162017&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,&sort=evTimeOnIcePerGame

While he's only 4th in 5-on-5 minutes, Komarov does lead the team in TOI through 5 GP. That is mainly due to the fact he's about the only guy playing in all situations- he's on one of the two PP units and is one of two primary PKer's on the team.  It will be interesting to see if he maintains the PP time, but he will certainly still be facing the oppositions best 5-on-5 alot, which means similar 5-on-5 mins as he's getting now, and he'll still be a fixture on the PK.

 

[herman]

Short shifts, balanced minutes; that's how Babcock will try to ensure our skaters are always freshest and fastest. Once the system (defensively) becomes second nature, then mental energy can be dedicated more to offensive creativity.

 

[Kin]

Right now, if there's a note of concern with how Babcock coaches, it's that he seems to really try and force the talent on the team to fit into a pre-conceived system rather than adapting his decisions to fit the strengths of the roster. That may prove useful in time as the team shapes the roster a little bit more but you'd like to see a little more flexibility right now because ultimately the amount of control you have over a roster is going to be limited.

 

[jonlleafs]

Right now, if there's a note of concern with how Babcock coaches, it's that he seems to really try and force the talent on the team to fit into a pre-conceived system rather than adapting his decisions to fit the strengths of the roster. That may prove useful in time as the team shapes the roster a little bit more but you'd like to see a little more flexibility right now because ultimately the amount of control you have over a roster is going to be limited.

I'm fine with that.  He's been successful all these years following "his way".  I wouldn't change it.  Kids needs to learn the right way to play and I'm glad Babcock is showing them.

 

[caver]

online link for the game ?

 

[Kin]

I'm fine with that.  He's been successful all these years following "his way".  I wouldn't change it.  Kids needs to learn the right way to play and I'm glad Babcock is showing them.

He's been successful when he's been coaching teams with fairly particular talents. There aren't a lot of Pavel Datsyuks or Nik Lidstroms out there. While the Leafs have talent, there's going to need to be a measure of adaptability to make sure that these players don't struggle trying to be something they're not.

 

[Kin]

I do not want to be overly critical of our talented young anthem singer but "thee" is not a three syllable word.

 

[ZBBM]

Andersen .879 SMOKING the mighty Bish 8.61