Messages

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2019/20 Leafs Game Day Threads / Re: Leafs @ Coyotes - Thursday November 21, 2019 - 21:00 EST - Sportsnet Ontario

« on: Today at 01:00:48 PM »

I wouldn't mind seeing Matthews go off tonight in his hometown and then partying at his condo complex later on...oh wait scratch that second part.

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Today at 12:50:21 PM »

Dubas sure loves publicly taking the blame.

Dubas admits he and Babcock couldn't "become simpatico" on a lot of issues and he blames himself for that.

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) November 21, 2019

Dubas on #Leafs turning page: "[Players] never once put any blame on the coaching staff and were always looking inward. A lot of blame should go to me. Even speaking to the players yesterday, they're excited, it's a fresh challenge, and they view that it's their time to step up"

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) November 21, 2019

Babcock would agree that it’s all Dubas’ fault

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Today at 12:10:32 PM »

I have mixed feelings on this. I think I side with Nik and others, that I thought Babcock would finish out the season and would even have the chance to be unsuccessful. I think some are underestimating the success this has had with a very young roster. Even making the playoffs a couple of years ago was over-acheiving. And while I suppose it's easy to dismiss, a 7th game exit to one of the best teams in the league is impressive; at the least, it's not some abject failure.

With regard to their current underachieving, this is much more than just the coach. Some of the players are not playing to their abilities and the roster needs some adjustments.

That said, changing the coach is probably the only practical option aside from just riding it out. I sincerely hope Keefe turns out to be some wonder coach, but you can't deny he has no NHL experience and that it's a risk. As was pointed out previously, this is an important time for this roster with Marner and Matthews on 5 year deals.

Wasting another year wasn’t an option. Maybe Keefe works maybe he doesn’t, but I don’t think Babcock would have gotten this team to turn it around. Too many players just didn’t see eye to eye with him according to reports. Team was playing listless and a change had to be made.

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Today at 09:03:29 AM »

Coaches are hired to be fired.

Now I'm curious...of the first 30 Leafs coaches is there anyone who wasn't fired? Tom Watt I suppose, but he's the only one in the last 40-50 years.

NHL-wide the only name that springs to mind is Scotty Bowman retiring from coaching (and went out in style with a Cup with the Wings).

Just look at the current NHL landscape, how many coaches last beyond 4-5 years, even those that won cups?  Quenneville had 2 long stints with St. Louis and Chicago but he's the exception. 

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Yesterday at 09:15:27 PM »

Another side note that I'm sure has been mentioned on Twitter but aside from temporary in-season replacements, you have to go back to John Brophy for a Leafs coach to be making his NHL coaching debut with the club.

Also hired by a young GM.

Gerry McNamara wasn’t that young as GM of the Leafs

Dammit.  I thought it was Stellick.  WHY ARE YOU SUCH A HISTORIAN ZEE?!?!?!?

I lived through it man. I still remember the blood on Brophy’s Snow White hair during a game cause he bashed into something and didn’t want it looked at

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Yesterday at 09:06:45 PM »

Another side note that I'm sure has been mentioned on Twitter but aside from temporary in-season replacements, you have to go back to John Brophy for a Leafs coach to be making his NHL coaching debut with the club.

Also hired by a young GM.

Gerry McNamara wasn’t that young as GM of the Leafs

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Yesterday at 06:27:06 PM »

Should have fired Dubas as well

Yep.

In what world does a GM get 18 months, doesn’t get to hire his own coach and gets fired?

As in should have, obviously it would have been unorthodox for Dubas to be fired as well.

I wouldn't have hired Dubas, I would have gone with Hunter.

His 3 big re-signings were not "wins". He bungled the back up goalie situation. Both defensemen trades this summer were big misses. I have reasons why i have doubt in Dubas' ability.

As astray Babcock went in his performance, Dubas has been just as culpable.

Contracts aside you’re basing this on the teams and players performance the first 23 games. If they turn it around and look good are the d signings and goalie situation better? Winning fixes a lot of things.

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Yesterday at 05:51:54 PM »

Should have fired Dubas as well

Yep.

In what world does a GM get 18 months, doesn’t get to hire his own coach and gets fired?

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: WHOA - Mike Babcock OUT | Sheldon Keefe IN

« on: Yesterday at 05:00:56 PM »

Heard on overdrive as I was driving home I almost swerved off the road

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2019/20 Leafs Game Day Threads / Re: Leafs @ Golden Knights - Nov. 19th, 10:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

« on: Yesterday at 02:32:15 PM »

If you do the numbers 5-on-5 I think you'll see an even starker difference.

Only Andreas 0.17 vs 0.08 and Mitch 0.39 vs 0.26 and John 0.31 vs 0.23 have had upticks in their PP points per game. Everyone else is on par or lower. I'm not sure how stark that is. 

I'd say it's a good thing power play goals count just the same.

Just by way of example, Marner has 4 points 5-on-5 in 18 games this year. That is atrocious. Last year he had 58 points 5-on-5 in 82 games.

Hi Strange, how did you get 4 points 5 on 5 for Marner?  According to NHL stats he has 18 points, 7 on the PP and 1 shorthanded so that would imply 10 points when even strength no?

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General Rumours & Speculation / Re: Armchair GM 2019-2020

« on: Yesterday at 01:22:13 PM »

Saw this idea on some trade rumour site. Wanted to run this by the fans here. Trade Tyson Barrie for TJ Brody from Calgary. Thoughts?

TJ Brodie collapsed in practice and is undergoing a series of tests.  Probably not the guy you'd want to trade for at the moment.  Health wise I hope he is ok.

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2019/20 Leafs Game Day Threads / Re: Leafs @ Golden Knights - Nov. 19th, 10:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

« on: Yesterday at 12:55:06 PM »

If you do the numbers 5-on-5 I think you'll see an even starker difference.

Only Andreas 0.17 vs 0.08 and Mitch 0.39 vs 0.26 and John 0.31 vs 0.23 have had upticks in their PP points per game. Everyone else is on par or lower. I'm not sure how stark that is. 

I'd say it's a good thing power play goals count just the same.

The issue is you spend more time 5 on 5 during games than on the PP.  If you’re only producing while on the PP for what, 5 minutes a game what are you doing the other 14–15 minutes you’re playing?

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Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Leafs 2019/2020 Schedule in 10 game chunks

« on: Yesterday at 08:40:08 AM »

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2019/20 Leafs Game Day Threads / Re: Leafs @ Golden Knights - Nov. 19th, 10:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

« on: November 19, 2019, 03:15:14 PM »

Teased us with Rielly-Holl but didn't go for it in game.  Well at least Barrie is on the 3rd pair, maybe he can get some confidence playing against weaker competition?  I mean could it get any worse?

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2019/20 Leafs Game Day Threads / Re: Leafs @ Golden Knights - Nov. 19th, 10:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

« on: November 19, 2019, 10:35:28 AM »

 Nice job. Reaves at 99 hits already, Keep your head up boys!

Nylander will challenge Reaves to a fight and absolutely destroy him tonight