Pre-season: sens @ Leafs - Sept. 17th, 5:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Mr. Leaf]

I was pleasantly surprised by Barrie after hearing all summer long how horrible he is defensively. 

[Bullfrog]

Gauthier looks pretty good. Aggressive.

Trying hard to earn back his job.

[Frank E]

So Goat just took Spezza's spot?

I didn't watch the game. How did Spezza look?

They played different lines. Spezza was tried out in all three phases of the game. Looked great in the offensive zone, especially that shift he helped extend into a drawn penalty, but had two miscommunications leading to goals in the defensive zone.

Pretty tough to say that second goal was a miscommunication from Spezza.

Yeah, that was pretty definitely on Marner. 

I thought the Tavares line looked just fine with Kapanen on his off-wing.

Most of the rest of them were AHL players playing against AHL players, so whatever...

I actually thought Spezza was fine, and I think Gauthier got lucky with some breaks, unlucky with the shots.  We've seen this before from Gauthier, against AHL competition he's fine...and if they keep him over Spezza I'll never forgive them. 

Schmaltz reminds me of Hunwick.

[herman]

So Goat just took Spezza's spot?

I didn't watch the game. How did Spezza look?

They played different lines. Spezza was tried out in all three phases of the game. Looked great in the offensive zone, especially that shift he helped extend into a drawn penalty, but had two miscommunications leading to goals in the defensive zone.

Pretty tough to say that second goal was a miscommunication from Spezza.

I didn’t phrase that very clearly; it wasn’t my intent to blame Spezza on goal 2. Marner definitely didn’t give Spezza any chance there and Kaskisuo released focus on a routine play in a dangerous part of the ice. Again, it’s playing with new players and adjusting to their tendencies and getting game timing going.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x7JT2ozornI
Babcock’s actual answer, while not effusive, is also not nearly as damning as words on a tweet without context. Essentially, Babcock feels he needs a safe defensive game from the 4th line, and Spezza was/is an offensively creative player by nature.

[Zee]

Goat definitely looked like a guy that knows his place on the team isn't secure.  He was working hard out there, which is what you want.  Keep these bottom guys on edge, nobody should feel secure in their position and maybe you get better performances out of them.

[Highlander]

So Goat just took Spezza's spot?

I didn't watch the game. How did Spezza look?

They played different lines. Spezza was tried out in all three phases of the game. Looked great in the offensive zone, especially that shift he helped extend into a drawn penalty, but had two miscommunications leading to goals in the defensive zone.

Goat looked... activated. He was on the puck, supporting the play, getting open, had like 4 scoring chances alone but since he’s the Goat and not Matthews, they didn’t go in. Whatever line he played on as the lines jumbled, pushed the puck into the OZ and got looks at the net. He played some PK and got in a block.

Gauthier was playing with all the Marlies. He knows them and they know him. Spezza is new to the team and everyone is just frickin’ fast. He had some jump at times and wasn’t Jason Allison out there, but there were synchronization issues.

What do you want to drive?  A tired old Fiat Spezza or and exciting new Goat Lamborghini?
Seriously the Goat looked highly motivated and not all that slow yesterday. He has always been noted as being highly cerebral and probably is taking his time figuring it out.  I want Babs to keep him around. 

[Guilt Trip]

So Goat just took Spezza's spot?

I didn't watch the game. How did Spezza look?

They played different lines. Spezza was tried out in all three phases of the game. Looked great in the offensive zone, especially that shift he helped extend into a drawn penalty, but had two miscommunications leading to goals in the defensive zone.

Goat looked... activated. He was on the puck, supporting the play, getting open, had like 4 scoring chances alone but since he’s the Goat and not Matthews, they didn’t go in. Whatever line he played on as the lines jumbled, pushed the puck into the OZ and got looks at the net. He played some PK and got in a block.

Gauthier was playing with all the Marlies. He knows them and they know him. Spezza is new to the team and everyone is just frickin’ fast. He had some jump at times and wasn’t Jason Allison out there, but there were synchronization issues.

What do you want to drive?  A tired old Fiat Spezza or and exciting new Goat Lamborghini?
Seriously the Goat looked highly motivated and not all that slow yesterday. He has always been noted as being highly cerebral and probably is taking his time figuring it out.  I want Babs to keep him around. 

I want him to score 10 goals as the 4th line centre. I don't see him doing that unfortunately. He played well yesterday but he needs to finish on those chances once in a while.

[Highlander]

So Goat just took Spezza's spot?

I didn't watch the game. How did Spezza look?

They played different lines. Spezza was tried out in all three phases of the game. Looked great in the offensive zone, especially that shift he helped extend into a drawn penalty, but had two miscommunications leading to goals in the defensive zone.

Goat looked... activated. He was on the puck, supporting the play, getting open, had like 4 scoring chances alone but since he’s the Goat and not Matthews, they didn’t go in. Whatever line he played on as the lines jumbled, pushed the puck into the OZ and got looks at the net. He played some PK and got in a block.

Gauthier was playing with all the Marlies. He knows them and they know him. Spezza is new to the team and everyone is just frickin’ fast. He had some jump at times and wasn’t Jason Allison out there, but there were synchronization issues.

What do you want to drive?  A tired old Fiat Spezza or and exciting new Goat Lamborghini?
Seriously the Goat looked highly motivated and not all that slow yesterday. He has always been noted as being highly cerebral and probably is taking his time figuring it out.  I want Babs to keep him around. 

I want him to score 10 goals as the 4th line centre. I don't see him doing that unfortunately. He played well yesterday but he needs to finish on those chances once in a while.

Hey the Goat has hooves not hands, give a Goat a break.     Actually he can do 10,  4 scoring chances a game,  in 8 Games that is 32 shots, one of those is going to go in every 8 games, even if he has to use his horn nubs.

[hockeyfan1]

Of the dfencemen, liked what Jordan Schmaltz brought — good luck carrying skills, able to pick up loose pucks and advance the offence from there, or quarterbacking from his position. 
(Similar to when Gardiner used to be on the ice 5v5 and quarterbacked the offence somewhat).