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Toronto @ Chicago - 7 pm on SN

Volcanologist said:
you can't have Zach Hyman playing more than Auston Matthews.

Can. Not.
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Honestly, if we win, he can play him as much as he wants.

Tavares had a hat trick with him on his line, and Matty found a way to get a four point night. So what’s to complain about?

They just need to figure out how to keep the puck out of the net. That’s the one and only issue right now, not Hyman’s playing time when he’s been playing great.
 
What a controversy - coach wants secondary talent to rely more on body positioning, less on speed and improve his work ethic.
 
mbow30 said:
Lol. Leafs set a franchise record for wins last year.
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If it wasnt Babs it would be someone else.

Every coach has their warts we just dont watch them on a consistent basis

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk
 
He doesn't need to be fired, he's a good coach who takes a long ass time to make obvious adjustments. (Tyler Ennis being the most recent example). TOI is a bit annoying at times but better now that some of his favorite plugs are gone. Shoehorning Hyman into every interview is just weird though.
 
mbow30 said:
What a controversy - coach wants secondary talent to rely more on body positioning, less on speed and improve his work ethic.
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No, he said he wants Kapanen to Zach harder so that he can Hyman. you know, like Zach Hyman does. that guy Zach Hymans harder than anybody. except Zach Hyman of course.

less on speed? that's Kapanen's bread and butter. he's nothing like Hyman and never will be.

it was a weird comment.
 
...the real reason Babcock brings up Hyman all the time; he listens to sports talk radio and reads sports news.
I'm sure he really does like Hyman, but it's less about that and more about tweaking reporters.
 
Never considered that. Might actually be true.

Goddamn, John Tavares is good. Insanely good. Hurry up and Sign Willy. This is quite a team.
 
mbow30 said:
What a controversy - coach wants secondary talent to rely more on body positioning, less on speed and improve his work ethic.
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yeah, coach refused to play a talented kid and elite ahl scorer higher than the 4th line for over 2yrs, a kid with elite speed who can play entire shifts with the puck on his stick, because he wants him to be a dump and chase grinder.

still hasn't given him a PP shift in his career, either.
 
Hyman has been great on that Tavares line, though.

mostly because tavares/Marner lack top end speed - they can use a Hyman type much more than the Matthews/Willy combo did.
 
zeke said:
yeah, coach refused to play a talented kid and elite ahl scorer higher than the 4th line for over 2yrs, a kid with elite speed who can play entire shifts with the puck on his stick, because he wants him to be a dump and chase grinder.

still hasn't given him a PP shift in his career, either.
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You’re right, he’s just out to get him. Come on.
 
thru three games at even strength, with my mushed together averaged stats:

Tavares: 15:24 (A+), 3.88p60, 55.5pos%, +2.8rel
Marner: 14:54 (A+), 2.68p60, 56.2pos%, +3.7rel
Hyman: 14:19 (A+), 2.10p60, 54.8pos%, +1.7rel

Matthews: 15:07 (B+), 7.28p60, 47.7pos%, -9.9rel
Marleau: 15:19 (A+), 5.21p60, 48.6pos%, -8.4rel
Ennis: 12:01 (B), 0.84p60, 44.1pos%, -12.9rel

Kadri: 12:35 (C+), 0.00p60, 61.9pos%, +10.5rel
Brown: 12:04 (C+), 0.00p60, 54.4pos%, +0.9rel
Leivo: 10:01 (D+), 0.00p60, 56.7pos%, +3.7rel

Lindholm: 9:39 (B+), 0.00p60, 47.3pos%, -7.0rel
Kapanen: 10:53 (C), 3.66p60, 64.9pos%, +15 0rel
Johnsson: 7:04 (D-), 0.00p60, 63.0pos%, +11.2rel



Rielly: 18:08 (A+), 2.76p60, 49.6pos%, -6.6rel
Hainsey: 16:33 (A-), 0.00p60, 58.7pos%, +7.5rel

Jake: 18:55 (A), 1.06p60, 49.9pos%, -5.9rel
Zaitsev: 18:20 (B+), 0.00p60, 51.8pos%, -2.5rel

Dermott: 15:16 (B-), 0.66p60, 63.6pos%, +14.1rel
Marincin: 12:35 (C-), 0.00p60, 63.4pos%, +11.9rel
Ozzy: 12:27 (C-), 0.00p60, 47.9pos%, -8.5rel
 
Think we'll see Marinch stick.

Matthews line will be just fine with kapanen (playing like kapanen and not Hyman, mind you), and the JT line is pretty much picture perfect. You know, when nylander comes back I don't mine him playing with naz. Have to think Leivo needs to be better if he wants to stick on that line ahead of brown. It's more likely brownie switches to the left side though.


Long story short, this team is hilariously stacked. It's almost comical.
 
mbow30 said:
You’re right, he’s just out to get him. Come on.
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Every coach has their warts, and don't think anybody is insinuating that he needs to be fired.

But this blind faith in Babcock is really not warranted. What has his track record in the NHL (not international hockey where he gets spoon fed top end players for his 4th line) been over the last 10 years? Don't think it's unfair to point out some pretty significant holes in his coaching thus far as the head boss of the Maple Leafs. He takes a long time to adjust to his pre-determined combinations (i.e. Hyman with Matthews for 2 years, Marner being hinged to Bozak/JVR, Hainsey with MR, etc.). There are also a bunch of players who he clearly does not like (i.e. Kapanen, Leivo, Dermott) and guys he likes despite negative results (i.e. Hyman, Brown, Hainsey). All coaches fall in love with certain guys and over-value veterans to an extent, but he seems to take it to another level.

In general I think he has done a good job here by and large. He is great at developing work ethic and creating a positive environment in the lockerroom. But his tactical decision-making has been questioned for a while here and deservedly so.
 
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