Sportsnet: “All bets are off” in regards to Babcock

[ACC1224]

I thought the self professed genius coach would know how to win several different ways. I don't see how anyone can defend this Rube. Boston was actually mocking us after they won this year in the playoffs because they said they were quite shocked we didn't change a single thing on the PK and PP. They expected some changes since it got torched the year before...but nope..steady on the rudder...all the way to missing the playoffs.

When did he profess himself a genius?

 

[biotk]

That is not Babcocks fault, that is the no money to pay a backup problem

Babcock's backup goalie usage is his fault.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Babcock's backup goalie usage is his fault.

Yeah let's play the backup, especially one who is having his first NHL game, on the 2nd night of a back-to-back where the team has performed so well. He refuses to change

 

[Community]

Babcock's backup goalie usage is his fault.

Nothing wrong with his backup goalie usage. Even if you dont agree with it, the idea of playing your backup in the 2nd of a b2b isnt the huge travesty many are making it out to be . Bigger concern is how extra bad our team looks on the 2nd game of a b2b.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

When did he profess himself a genius?

Oh I don't know...maybe he didn't outright come out and say it...but when he never says that the team had a bad game plan or something was his fault..in isolation..not "we need to get better"...but a simple " I need to put these players in a spot that they can prosper and I failed to do that" kind of way.

Have you not noticed he never solely takes the blame. He said the PP was well designed last year even though we stopped being effective in Nov.....what did he say? he said we needed to execute better...so the plan is good..the players are bad. That's the kind of passive aggressive stuff he does all the time.

 

[ACC1224]

Oh I don't know...maybe he didn't outright come out and say it...but when he never says that the team had a bad game plan or something was his fault..in isolation..not "we need to get better"...but a simple " I need to put these players in a spot that they can prosper and I failed to do that" kind of way.

Have you not noticed he never solely takes the blame. He said the PP was well designed last year even though we stopped being effective in Nov.....what did he say? he said we needed to execute better...so the plan is good..the players are bad. That's the kind of passive aggressive stuff he does all the time.

I have heard him say that he needs to be better but for the most part I don't listen to press conferences.
They are hardly truthful.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I have heard him say that he needs to be better but for the most part I don't listen to press conferences.
They are hardly truthful.

He as far as I know has NEVER said that he and the coaching staff failed the players...be it gameplan be it special teams....it's NEVER him. The most you will get out of him is the "We are all in this together and have to be better"...that's it.

 

[ACC1224]

He as far as I know has NEVER said that he and the coaching staff failed the players...be it gameplan be it special teams....it's NEVER him. The most you will get out of him is the "We are all in this together and have to be better"...that's it.

Which is true, they are a partnership.

 

[TheBigThree]

Its funny people think that with babcock gone the team will instantly turn the page. I want him gone just as much as anyone but let's be realistic.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

I have heard him say that he needs to be better but for the most part I don't listen to press conferences.
They are hardly truthful.

Fair, but that game 7 presser last year was the last straw for me.

Gets asked a tough question on game situation usage in the most important game of the year and instead of trying to show why he chose the players he did at the end of the game, he storms off in a huff. It was a fair question - one that warranted an answer, IMO.

If you're going to preach accountability, you better start with yourself. Otherwise, what kind of message does this send to the rest of the team.

Whether or not he's the root of the problem - I'm not smart enough to know. The issue is this team has under-performed for the better part of a calendar year, and very little has changed. It's time to start actually trying to look at doing things differently and if Babcock doesn't want to be the one to do it, it's time to find someone who will.

 

[Judas Tavares]

The backup usage strategy annoys me. I understand both sides of it. I'm on the "play the backup against the easier and/or less important non-divisional game" side. But I also understand the value of banking those points when your team is rested. I completely get that. (Though I also see "2 points are better than 0" as playing not to lose, or, playing to tread water, instead of going for it. That to me is a concern in itself, swing for the fences, go for 4 points and try to win the division. But that is a different argument in itself).

I also understand that Hutch was not good at all. But it comes to a point where maybe if something is not working, change it up. Try the other philosophy. Instead, it looks more like I'm gonna stick to my guns until you get me a better backup goalie. And if its the case, my way or the highway against your boss, then this guy is half way out the door already himself. If its I'm not gonna adapt til I get my way, then just kick the rest of him out the door and end his and all of our misery.

Again, Hutch was awful, but why not try him on night one for a change if things aren't working? Surely things would have been different for the Minnesota-Washington B2B, and potentially some of the other B2Bs as well.

 

[IPS]

Its funny people think that with babcock gone the team will instantly turn the page. I want him gone just as much as anyone but let's be realistic.

Who's expecting instant success?

The Blues hired Berube midway through November but found their stride in January. I think bare minimum you need to give Keefe 1-2 months before throwing any harsh judgements at him if he comes in after Babcock.

 

[Kiwi]

I'm shocked, after that **** show at Pittsburgh I thought for sure Babcock was going to get the ax

I guess if he's going on this trip the chances of him being sacked before that ends would be fairly slim

It's a bold strategy, they better hope something happens to change things because if we have another half a dozen games like the last 4 or 5 the season is going to look like a smoking crater

I'd have pulled the trigger on firing him so I could start methodically going through potential problems and solving them one by one

I think the problems are a lot larger than just Babcock but you have to start somewhere

 

[Bust]

Nothing wrong with his backup goalie usage. Even if you dont agree with it, the idea of playing your backup in the 2nd of a b2b isnt the huge travesty many are making it out to be . Bigger concern is how extra bad our team looks on the 2nd game of a b2b.

How did you feel about Sparks starting JT’s first game back in Long Island? Clearly that was a huge deal to JT and you’ve gotta think the young guys wanted to get out there and show the new guy they had his back. Babs pissed that opportunity away and quite frankly the team has been a shell of itself ever since. A 6-1 loss to a bunch of old teammates (Leo, Martin). Not a good look.

Once again Babs puts himself before the team and people question why fans want him gone. The sooner he’s out the door the better.

 

[biotk]

Nothing wrong with his backup goalie usage. Even if you dont agree with it, the idea of playing your backup in the 2nd of a b2b isnt the huge travesty many are making it out to be . Bigger concern is how extra bad our team looks on the 2nd game of a b2b.

If your team consistently looks extra bad on their 2nd game of a b2b then it absolutely is completely wrong and insane to hang your backup goalie out to dry with that usage. It was absolutely irresponsible to the team to play Kask in first career NHL game like that. It would be absolutely irresponsible to bring up Woll or Scott some time in the future and subject them that kind of confidence destroying usage.

 

[biotk]

Its funny people think that with babcock gone the team will instantly turn the page. I want him gone just as much as anyone but let's be realistic.

I don't think anyone thinks that which is why they think that the change needs occur quickly.

 

[Teeder Keon]

If your team consistently looks extra bad on their 2nd game of a b2b then it absolutely is completely wrong and insane to hang your backup goalie out to dry with that usage. It was absolutely irresponsible to the team to play Kask in first career NHL game like that. It would be absolutely irresponsible to bring up Woll or Scott some time in the future and subject them that kind of confidence destroying usage.

Sorry
that game was all on the players no matter what
And I can’t stand Babcocks coaching
But that was all on the players
I still can’t believe and get over that a hockey team would play that way for your rookie goalie
It’s inexcusable
I’ve been around long enough as a player , coach , Management in several sports
But speaking to hockey
I’ve never ever seen that display of Shiitery in front of a rookie goalie in his prime time appearance in my life
I don’t think I will ever see that again
I’m so embarrassed as a very very very long time fan of this organization
I’ve just never seen that kind of effort in that particular situation .
That’s why I say , there is something so wrong that it’s very scary to think how this team will recover from that .
Just calling it as I sees it

 

[Judas Tavares]

I don't think anyone thinks that which is why they think that the change needs occur quickly.

Agreed. It will take 10-20 games at least. That's why you need time, so get this over with. I'm very pro fire Babcock. But I'm also of the understanding that if game 1 with the new coach goes well, doesn't mean everything is all good. You need a major sample size.

A lot of pro-Babcock posters will be "See, same old crappy no-heart, wussy, entitled roster" if the new coach loses game one.

A lot of anti-Babcock posters will be "Look, remove the stubborn oaf and all is good" if the new coach wins game one.

The truth is it takes more than that, but I can only imagine how this place will be regardless of the result of game one.

 

[Trapper]

Its funny people think that with babcock gone the team will instantly turn the page. I want him gone just as much as anyone but let's be realistic.

Some do, some don't.
But we all want a good honest look at what it is.

 

[67leafs]

the problem is is that you have 3 guys making 33m and they aren't producing. The argument for AM producing is there but if he gave 100% effort he'd have 35 points already.
The rest of the team I assume is coasting hoping that 3 golden boys will get things done. My guess is decension in the ranks.

Oh and that shit show AM incident in AZ and not telling the team/management certainly didn't help matters. There aint no team unity here thats for sure.

 

[Buds17]

If your team consistently looks extra bad on their 2nd game of a b2b then it absolutely is completely wrong and insane to hang your backup goalie out to dry with that usage. It was absolutely irresponsible to the team to play Kask in first career NHL game like that. It would be absolutely irresponsible to bring up Woll or Scott some time in the future and subject them that kind of confidence destroying usage.

If the team consistently looks extra bad on the back half of back-to-backs, it sounds like the expectation would then be for the starter to essentially bail the team out and win those games. The alternative would perhaps be hanging him out to dry instead.

Kaskisuo would have started either the Pittsburgh or Boston game, and even Andersen failed to register any points for the first time this season in his start of that back-to-back scenario. That was a particularly tough part of the schedule IMO.

Maybe things will be different if/when Woll or Scott see their first NHL games. Hopefully either can be the first to really challenge Andersen for the starter's role as well.

 

[glue]

Which is true, they are a partnership.

Yeah but good leaders often take it on themselves when things don’t go well or atleast say things to protect their group. Here he keeps saying the same crap ‘dig in, work harder,’ not saying it’s not true but I’m sure your team is much more likely to raly around you if you take it on the chin for them atleast once in a while.

 

[Teeder Keon]

If the team consistently looks extra bad on the back half of back-to-backs, it sounds like the expectation would then be for the starter to essentially bail the team out and win those games. The alternative would perhaps be hanging him out to dry instead.

Kaskisuo would have started either the Pittsburgh or Boston game, and even Andersen failed to register any points for the first time this season in his start of that back-to-back scenario. That was a particularly tough part of the schedule IMO.

Maybe things will be different if/when Woll or Scott see their first NHL games. Hopefully either can be the first to really challenge Andersen for the starter's role as well.

 

[egd27]

Yeah let's play the backup, especially one who is having his first NHL game, on the 2nd night of a back-to-back where the team has performed so well. He refuses to change

And you'd be pointing how stupid he is if he had started Kaskisuo in his first NHL game at home against a divisional rival and nemesis the night before, and let he those two Marchand goals in.

 

[killer1980]

Just repeat this in your head until you start to feel better like Dubas does about the state of the team: "trust the process...skilled bottom 6...puck moving Defensemen...process...process and process"... all the way to being out of the playoffs.

We all know Babs is the problem...its been almost a calendar year that we suck. What is it about this "process" that makes you work on solutions like your covered in Molasses ?

You can feel better like Dubas. With all due respect Dubas is the problem and I am glad he feels good about the state of the team. The fact of the matter is that the team became complacent when they realized that they didn't have to work very hard to get a cushy contract like Nylander. Remember, it isn't just the start of the year that this team has sucked. It began halfway through last year. He has created a laissez faire attitude that has taken over the team. The team lacks discipline and fear for their job. If that doesn't happen this team will go nowhere.