Can we thank Babcock for Hyman?

[Leaf Fans]

Yes, Babcock was singing Hyman's praises going back to Michigan and was likely the most responsible for his recruitment and development as a Leaf.

Except for getting him and developing him- Babcock did like him though. Attempted to ruin his career when he continued playing him with torn anterior cruciate ligament. He gets blame for that. All credit goes to Hyman, Dubas, Keefe and the development team.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Except for getting him and developing him- Babcock did like him though. Attempted to ruin his career when he continued playing him with torn anterior cruciate ligament. He gets blame for that. All credit goes to Hyman, Dubas, Keefe and the development team.

I still wonder why Babcock had him taking a faceoff on the penalty kill in Game 6 when Toronto was leading 1-0 knowing about his injury, which Hyman lost and Boston scored seconds later.

 

[Jojalu]

"Standing above the crowd. He had a voice that was strong and loud. We'll miss him. We're going to miss him

 

[zeke]

The weird thing is that despite all the elite talent he had, Babcock literally designed all of his forward lines around ZACH HYMAN.

Hyman was his anchor player, not matthews not Tavares not marner not Nylander.

Whatever line Babcock wanted to use as his #1 line it had Hyman on it. Whether that was Matthews line in 17-18 or the Tavares line in 18-19, the one Babcock rule for his lines was Hyman was on the top line.

Strange stuff.

I much prefer Keefe's usage. The anchors of his lines are the two elite forward pairings, and everything else including Hyman is interchange outside of that.

 

[Dekes For Days]

The most credit goes to Hyman for his hard work. The next most credit goes to Dubas for the acquisition.

I'm not really sure what people think Babcock did? I mean, he believed in him, but it's not like force-feeding Hyman minutes and situations he wasn't ready for at the beginning of his career is the reason he is what he is today.

 

[BTP]

Babcock stuck him on the first line and kept him there, through thick and thin. Even when fans and media were bitching at him for not being good enough to play with Matthews. The fact that he is universally seen now as a first liner is 100% thanks to Babcock and his "skill players need grinders to get the puck, not other skilled players" philosophy.
People cant admit that huh

 

[LeafsNation75]

Babcock stuck him on the first line and kept him there, through thick and thin. Even when fans and media were bitching at him for not being good enough to play with Matthews. The fact that he is universally seen now as a first liner is 100% thanks to Babcock and his "skill players need grinders to get the puck, not other skilled players" philosophy.
People cant admit that huh

I think most Leafs fans today will admit they were wrong about Hyman being on Matthews line when he was a rookie.

However that doesn't excuse all the other bad decisions Babcock made.

Plus at the time when Hyman wasn't able to handle passes from Matthews when there was a prime scoring chance that went away, I'm sure you can see why Leafs fans wanted him off his line at that time.

 

[GBLeaf]

Do we think Hyman will stay?

I really hope he does. Easily on of my favourite players.

on Babs, we definitely have to thank him. Don't get me wrong, Hyman would give his all no matter what, but I think Babs' preference of players who give their everything over pure skill allowed Hyman the time to develop and become more of a contributor than anyone predicted.

If he'd be stuck on the bottom line all career long, he'd never have got the opportunity to get to the level he has now. So we have to thank Babcock for that.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Babcock stuck him on the first line and kept him there, through thick and thin. Even when fans and media were bitching at him for not being good enough to play with Matthews. The fact that he is universally seen now as a first liner is 100% thanks to Babcock and his "skill players need grinders to get the puck, not other skilled players" philosophy.
People cant admit that huh

Why would people admit to falsehoods like those?

 

[Nooodles]

K

How about Holl?

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Hyman was pretty mediocre offensively for the first year at least and yet he wasn’t demoted. Gotta give Babcock credit there. Chance after chance killed with a wrap around or missed open pass and yet stapled to Matthews did Hyman remain.

Hyman’s tunnel vision and lack of scoring skill was super frustrating but there was always that feeling that if he gained some offensive awareness he could be almost elite. It took some time but he is now dominant, highly versatile player.

One of Babcock’s limited successes in his tenure here imo. 95% of people wanted Soshnikov over Hyman lol.
In general though I think Babcock was an absolutely terrible coach that didn’t have a clue about strategy or effective player development; the Hyman success was just a lucky byproduct of Babcocks pervasive inanity.

 

[DarkKnight]

Yes we can and it’s okay. I prefer colour to black and white.

 

[Bomber0104]

Hyman was pretty mediocre offensively for the first year at least and yet he wasn’t demoted. Gotta give Babcock credit there. Chance after chance killed with a wrap around or missed open pass and yet stapled to Matthews did Hyman remain.

Hyman’s tunnel vision and lack of scoring skill was super frustrating but there was always that feeling that if he gained some offensive awareness he could be almost elite. It took some time but he is now dominant, highly versatile player.

One of Babcock’s limited successes in his tenure here imo. 95% of people wanted Soshnikov over Hyman lol.
In general though I think Babcock was an absolutely terrible coach that didn’t have a clue about strategy or effective player development; the Hyman success was just a lucky byproduct of Babcocks pervasive inanity.

Any other "absolutely terrible coaches" take a last place team to the playoffs in one season? Yeah, I don't think so.

Hyman (nicknamed "Babcock's son" around here for a few years) was another great development success Babcock gets full credit for as well as Rielly and Kadri. I guess people forget all the Norris and Selke talks that used to happen here for those two...

The successful development of Hyman into a top line player is a testament to how important it is for a head coach to drown out the noise of the fans and media.

Had it been up to them Hyman would have been doing all these great things for another organization.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Any other "absolutely terrible coaches" take a last place team to the playoffs in one season? Yeah, I don't think so.

Hyman (nicknamed "Babcock's son" around here for a few years) was another great development success Babcock gets full credit for as well as Rielly and Kadri. I guess people forget all the Norris and Selke talks that used to happen here for those two...

The successful development of Hyman into a top line player is a testament to how important it is for a head coach to drown out the noise of the fans and media.

Had it been up to them Hyman would have been doing all these great things for another organization.

He was garbage and his strategy sucked. He only succeeds with a stacked team. we would have had much better results with even a half decent coach.
one of the very worst coaches in leafs history.

 

[Bomber0104]

He was garbage and his strategy sucked. He only succeeds with a stacked team. we would have had much better results with even a half decent coach.
one of the very worst coaches in leafs history.

Yet that strategy took a last place team to the playoffs, giving the eventual Cup winners a run for their money, afterwards collecting some Coach of the Year nominations...

I really have no idea what it is about the guy that gets people so emotional but the record speaks for itself and the players and the team both in the short and long-term all greatly benefitted from him being here.

 

[zeke]

Yet that strategy took a last place team to the playoffs, giving the eventual Cup winners a run for their money, afterwards collecting some Coach of the Year nominations...

I really have no idea what it is about the guy that gets people so emotional but the record speaks for itself and the players and the team both in the short and long-term all greatly benefitted from him being here.

Matthews Marner Nylander Andersen were the upgrades that got us to the playoffs.

I do agree that Babcock gets credit for salvaging the careers of Gardiner and Kadri though.

 

[Caroline Says ll]

Babcock stuck him on the first line and kept him there, through thick and thin. Even when fans and media were bitching at him for not being good enough to play with Matthews. The fact that he is universally seen now as a first liner is 100% thanks to Babcock and his "skill players need grinders to get the puck, not other skilled players" philosophy.
People cant admit that huh

I think the issue more lies with Babcock bring stubborn and insane with his beliefs in the lines he created. Hyman had to play with Matthews and Nylander and would never be shaken up even when in a game they would be creating no offence. Even when down in the third period Hyman would be remain on the top line and Brown would take Nylanders spot. Babcock was idiotic with his beliefs.

I have hope that come important games Keefe will be able to mix up lines if needed we before the final ten minutes unlike Babcock. I have hope that Keefe when we need a goal will rely on the Matthews Marner Tavares Nylanders rather then the support unlike Babcock.

Hyman should definitly remain on that line as long as it produces, but if that line goes cold he should be the first removed.

 

[ACC1224]

Matthews Marner Nylander Andersen were the upgrades that got us to the playoffs.

I do agree that Babcock gets credit for salvaging the careers of Gardiner and Kadri though.

Yep the players got them there, except last year, and the Coach prevented them from winning once there.

 

[Petrus]

Hyman is now 28 years old and will require an increase in his salary.

Two questions for the us to consider:

What would it take to keep him?

Given the budget constraints can the Leafs afford to keep him?



*edit he is a UFA will not need protection.

 

[rimshot]

K

How about Holl?

The guy the team that drafted him did not even bother signing? That Holl? The guy that Babcock kept around to practice with the team when nearly everyone here thought it was a waste of time? The player that nearly all observers agree is a classic case of a late bloomer that needed more development time? Time that only Babcock was willing to give him? The guy that up until a couple weeks ago was being crapped on by most for his less than stellar play against Columbus? What did Babcock do to some of you people that you feel obliged to treat him like a whipping boy even well after he is gone? Some of the hot takes spewed out on this forum in this regard border on the pathological. The treatment of Lou Lam by many of the same people after he left is very similar. And you wonder why people laugh at Leaf fans.

 

[Legion34]

Wasn’t dubas his agent like 10’years ago.

A lot of what babcock was saying was right. He is a champion. He knows some things...... but I’m not sure he deserves credit for a dubas signing.

going to bat for Hyman sure. The balanced. PP ok I guess.

I don’t even think the marner thing was this huge tragedy.


But Playing Matthews 17 min in a game 7 is unforgivable

 

[Dekes For Days]

I think most Leafs fans today will admit they were wrong about Hyman being on Matthews line when he was a rookie

But they weren't wrong. Just because he arguably deserves to be there now doesn't mean he automatically deserved to be there as a rookie.

 

[Doublerum1975]

No thank Hyman for Hyman

 

[Caroline Says ll]

The guy the team that drafted him did not even bother signing? That Holl? The guy that Babcock kept around to practice with the team when nearly everyone here thought it was a waste of time? The player that nearly all observers agree is a classic case of a late bloomer that needed more development time? Time that only Babcock was willing to give him? The guy that up until a couple weeks ago was being crapped on by most for his less than stellar play against Columbus? What did Babcock do to some of you people that you feel obliged to treat him like a whipping boy even well after he is gone? Some of the hot takes spewed out on this forum in this regard border on the pathological. The treatment of Lou Lam by many of the same people after he left is very similar. And you wonder why people laugh at Leaf fans.

Well of course everyone thought it was a waste if time when you scratch a player for 71 games instead of allowing him to play more and give guys off like Hainsey, Zaitsev, Ozigonev games off.

Babcock deserves zero respect for his coaching and lineup decisions. He stunted guys and played others far more than needed. Whether it was Marleau Komorov and Brown late in playoff games , and yes not removing Hyman from the top line when he was stunting the lines offence. Why would any capable coach think playing Hainsey a full two minutes on the penalty kill was a realistic and quality idea?

Babcock wasted years of this team, he never learned from their losses and was never able to even recognize his shortcomings. He was whiney from the trade for Jake Muzzin. He continued his silly mind games that he did in Detroit here. He was vindictive and petty towards players just as he was in Detroit. He was loyal to certain players for no reason when their play was downright pathetic while others were punished for nothing.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Wasn’t dubas his agent like 10’years ago.

A lot of what babcock was saying was right. He is a champion. He knows some things...... but I’m not sure he deserves credit for a dubas signing.

going to bat for Hyman sure. The balanced. PP ok I guess.

I don’t even think the marner thing was this huge tragedy.


But Playing Matthews 17 min in a game 7 is unforgivable

Dubas use to be Hyman's "advisor" because he was not allowed to have an agent since he went to play College Hockey at the University of Michigan.

30 Thoughts: Ovechkin hating is so 2010 - Sportsnet.ca

23. A couple more NCAA notes: Michigan senior forward Zach Hyman is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 16 if not signed by the team that drafted him, Florida. In a bit of a surprise, it sure sounds like he will test the market rather than go directly to the Panthers. In some way, Florida should take that as a compliment because they have so many prospects that the route for young players is now tougher.

You always look for relationships, too. This is purely a guess, but Hyman is from Toronto and his previous “advisor” (no agents in the NCAA, wink, wink) was Kyle Dubas. I could be overthinking it, but what the heck.