I said this during the GDT but i think it bears repeating.
While yes i think there are a few hot takes etc. (and I always find the ones about Babcock being all about ego and his reputation rather funny - because I'd really like you to name a coach who isn't like that). What is bothersome is that we have a coach - who isn't coaching the team to what they are - but what he wants them to do. And we've had this for the last decade or so.
Now unlike a lot of people, I do believe that Babcock (or whomever was coach, for those who are all like 'fire babcock" to teach them better defensive awareness. because as is evidence, no we don't always have the puck. No we do not score teams into submission. When we are not on our game, we need to be able to adjust and play a style that can still generate a win - not have a game... "like this.".
It is "just a game." and i've always maintained that in 82 games, you're gonna have the "burn the tape, let's not even think about it right now." and that's probably this one. however what concerns me is that this is a response to a game where you were shut out vs a team that finds ways to lose (according to their own coach). they should have been raring to go out of the gate and smush the blues into the ground. the blues did not play that well to warrant the Leafs to basically be shut out if not for Rielly's goal.
there were a lot of things I poo-pooh'ed or hoped that would be different because of sophomore results, and trying to compensate for other factors. but this is the third year of a team that's had the same coach. while I have my issues with babcock, quite frankly this is on the players too. if the stretch pass isn't working. lug it out. don't be fancy trying to have pretty highlight goals. just shoot. that's not on coaching all the time. If this team fancies themselves to be Cup Contenders (and I'm sure that they do) they need to be a lot better than how they were. They get mulligans for the first week and a bit because everyone is gong-showy and we are 6-3. but there are concerns about overall play and it's the same issues as last year, hence the concern.
Now re: Babcock. He has got to adjust. You have a beastly offensive team. have them match you, don't match them. he has got to get them a bit tighter defensively, I'll always say that but that doesn't mean remove all the offense. (again i don't think that's necessarily his play but whatever it is it's kinda wonker weird). but to scream "fire him." first of all you're going to have to have a better option that is available. and then you're going to have to accept that some of the issues people have (ie: grinder love) is what a lot of other coaches have. Coaches have vices and pets. it's not a Babcock exclusive thing.
and for all - these are the games the Leafs need to win if they want o have home ice. end of story. cede points to tougher teams, not the ones you should crush beneath your heel.
