Confirmed with Link: [TOR/COL] Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen for Tyson Barrie (50% retain), Alex Kerfoot trade (continued)

[18leafsfan18]

Do people honestly think Gardiner had good hockey IQ ?

I liked Gardiner, he had weaknesses and strengths, unfortunately his biggest weakness was his decision making in key moments, that is why he was prone to costly mistakes.

Again, I liked him, when you realize what he is. I hope to see him do well and he deserves to get himself paid if a GM is willing to sign him.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Do people honestly think Gardiner had good hockey IQ ?

I liked Gardiner, he had weaknesses and strengths, unfortunately, his biggest weakness was his decision making in key moments, that is why he was prone to costly mistakes.

Again, I liked him, when you realize what he is. I hope to see him do well and he deserves to get himself paid if a GM is willing to sign him.

He was a good neutral zone puck possession guy, he was ok offensively and bad defensively under pressure... i will be very surprised if he gets the numbers people said he will

 

[Clark4Ever]

you do know this team was built up 4 years ago after being gutted right, it takes a bit of time to climb to the top

That may be true, but 3 first round exits in a row is not acceptable given the talent on this team. Babcock has limited the potential of this group because of his tunnel vision.

 

[rumman]

Not sure how well liked Kadri was in the room. A plug like Marleau gets shipped out and a bunch of Leafs head to twitter to proclaim their love for him. The longest serving Leaf in Kadri gets traded and crickets.

the silence does say something doesn't it?

 

[Martin Skoula]

Do people honestly think Gardiner had good hockey IQ ?

I liked Gardiner, he had weaknesses and strengths, unfortunately his biggest weakness was his decision making in key moments, that is why he was prone to costly mistakes.

Again, I liked him, when you realize what he is. I hope to see him do well and he deserves to get himself paid if a GM is willing to sign him.

People mix up IQ with instincts. Kessel, Bozak, and Gardiner have great instincts and I would say are more clever than smart. What I mean is, they make good micro plays in tight spaces but don't always have a good macro reason for being in those spots to start with. Those guys can get eaten alive in the playoffs when the opponent is deliberately linematching to exploit that.

 

[Mr Hockey]

That may be true, but 3 first round exits in a row is not acceptable given the talent on this team. Babcock has limited the potential of this group because of his tunnel vision.

The "talent" on this team just finished there ELC's, you need to look at the entire picture and use common sense

 

[Cotton]

he absolutely does not

So stuff like this didn't happen?

 

[18leafsfan18]

People mix up IQ with instincts. Kessel, Bozak, and Gardiner have great instincts and I would say are more clever than smart. What I mean is, they make good micro plays in tight spaces but don't always have a good macro reason for being in those spots to start with. Those guys can get eaten alive in the playoffs when the opponent is deliberately linematching to exploit that.

Can't tell if you agree with my point or not...

 

[Martin Skoula]

Can't tell if you agree with my point or not...

If you control his minutes, put him in a system that plays to his strengths and simplifies the D game, he'll look smart.

Give him a river hockey free-style system, a partner who treats the puck like a grenade, and minimal forward support, and he'll give up ugly turnovers consistently.

Even in the right situation, in the playoffs you're hoping your opponent has someone else to focus on other than Gardiner.

It's like a goalie that's constantly making flashy glove saves. Yeah it takes talent and athleticism, but why aren't those saves boring chest blocks to start with?

 

[rumman]

Can't tell if you agree with my point or not...

I love when that happens.

 

[Clark4Ever]

The "talent" on this team just finished there ELC's, you need to look at the entire picture and use common sense

I am looking at the entire picture, which also includes talented players that were not on their ELCs.

If you believe this team has met realistic expectations based on their collective skillset and experience, that is your prerogative.

I think this team has underachieved in the playoffs under Babcock's tutelage. He has been badly outcoached in every series.

 

[GoonieFace]

So stuff like this didn't happen?

Stuff like that happens to all players, it’s just magnified because you don’t see every other team 82 games a year

 

[Cotton]

Stuff like that happens to all players, it’s just magnified because you don’t see every other team 82 games a year

I agree that it does happen to every player, I am just refuting that it doesn't happen.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Stuff like that happens to all players, it’s just magnified because you don’t see every other team 82 games a year

They picked the wrong play too. Matthews took the blame for that one anyway. He called for the puck when he wasn't in a spot to get it.

 

[Mr Hockey]

I am looking at the entire picture, which also includes talented players that were not on their ELCs.

If you believe this team has met realistic expectations based on their collective skillset and experience, that is your prerogative.

I think this team has underachieved in the playoffs under Babcock's tutelage. He has been badly outcoached in every series.

how was he badly outcoached in the Boston series, where was Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Willie, Rielly, Andersen in game 6 and 7?

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Like the acquisitions, seems that Dubas is focused on speed and transition game. We also added significant toughness in Harpur, without sacrificing a lot of speed. Harpur by all accounts is a great skater for a big man and he can play right defense.

Hope harpur pans out, would be exceptional to have a 6'7 monster on defence, especially with the likes of Wilson roaming around. Been a while since we had a good crease clearer.

Yeah finally we have someone that will give our puck moving d core room to work their stuff. and we won't have to worry about Wilson having his way with Freddy. It changes things on many levels. But more than that it helps keep fast small attackers from taking our net. Now with ceci and harpur guys will take a good look to see who is on the ice before having their way with us.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Not sure how well liked Kadri was in the room. A plug like Marleau gets shipped out and a bunch of Leafs head to twitter to proclaim their love for him. The longest serving Leaf in Kadri gets traded and crickets.

Marleau wasn't a plug. he had a bad year.

 

[Kiwi]

Marleau wasn't a plug. he had a bad year.

He's no longer a good player Daisy, I've got nothing but respect for the guys career but he's been falling off for years, even before we signed him and now he's replacement level

Father time always wins

 

[Mr Hockey]

Marleau wasn't a plug. he had a bad year.

I agree

 

[Clark4Ever]

how was he badly outcoached in the Boston series, where was Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Willie, Rielly, Andersen in game 6 and 7?

Where were they? Other than Andersen, the rest of them weren't played enough.

 

[Shanty]

Marleau wasn't a plug. he had a bad year.

While I don't think he's as "bad" as he was this year, do you think he'll be "better" next year? At age 40 when the season starts? I love the guy, but that seems like a reach to me.

 

[Duffman955]

Barrie is better offensively than Gardiner, he is far more dynamic in the offensive zone.

But he worse defensively. Watch some Avs games, you do not want this guy starting in the Dzone.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Where were they? Other than Andersen, the rest of them weren't played enough.

in game 6 ...

• 24 shifts - 17:59TOI - Bergeron
• ~
• 28 shifts - 20:07TOI - Matthews
• 24 shifts - 21:06TOI - Tavares
• 29 shifts - 21:17TOI - Mitch
• 26 shifts - 18:45TOI - Willie
• 25shifts - 17:25TOI - Kappy

 

[ShaneFalco]

Where were they? Other than Andersen, the rest of them weren't played enough.

I just don't know how anyone could have watched the 2nd half of the season, and especially in the playoffs, and think that Babcock got the most out of this team. That he adapted, that they lost with their best players playing top minutes, that the team wasn't predictable, that the he didn't over-play vets even when it was obvious they were ineffective..... even playing guys who were injured and having them take key face-offs!?
And then calls out everyone else and takes subtle shots at management through the media.

Isn't it time for a high-priced coach like Babcock to steer a team to some spring-time success? And no more excuses....

 

[ChurchOfMatthews]

He made a couple of costly mistakes that ppl will never forget - the rest doesn't matter

A couple? Lol! If by that you mean each game than I would agree. Gardiner was a coward and costs us more than a couple of games. I'm so glad I'll never have to see him in a Leaf jersey ever again.