While I think there should be a "why.... are you making the goalies be more aggressive than they need to be" Questioning of Babcock. There is one common thing i am reading here which reminds me of Babcock's first summer. it goes something like this:
"Why isn't he getting the most out of the vets, I thought if he was so good he'd have then playing better than how they are right now." (or some version or other of this).
And I remember saying
"Babcock isn't Jesus. He can't turn water into wine, and he can't make chicken salad from chicken droppings, but he can at least make it look like it for a while"
which is basically what he did. last year with ZERO talent he made a lot of people on the team look somewhat palatable. the problem is - we've added talent now. So we see engaged, ready to go players, and they are seriously compounding the issue that the vets we've got, while ranging from okay to serviceable to why are you here - are exactly that. Okay. Serviceable. and Why, oh WHY are you still here.
I do believe the tide will turn a bit and we'll get some wins, and life will be wonderful, but this is actually really, really good, because even when the kiddos make mistakes (which there are some, they are not all lily white innocent here), all the vitriol is aimed right where Babcock wants them. he's making a safe place for those 100 percent vital to our future here. (now maybe that's not fair on the vets but whatever. and maybe that's unfair but whatever too).
Patrick O'Sullivan said this during the first week of the season on Leafs lunch, and i agree. a lot of those veterans gotta go now. they know they aren't part of anything here and quite frankly, they gave as much as they could, and Babcock again isn't Jesus. He can't make them more talented, and I think as is the case most ofthe time THEY think they're doing their best and it's not good enough anymore.
Which could explain some decisions for not having the kids out on 3 on 3s (this early) or in shootouts (this early) and riding the stats that benefits the vets ("benefits" applied loosely here). I don't think that excuses changing how the goalies play though, and that is making me raise an eyebrow.
but regardless of people wanting to deploy the "Leafs fans have loser mentalties" thing - which "seriously?" I'd argue it's just applying context. i think people can be upset about how we're losing without having to dissolve in a whole mess of "Babcock sucks/shouldn't have been hired/insert other inane thing here" or being THAT angry that a team who is still isn't expected to do much - is playing ABOVE expectations, despite the losing. I figure, when the Leafs start showing they aren't improving in areas that they should be with the cast of characters who SHOULD be doing it - then i'll be angry and upset. until then sit back and enjoy the good aspects of the team.