Who is this Penguins blogger? Has he ever played the game? Does he usually just echo the thoughts of noted plug Mike Commodore? Mike Commodore is still sore Babcock over past treatment in Anaheim and Detroit. Commodore even got salty 3-4 years ago on twitter. Comparing Babcock to Hitler of all people. He later said he had been hacked, then he said he didn't
Lay off the booze, Mike Commodore.
It is easy to take shots right now. The fact is the Maple Leafs do have some great talent on their roster, but they are still finding their way. Only Rielly, Muzzin, Zaitsev and Hainsey are trusted D. Gardiner was hurt, Dermott still young. Everyone else available on D are AHL caliber

Are you going to blame Babcock for Nylander floating around all year? Kadri's suspension? Marleau being done? Freddie the Goat being terrible? Connor Brown having a bad year? 12M man Marner doing nothing in the last four games of the series?

They were beat last night by the Bruins 3rd and 4th lines. Two bad turnovers and a weak goal against.

Firing the coach is something a lousy franchise like Buffalo or Edmonton would do. Who would they get to replace him? Who would be better.

Babcock's perceive lack of success? He took over an aging Detroit team and a lousy Maple Leafs team.

The Maple Leafs will be back. Some teams win right away, others (Wash), it takes time
- BernardShakey

Nailed it.

Leafs are a good team and will be a good team next year too. Remember what the team was like before Babs got there? GM made changes, players bought into coaches system and they got better and better.
Next year let's play different teams in the first round ok?

- Victoro311

hahahah

Don’t you hate when your finger breaks through the TP and you get dookie in your finger nails?
- j.boyd919

hahaha

What is there to say about the Pens right now?
- deadpoulet

So what? Lol

You forgot to add the guy who scored 47 goals during the regular season only scoring 1 when there was an actual goalie in the net Kidding aside JT had a solid series but still you have to expect and demand more then 1 goal in a 7 game series from your best goal scorer, no?
- Vukota

4 to 7 games, especially against the same team, is a very small sample size in a game with so much randomness happening from moment to moment. Pens would of liked more out of Sid and Geno too these playoffs...but...sometimes you just dont get it. Leafs make the next round and Johnny T could score in every game of that series.

I would agree if the Leafs lost in 4 or 5, and the coach didn't make any adjustments. This went to 7 games all close so either Boston coaching sucks as well and did not adapt and blow out the leafs, or the teams are closely matched and coached.

Which is it?

Not being a Richard here, just asking.
Pitts and Tb that's on the coach much more than the leafs. I agree there.
- Thornton22

Just because it went 7 games doesn’t mean that coaches can’t make micro-adjustments in a game to game level. Hell a period to period adjustment is possible as well. (frank) just adjusting your lines is an adjustment.

4 to 7 games, especially against the same team, is a very small sample size in a game with so much randomness happening from moment to moment. Pens would of liked more out of Sid and Geno too these playoffs...but...sometimes you just dont get it. Leafs make the next round and Johnny T could score in every game of that series.
- MattStrat

Or he can score 1 again. Like I said I don't think he played a bad series but you have to expect more from your top scorer when the stakes get higher. Sid & Gino get the benefit of the doubt because they have proven over the years that they can perform on the big stage imo

Or he can score 1 again. Like I said I don't think he played a bad series but you have to expect more from your top scorer when the stakes get higher. Sid & Gino get the benefit of the doubt because they have proven over the years that they can perform on the big stage imo
- Vukota

Among the forwards he was 4th on the team in relative CF% and 2nd (to Kadri) in HDCF%. He didnt play bad, in fact he played pretty good. Sometimes it just doesn't go in.

So let's see:
The Leafs lose a series in 7 games to a team with 107 points and second overall in the league.
Most "experts" had the Leafs losing the series.
Their goalie choked in game 7 again, with even league average goaltending they would have won.
So for this some guy with no credentials except a platform on a blog labels Babcock a fraud.
Who is really the fraud here?

Who is this Penguins blogger? Has he ever played the game? Does he usually just echo the thoughts of noted plug Mike Commodore? Mike Commodore is still sore Babcock over past treatment in Anaheim and Detroit. Commodore even got salty 3-4 years ago on twitter. Comparing Babcock to Hitler of all people. He later said he had been hacked, then he said he didn't
Lay off the booze, Mike Commodore.
It is easy to take shots right now. The fact is the Maple Leafs do have some great talent on their roster, but they are still finding their way. Only Rielly, Muzzin, Zaitsev and Hainsey are trusted D. Gardiner was hurt, Dermott still young. Everyone else available on D are AHL caliber

Are you going to blame Babcock for Nylander floating around all year? Kadri's suspension? Marleau being done? Freddie the Goat being terrible? Connor Brown having a bad year? 12M man Marner doing nothing in the last four games of the series?

They were beat last night by the Bruins 3rd and 4th lines. Two bad turnovers and a weak goal against.

Firing the coach is something a lousy franchise like Buffalo or Edmonton would do. Who would they get to replace him? Who would be better.

Babcock's perceive lack of success? He took over an aging Detroit team and a lousy Maple Leafs team.

The Maple Leafs will be back. Some teams win right away, others (Wash), it takes time
- BernardShakey

Pens have won 3 cups after firing coaches, so there’s that.

Among the forwards he was 4th on the team in relative CF% and 2nd (to Kadri) in HDCF%. He didnt play bad, in fact he played pretty good. Sometimes it just doesn't go in.
- MattStrat

I agree, I even said that but this as we know is a result based business and at the end of the day to win your best goal scorer has to score more then 1 goal in a 7 game series. Not blaming JT for the series not by any means just stating just because he is the new shiny toy he shouldn't be absolved from at least some blame, that's all

First Mr Wilson you should realize that almost all of your spread sheet, corsi % b.s. has taken a major hit with the results of playoff hockey games. Almost all of the teams moving on are more physical, more defensive teams. Your talk of what a 4th line should look like is a joke. All the grit hard working players that you mock as not worthy of roster spots are proving their worth. So coaching and putting together a winning team certainly isn't in your future. All your analytic darling teams gone. Islander 4th line with Martin etc dominate your pens, Bruin 4th line with Accari, Kuraly win the series against the leafs. San Jose 4th liner who led the league in fighting majors wins the series in OT. Columbus moves on with big physical team , Washington with your boy Wilson will win. St Louis physical, Dallas top 3 in goals against. Are you starting to get it . You do need grit and physical defensive play to win. Even the guys you mock in this article, Komarov and Polak are important pieces of teams that are moving on in the playoffs. Polack averaged 19 + minutes and Komarov was essential in holding Malkin in check. But your crying for guys with some dumb corsi number. You want only no grit supposed skill euros. How is that working out in the playoffs. So please if your going to mock people at least have the dignity to admit your many, many mistakes. As far as Babcock goes I don't believe he is half as bad as you make him out to be. First off Jake Gardiner wouldn't have even been playing because of his back if superboy Dubby traded for a dman, never mind playing him more and Anderson did not come up big in game 7. I agree he should have played Matthews more in game 7 but you go way overboard calling him a terrible coach. But that's what you do mock and read analytics which of course makes you a hockey genius.

First Mr Wilson you should realize that almost all of your spread sheet, corsi % b.s. has taken a major hit with the results of playoff hockey games. Almost all of the teams moving on are more physical, more defensive teams. Your talk of what a 4th line should look like is a joke. All the grit hard working players that you mock as not worthy of roster spots are proving their worth. So coaching and putting together a winning team certainly isn't in your future. All your analytic darling teams gone. Islander 4th line with Martin etc dominate your pens, Bruin 4th line with Accari, Kuraly win the series against the leafs. San Jose 4th liner who led the league in fighting majors wins the series in OT. Columbus moves on with big physical team , Washington with your boy Wilson will win. St Louis physical, Dallas top 3 in goals against. Are you starting to get it . You do need grit and physical defensive play to win. Even the guys you mock in this article, Komarov and Polak are important pieces of teams that are moving on in the playoffs. Polack averaged 19 + minutes and Komarov was essential in holding Malkin in check. But your crying for guys with some dumb corsi number. You want only no grit supposed skill euros. How is that working out in the playoffs. So please if your going to mock people at least have the dignity to admit your many, many mistakes. As far as Babcock goes I don't believe he is half as bad as you make him out to be. First off Jake Gardiner wouldn't have even been playing because of his back if superboy Dubby traded for a dman, never mind playing him more and Anderson did not come up big in game 7. I agree he should have played Matthews more in game 7 but you go way overboard calling him a terrible coach. But that's what you do mock and read analytics which of course makes you a hockey genius.
- johnnypie

I agree, I even said that but this as we know is a result based business and at the end of the day to win your best goal scorer has to score more then 1 goal in a 7 game series. Not blaming JT for the series not by any means just stating just because he is the new shiny toy he shouldn't be absolved from at least some blame, that's all
- Vukota

Yeah I hear ya, his lack of production, just like a lot of the other Leafs (and Pens), was a major factor.


I think one of the, if not, biggest factors in this Leafs series loss is losing a player of Kadri's caliber from the 3C spot. Thats a major loss.

So let's see:
The Leafs lose a series in 7 games to a team with 107 points and second overall in the league.
Most "experts" had the Leafs losing the series.
Their goalie choked in game 7 again, with even league average goaltending they would have won.
So for this some guy with no credentials except a platform on a blog labels Babcock a fraud.
Who is really the fraud here?
- Rang

You’re just a poster in hockeybuzz. What credentials do you have to label anyone a fraud? You’re a towel.

First Mr Wilson you should realize that almost all of your spread sheet, corsi % b.s. has taken a major hit with the results of playoff hockey games. Almost all of the teams moving on are more physical, more defensive teams. Your talk of what a 4th line should look like is a joke. All the grit hard working players that you mock as not worthy of roster spots are proving their worth. So coaching and putting together a winning team certainly isn't in your future. All your analytic darling teams gone. Islander 4th line with Martin etc dominate your pens, Bruin 4th line with Accari, Kuraly win the series against the leafs. San Jose 4th liner who led the league in fighting majors wins the series in OT. Columbus moves on with big physical team , Washington with your boy Wilson will win. St Louis physical, Dallas top 3 in goals against. Are you starting to get it . You do need grit and physical defensive play to win. Even the guys you mock in this article, Komarov and Polak are important pieces of teams that are moving on in the playoffs. Polack averaged 19 + minutes and Komarov was essential in holding Malkin in check. But your crying for guys with some dumb corsi number. You want only no grit supposed skill euros. How is that working out in the playoffs. So please if your going to mock people at least have the dignity to admit your many, many mistakes. As far as Babcock goes I don't believe he is half as bad as you make him out to be. First off Jake Gardiner wouldn't have even been playing because of his back if superboy Dubby traded for a dman, never mind playing him more and Anderson did not come up big in game 7. I agree he should have played Matthews more in game 7 but you go way overboard calling him a terrible coach. But that's what you do mock and read analytics which of course makes you a hockey genius.
- johnnypie

Break your (frank)ing gibberish up. The return key is there for a reason. No one is reading your garbage.

I'll add JT to those dummies, bailed on the Island when there actually started to be a glimmer of hope. Now they have a great coach, good goal-tending, a TEAM that has bought in, hmm, one thing missing.
- ClaudeFather

I don't think anyone saw Lehner becoming this good. That came out of nowhere.

Yeah I hear ya, his lack of production, just like a lot of the other Leafs (and Pens), was a major factor.


I think one of the, if not, biggest factors in this Leafs series loss is losing a player of Kadri's caliber from the 3C spot. Thats a major loss.
- MattStrat

Kadri is a facking moron and yes they missed him big time. Do you bring him back or get rid of him after losing him two years in a row because of a selfish act?

I'm surprised Kadri doesn't take more flack for this.... one of the biggest reasons this series went the way it did was because he was suspended.. again. If he's in then Nylander doesn't have to play 3C and he can be up on the wing with Matthews.

I'm surprised Kadri doesn't take more flack for this.... one of the biggest reasons this series went the way it did was because he was suspended.. again. If he's in then Nylander doesn't have to play 3C and he can be up on the wing with Matthews.
- MrBeanTown

This was such an even series that I do believe he moves the needle for Toronto if he’s in the lineup.

I’d be surprised if they don’t try to move him.

Come on......Matthews is 21, Marner 21.....Nylander was terrible, we have a number of guys who are 1st year NHL'ers………...Boston looks like us only veterans. Kadri getting kicked out was bad...….the margin of loss in each game was so close. Can we second guess Babcock on some stuff, sure......we can second guess everything, and I'm sure the Leafs Brass will and should in the coming days and weeks. There is plenty of opportunity to improve, and losing to the Bruins will necessitate that. I'm just glad we didn't win and then everybody is happy and nothing changes, cause change is needed. We have a young developing team. Just think about how Tampa feels!! Leafs will make changes and grow and be better.

So we're lousy because we don't accept garbage. Ok guy. Keep shaking your pompoms.
- TheSabresTaco

There is plenty of blame to go around in Toronto. The team is talented, but poorly constructed. Not built for playoffs. Blaming things on the coach is shortsighted.

No, Buffalo is lousy because they have owners who demand to be personally involved in every decision. Most recently they have fired two inexperieced GM's and a coach who was coaching Girls HS hockey five years earlier. Both the Oilers and Sabres have taken the bringing back the team legends approach. It doesn't work.

If news is correct they may be hiring a Swede with no experience. Good luck with that

Pretty hard to disagree with much of this.

I'd say he's still an above average coach, but not much else.

Oddly enough, people with this opinion a few years ago were lambasted.

You forgot to add the guy who scored 47 goals during the regular season only scoring 1 when there was an actual goalie in the net Kidding aside JT had a solid series but still you have to expect and demand more then 1 goal in a 7 game series from your best goal scorer, no?
- Vukota

Absolutely. But he was also responsible for largely shutting down the Bergeron, Pasta, Rat line for most of the series.

Personally, I thought the Tavares signing was unnecessary. Matthews/Kadri is a good 1/2 punch. It never addressed the hole they have on D.

Nylander nees to good. Talented but absolutely no heart. Maybe we can trade him to the Sabres for #7?

If the pens were smart they would have lined up coach Q. The real, "best coach in hockey."