Babcock said he hates Spezza, wishes he was never born, shouldn't be considered an NHL'er anymore and that Spezza's great grandkids are already really ugly.. With all that said, he's going to name Spezza captain next week.
Here's the part that bugs me. When they signed Spezza, the story was this:
"Following an exhilarating meeting with Kyle Dubas and Mike Babcock during the free agent interview period, Spezza took the Leafs offer in hopes of staying even longer to help the club over the hump."
This means that Babcock was there on July 1 as a part of the meeting. As a part of the whole: Should Spezza take a multi-million dollar haircut and a reduced role to come back to Toronto and play in front of friends and family - for a good team - or is there no real role for him?
Babcock was clearly a part of the conversation that encouraged Spezza to come to Toronto . . . so these words, if they directed at Spezza, are a bit of slap in the face. It's not Dubas signed Spezza and Babcock was like, "What the Hell am I going to do with this guy?" - Monkeypunk
I think Spezza thought he could just show up! Obviously that’s not good enough!
Location: The centre of the hockey universe Joined: 07.31.2006
Sep 20 @ 3:14 PM ET
Why?
According to Torey Krug, Muzzin is the only Maple Leaf player willing to hit someone. - PatC80
Because you can't hit what you can't catch.
I'm not saying I'm predicting it (at least not yet - be sure to participate in the 2019-20 Official Leafs Prediction Thread!), I'm just saying I'm worried about it.
A defenceman doesn't have to lose much footspeed to go from dependable second liner to franking embarrassment that you can't ever stand to look at.
Location: I would never let my children play hockey. The risk of getting drafted by Edmonton is too high", ON Joined: 08.11.2011
Sep 20 @ 3:17 PM ET
Because you can't hit what you can't catch.
I'm not saying I'm predicting it (at least not yet - be sure to participate in the 2019-20 Official Leafs Prediction Thread!), I'm just saying I'm worried about it.
A defenceman doesn't have to lose much footspeed to go from dependable second liner to franking embarrassment that you can't ever stand to look at.
Don't believe me?
- Atomic Wedgie
You're comparing Muzzin to Phaneuf?? We're franked
Location: Whenever, wherever, ON Joined: 06.27.2013
Sep 20 @ 3:19 PM ET
Because you can't hit what you can't catch.
I'm not saying I'm predicting it (at least not yet - be sure to participate in the 2019-20 Official Leafs Prediction Thread!), I'm just saying I'm worried about it.
A defenceman doesn't have to lose much footspeed to go from dependable second liner to franking embarrassment that you can't ever stand to look at.
Don't believe me?
- Atomic Wedgie
It's absolutely true, but it also depends on a few other factors - how smart is the player and how adaptable are they? Once a player recognizes that the ways they used to be able to take to do their job are no longer available to them, do they know smarter ways to do the same thing? Do they know how to work harder to make things happen? Are they coachable? Did they have strong fundamental skills to begin with to leverage when the physical skills start to erode?
A guy like Hainsey was never that good, but he is clearly adaptable because he has learned how to compensate for his lack of speed. He has always had good fundamentals, so relying on physical gifts isn't something he had to do or did.
Muzzin is not that far off from Phaneuf in some ways, but he does have better fundamentals already. The rest remains to be seen.
