Just pick one. What is this, participation awards??
- Hockey_Reverend

There can be only one.

No, it's that he needs to power trip Dubas. Pure and simple.

His enormous ego won't allow him to be told who to dress. He talks all the time about wanting "gud pros"..."gud people"...healthy scratching a LONG TIME NHL vet in his home debut with his new club in his hometown is petty, and is not reflective of the values he says he wants in his players. Talk the talk, walk the walk.

If there was an obvious difference between Shore and Spezza sure. If he didn't already say he'd play Friday, sure. I'm sure tomorrow's practice is going to be a doozy with 3 hours of systems and teaching occurring that will make sure Spezza is ready for the Blue Jackets.

Not that it matters, but I've generally supported Babcock in the face of his critics - he's lost me on this one. Not how you treat a vet on the first day of the season.
- Deeps27

Ya, seems petty.

I think there’s some merit to this.

But I also don’t think it’s a big deal.

Trying to stay pumped for the game tonight.

The only way to prevent any issue/focus/sideshow of tonight being about Spezza playing for the arch rival Leafs against his former team Ottawa, is to not start Spezza...this is actually a good PR move that protects both the Leafs and Spezza, and it preserves the focus on the Leafs as a team unit and their C announcement on opening night...this has nothing to do with Babcock, or to do with Spezza's pre-season performance compared to Shore..

The fact that this is being made an issue by the media is really pitiful, but also shows just how far the Leafs have come.

The true irony of Spezza being a Leaf?......Leafs over Dallas in SCF.
- jimi james

My guess as well!

Bowen speculating that it’s two captains.

I’ve thight about that, not a terrible idea.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

The thought has crossed my mind but it didn't feel like something that an organisation like the Leafs would do.

I would be surprised if it does happen. But if it I assume Snakevares for home and Matthews for the road.

Can we stop stressing about the 12th forward? I'm excited to watch forwards 1-3, and to a lesser extent, 4-7

Can we stop stressing about the 12th forward? I'm excited to watch forwards 1-3, and to a lesser extent, 4-7
- BestRapperAlive

It's Babcock so forwards 1-3 are the Kerfoot line.

It's Babcock so forwards 1-3 are the Kerfoot line.
- markmark

probably...

It's Babcock so forwards 1-3 are the Kerfoot line.
- markmark

Anyone else at 0% job productivity right now because all you can think about is the game??

Gotta love Leafs fans.

Babs was an idiot for giving Marleau too much ice time.

Babs is an arsehole for not dressing Spezza.
- Atomic Wedgie

How is this the same thing?

They are facing the likely 30th or 31st place team, who Spezza used to play for, it's the opening game in his hometown for his new team he took a major haircut to sign with, he didn't exactly get lapped by Shore in the preseason, has already been told he's playing two days later in Columbus - it's obvious what this move is all about, and that's a coach being on a power trip.

It's disrespectful to an NHL veteran that has earned better treatment from his head coach. These things matter. What happened to the safe place he was creating for his players? Be a man and cut him then if he's not going to play for you. $700K is inconsequential to this team.

Babcock is an idiot for giving Marleau the ice time he gave him last year, especially in the playoffs, especially in game 7.

I'm not too worried about spezza or his feelings

Anyone else at 0% job productivity right now because all you can think about is the game??


- Hockey_Reverend

Yep. Tomorrow isn’t looking promising either. Then a Friday game. It might just be a write off this week for work.

Ya, seems petty.

I think there’s some merit to this.

But I also don’t think it’s a big deal.

Trying to stay pumped for the game tonight.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

It's not a big deal kn the grand scheme - you're right. It just shows his character that he needs to embarrass a guy like this the night the whole league will be watching. He did this with a purpose - whatever it is - and it stinks.

How is this the same thing?

They are facing the likely 30th or 31st place team, who Spezza used to play for, it's the opening game in his hometown for his new team he took a major haircut to sign with, he didn't exactly get lapped by Shore in the preseason, has already been told he's playing two days later in Columbus - it's obvious what this move is all about, and that's a coach being on a power trip.

It's disrespectful to an NHL veteran that has earned better treatment from his head coach. These things matter. What happened to the safe place he was creating for his players? Be a man and cut him then if he's not going to play for you. $700K is inconsequential to this team.

Babcock is an idiot for giving Marleau the ice time he gave him last year, especially in the playoffs, especially in game 7.
- Deeps27

Gotta disagree. Listening to Dubas talk about the Spezza signing it sounded like everybody was quite clear that he would be a fringy type guy. Dubas has never sounded like a guy invested in the idea of Spezza getting any amount of ice time.

I'm not too worried about spezza or his feelings
- Lucas.Neilson

Spezza will not finish the season with the Leafs. Will be either cut to the AHL or will retire.

You've heard it here first.

How is this the same thing?

They are facing the likely 30th or 31st place team, who Spezza used to play for, it's the opening game in his hometown for his new team he took a major haircut to sign with, he didn't exactly get lapped by Shore in the preseason, has already been told he's playing two days later in Columbus - it's obvious what this move is all about, and that's a coach being on a power trip.

It's disrespectful to an NHL veteran that has earned better treatment from his head coach. These things matter. What happened to the safe place he was creating for his players? Be a man and cut him then if he's not going to play for you. $700K is inconsequential to this team.

Babcock is an idiot for giving Marleau the ice time he gave him last year, especially in the playoffs, especially in game 7.
- Deeps27

How dare Dubas or 30 other GMs not sign Phaneuf to a contract. He’s a 15 year veteran damn it! Time to treat veterans with respect.

Someone should of gave him a 700K contract and played him the first game of the season out of respect.

Mark Masters

Babcock says Spezza will play Friday in Columbus

They want to give him time to get up to speed on PK

I'm not too worried about spezza or his feelings
- Lucas.Neilson

It's a sign that for all their camp fire chanting and singing kumbaya like they said, the GM and Coach of the Leafs are not only not on the same page, they are probably reading different books. That's the real rub. And he chose a veteran that signed here for a major haircut to embarrass on opening night as a passive aggressive way to make his point to the GM. Worried about that? I am.

How is this the same thing?

They are facing the likely 30th or 31st place team, who Spezza used to play for, it's the opening game in his hometown for his new team he took a major haircut to sign with, he didn't exactly get lapped by Shore in the preseason, has already been told he's playing two days later in Columbus - it's obvious what this move is all about, and that's a coach being on a power trip.

It's disrespectful to an NHL veteran that has earned better treatment from his head coach. These things matter. What happened to the safe place he was creating for his players? Be a man and cut him then if he's not going to play for you. $700K is inconsequential to this team.

Babcock is an idiot for giving Marleau the ice time he gave him last year, especially in the playoffs, especially in game 7.
- Deeps27

I don’t give a flying frank what Spezza did for Ottawa.

I don’t give a flying frank what he is getting paid.

Spezza did not earn a slot tonight.

Winning is everything.

Trade nylander
- MaximusAurelius

cause trading Nylander will make the Leafs better then a wildcard team?

I don’t give a flying frank what Spezza did for Ottawa.

I don’t give a flying frank what he is getting paid.

Spezza did not earn a slot tonight.

Winning is everything.
- Atomic Wedgie

What happens if we lose tonight?

It's a sign that for all their camp fire chanting and singing kumbaya like they said, the GM and Coach of the Leafs are not only not on the same page, they are probably reading different books. That's the real rub. And he chose a veteran that signed here for a major haircut to embarrass on opening night as a passive aggressive way to make his point to the GM. Worried about that? I am.
- Deeps27

1: Spezza is finished, wouldn't have gotten much more anywhere else.

2: "Passive aggresive way to make his point to the GM"? You think Babcock needs this? That he won't just go to Dubas and tell him what he thinks

That would actually be funny.

Matthews parties to hard on weekends so he can only be captain through the week.
- bryant

Gotta disagree. Listening to Dubas talk about the Spezza signing it sounded like everybody was quite clear that he would be a fringy type guy. Dubas has never sounded like a guy invested in the idea of Spezza getting any amount of ice time.
- The Law

Check out the Leafs Twitter feed.

Looks like we get another scarf tonight.

Thanks, MLSEL. I really needed another Leafs scarf.

And apparently that Roots thing is an “arena scarf.”

Whatever the frank that means.

1: Spezza is finished, wouldn't have gotten much more anywhere else.

2: "Passive aggresive way to make his point to the GM"? You think Babcock needs this? That he won't just go to Dubas and tell him what he thinks
- Scabeh

Yes. Yes, I do.