It's almost like you know me because my friend and I will *always* hate Fleury for shooting the puck off of the American player to lose us the WJC Gold. We used to refer to him as the only goalie who could easily snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

He choked against Montreal last year, but he was stellar against Colorado. The numbers aren't always there, but some of the saves he made in that series were otherworldly. A few years back Washington demolished Vegas in the finals, but the only reason Vegas was even there to get demolished was because of Fleury.

He is someone who can rise the occasion if Price isn't available.

If Price is available, he should be the starter - there's no doubt. There's also not a lot of options!

Then they need to start bribing children to become goalies so that we're not SOL in 2026.
- Monkeypunk

2026 shouldn't be a problem.. Hopefully, by then Ian Scott will have established himself as a full time NHL'er and lead the Leafs to a Cup win.. Either that, or, he'll be traded and never play a game in the NHL.

Unreal.

The Spezza thing was (frank)ed. Babs said he didn't know their systems yet - wtf?!

Then Spezza steps in and has been consistently rock solid - the definition of a 'good pro'.

It's hard to imagine the sad mentality that needs to spoil other people's moments.
- Zezel

When you view yourself as God Emperor of Coaching, anyone else's milestones threatens to detract from your all-encompassing ego.

2026 shouldn't be a problem.. Hopefully, by then Ian Scott will have established himself as a full time NHL'er and lead the Leafs to a Cup win.. Either that, or, he'll be traded and never play a game in the NHL.
- PatC80

Or he'll be traded and win a cup with the bruins

Your approval says a lot about you, AA.
- mjones242

I didn’t say I approved of Babs, I just said he didn’t do anything evil.

Such a garbage statement to write about that story. That is your take-away??

Anything to get a rise and clear the board..
- bixll

I’m watching AA very closely, I’ll deal with him if he crosses the line so no worries.

How’s things? Kinda sucks we have to wait til Friday for the next game after an OT loss huh?

Babcock not working out, had nothing to do with what type of coach he is/was. It had everything to do with what type of person he is. He lost the room.

Show me one story of Quenneville or Trotz doing the type of evil crap Babcock did.
- prock

Exactly.

I’m watching AA very closely, I’ll deal with him if he crosses the line so no worries.

How’s things? Kinda sucks we have to wait til Friday for the next game after an OT loss huh?
- Dozzer

Was just reading until I saw his posts.. Had my say,, cheers..

I didn’t say I approved of Babs, I just said he didn’t do anything evil.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

You just said this made him "cooler". That sounds like approval to me.

I didn’t say I approved of Babs, I just said he didn’t do anything evil.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He’s a selfish, demanding bumhole and that alone is evil

2026 shouldn't be a problem.. Hopefully, by then Ian Scott will have established himself as a full time NHL'er and lead the Leafs to a Cup win.. Either that, or, he'll be traded and never play a game in the NHL.
- PatC80

Great Ian Scott, you're right!

I like him. I like what he espouses - puck possession is the key to victory. The Leafs need some better support positioning so that the possession can be maintained, and they need to recognize the games when a team is going to active try and break that possession and change the plan on the fly. You also can't be lazy or unaware about it (the lazy drop backs to retain possession to lone defender at your own blue line while 4 guys peel off, leaving some poor sap to defend 3 forecheckers). It requires more awareness - so the GM also has to get guys who are going to play well in that type of system.

That said, I haven't seen a lot of strategic adjustments from him other than line juggling. I haven't seen significant adjustments (splitting up Marner & Matthews as the most commonly groused about thing here) either.

The regular season you can often go in with your plan and ride it out - but the playoffs require frequent adjustment, and if the coach and team aren't ready, it's just more of the same, I think.
- Monkeypunk

Just to clarify, I do like him as well, but your bolded point above is what irks me.

My favourite thing is how Spezza has made Babcock eat poop with his play after that disgraceful bullpoop.

Babs is a guy who actively tries to deny milestones to other people. People on his own team! That's (frank)ing crazy.

But this so often splashes back on people like that. Babs' behaviour resulted in him not being able to pursue his own milestones.
- Zezel

My gawd Ive loved Spezza on the leafs.

Yup. Chelios, Modano, and Spezza can attest to that.

I remember reading a story a while back about a mid-season AHL call-up who took a moment after a practice with the big club to take it all in from the bench. Babs walks up to him and says, "enjoy the view because you're never going to step on the ice with this team during a real game."

Babs is an absolute dogpoop human being.
- mjones242

I wouldnt include Chelios in that.....he simply wasnt good enough to play if i recall.

You just said this made him "cooler". That sounds like approval to me.
- mjones242

It’s all hearsay.

I don’t care what he told some AHL call up.

If I was that player I’d use it as motivation, probably what Babs was intending. A good coach doesn’t want you to like him, he wants you to get pissed off so you can use it as fuel.

Great Ian Scott, you're right!
- Monkeypunk

I mean, he's struggled in the AHL so that means he will excel in the NHL, right?

Like a bizarre-o Garret Sparks?

The drill Sargent was the meanest person I ever met, said the worlds most effective soldier.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

One involves the possibility of dying or resulting in someone else dying.

The other......well its just coaching adults in hockey.

You think Babs was bad?

You should meet my old paving boss LOLOLOL
- Arctic_AARDVARK

*Steps up on soapbox*

It's funny in a not-haha way. My mother-in-law is one of those people who doesn't want the best for her kids or a better life for her kids because she didn't have it easy and why should they?

But that's a terrible way to think, isn't it? You have it in your power to be better and help make things better, and you deliberately choose not to. It's petty and vindictive and honestly pointless and hurtful.

Just because some people are bad or worse and have been bad doesn't give license to permit bad behaviour in others. We should always expect better of ourselves and others.

We literally have that in our own individual power.

*Steps off soapbox*

One involves the possibility of dying or resulting in someone else dying.

The other......well its just coaching adults in hockey.
- Fakepartofme

It’s still the same principle.

Hockey isn’t daycare. You need to have thick skin.

Lol, this makes Babs sounds cooler than he is.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Nah, if true, makes him sound like a bully wiener!

*Steps up on soapbox*

It's funny in a not-haha way. My mother-in-law is one of those people who doesn't want the best for her kids or a better life for her kids because she didn't have it easy and why should they?

But that's a terrible way to think, isn't it? You have it in your power to be better and help make things better, and you deliberately choose not to. It's petty and vindictive and honestly pointless and hurtful.

Just because some people are bad or worse and have been bad doesn't give license to permit bad behaviour in others. We should always expect better of ourselves and others.

We literally have that in our own individual power.

*Steps off soapbox*
- Monkeypunk

How many soaps do you buy at a time?

*Steps up on soapbox*

It's funny in a not-haha way. My mother-in-law is one of those people who doesn't want the best for her kids or a better life for her kids because she didn't have it easy and why should they?

But that's a terrible way to think, isn't it? You have it in your power to be better and help make things better, and you deliberately choose not to. It's petty and vindictive and honestly pointless and hurtful.

Just because some people are bad or worse and have been bad doesn't give license to permit bad behaviour in others. We should always expect better of ourselves and others.

We literally have that in our own individual power.

*Steps off soapbox*
- Monkeypunk

*Steps up on soapbox*

It's funny in a not-haha way. My mother-in-law is one of those people who doesn't want the best for her kids or a better life for her kids because she didn't have it easy and why should they?

But that's a terrible way to think, isn't it? You have it in your power to be better and help make things better, and you deliberately choose not to. It's petty and vindictive and honestly pointless and hurtful.

Just because some people are bad or worse and have been bad doesn't give license to permit bad behaviour in others. We should always expect better of ourselves and others.

We literally have that in our own individual power.

*Steps off soapbox*
- Monkeypunk

I don’t disagree, but I don’t think that’s what Babcock does.

I think he wants to get the most out of players by hardening them. They don’t have to like him, but they have to give everything they got every shift. Being a hard ass works. I’ve had many bumhole bosses, and it’s not fun, but it’s effective.

It’s still the same principle.

Hockey isn’t daycare. You need to have thick skin.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

bumhole coaches are long gone.

Owners know who makes them money (the stars), owners know that bumhole coaches keep hockey stars from wanting to play for their team, so bumhole coaches get tossed.

It’s no longer 20 years ago, keeping the players happy is a crucial requirement set by the owners of the teams

Just to clarify, I do like him as well, but your bolded point above is what irks me.
- Fakepartofme

Yeah, that's the part where I think we completely agree - we need to some of that. Something to show that he hasn't come up with ONE strategy that he helps will always work.

I call that "The Berezin".

You have ONE MOVE. That's it. One. People will totally fall for it for a bit. In the 90's they fell for it for about 4 years. Then they caught on and it was useless.

My son, when he was six years old, was the fastest runner on the field. He caught on to this and in soccer he would kick the ball down field (remember six year olds play in packs, so there's no positional play at ALL) and race everyone down field, winning the race to the ball. The pack would race behind him along the line, and then he'd centre the ball to himself, where he would win the race to the middle, and score. He'd do this like . . . 5 or 6 times a game.

His soccer career came to crashing end as soon as one kid learned not to join the pack. His Berezin moment over.

How many soaps do you buy at a time?
- Fakepartofme

When you watch as much porn as . . . I've said too much.