Ryan Wilson: Mike Babcock is a fraud Mike Babcock is a fraud

Amen

Nice Pens blog...

I agree with most of what is said though.

Gardiner and Dermott stunk, ya, play them more.

and Johnsson played 1/2 his 5v5 mins with Matthews, I don't recall Matthews centering the 4th line..

I could keep going but why bother.

He did a terrible job of coaching the Pens this year.

It's bad enough you have to spew your negative trash on your own team. Leave the Leafs out of this, gym teacher!

“The coaching thing is fun. I think it’s a little overrated,” Brind’Amour said earlier this week. “You open the door and you say, ‘Go play.'"

Obviously not the whole story, because the bigger part of the job is getting everybody on the same page and developing a strategy that can have success, but it's still an interesting quote from a first year guy.


Babcock, unfortunately, seems to have got that backwards.

Doug Maclean said something on Hockey Central at Noon last week regarding coaches in the playoffs that hit a note with me. It was something to the effect of: it so vitally important that not only a coach has to make adjustments in the playoffs but that also his players believe in him and his adjustments. The players have to buy into everything he's saying and doing.


When I heard him talking about this I immediately thought of Sully and the Pens and I dont think the players are buying into him anymore. Sure, he made lineup adjustments, mostly bad, but he didnt make many, if any, changes to their game plan on the ice...or...if he did, the Pens players didnt but into it.

Holy Mackinaw. Now the scapegoats are being lined up for slaughter. This is why the Toronto Media Monster and some so called fans has contributed to 52 cup-less years by overrating their team, coaches, and GM. When they are what they are they get turned on, and eventually driven out of town.

Sure would have been nice of Babcock to make those saves for Freddie last night...

Give me a break.. Toronto would be a dumpster fire without Babcock.

Sure would have been nice of Babcock to make those saves for Freddie last night...

Give me a break.. Toronto would be a dumpster fire without Babcock.
- Mahewman

When your team is behind in a game, you get your most talented players more ice time in order to try and tie the game, right? Just like you pull the goalie?

Matthews played less than 19 minutes.

How on earth do you justify that?

Doug Maclean said something on Hockey Central at Noon last week regarding coaches in the playoffs that hit a note with me. It was something to the effect of: it so vitally important that not only a coach has to make adjustments in the playoffs but that also his players believe in him and his adjustments. The players have to buy into everything he's saying and doing.


When I heard him talking about this I immediately thought of Sully and the Pens and I dont think the players are buying into him anymore. Sure, he made lineup adjustments, mostly bad, but he didnt make many, if any, changes to their game plan on the ice...or...if he did, the Pens players didnt but into it.
- MattStrat

All of that is so true. Sully didn't appear to make tactical/strategic adjustments and if he did, like you said, the players didn't buy in. I hate this phrase, but I think he's "lost the room."

I doubt Sully gets fired this off-season, but I'm pretty sure he's on double-secret probation.

Holy Mackinaw. Now the scapegoats are being lined up for slaughter. This is why the Toronto Media Monster and some so called fans has contributed to 52 cup-less years by overrating their team, coaches, and GM. When they are what they are they get turned on, and eventually driven out of town.
- islansjet

Oh yeah, its bad. One of the best places to play if things are going right, the absolute worst place to play if things aren't. The media is brutal.

When your team is behind in a game, you get your most talented players more ice time in order to try and tie the game, right? Just like you pull the goalie?

Matthews played less than 19 minutes.

How on earth do you justify that?
- BINGO!

Because he's a an aged-out washed up bum.

Good luck for your boys tonight. I'll be pulling for them!

Because he's a an aged-out washed up bum.

Good luck for your boys tonight. I'll be pulling for them!
- Rinosaur

Ditto

When your team is behind in a game, you get your most talented players more ice time in order to try and tie the game, right? Just like you pull the goalie?

Matthews played less than 19 minutes.

How on earth do you justify that?
- BINGO!

you're actually from SK, correct? is the accent that thick or is an affect that he puts on?

Because he's a an aged-out washed up bum.

Good luck for your boys tonight. I'll be pulling for them!
- Rinosaur

Hell yeah, brother.

All of that is so true. Sully didn't appear to make tactical/strategic adjustments and if he did, like you said, the players didn't buy in. I hate this phrase, but I think he's "lost the room."

I doubt Sully gets fired this off-season, but I'm pretty sure he's on double-secret probation.
- Rinosaur

Ive said all along that I dont see Sully being fired unless they are towards, or at, the bottom of the standings after a few months of next season. Still believe that to be true.

you're actually from SK, correct? is the accent that thick or is an affect that he puts on?
- Fountain-San

It's pretty thick, but it ain't that one. I don't know many people who sound like Babcock does.

“The coaching thing is fun. I think it’s a little overrated,” Brind’Amour said earlier this week. “You open the door and you say, ‘Go play.'"

Obviously not the whole story, because the bigger part of the job is getting everybody on the same page and developing a strategy that can have success, but it's still an interesting quote from a first year guy.


Babcock, unfortunately, seems to have got that backwards.
- BINGO!

Being a good coach is mostly being a good boss.

Would you want to work for Mike Babock?

Ive said all along that I dont see Sully being fired unless they are towards, or at, the bottom of the standings after a few months of next season. Still believe that to be true.
- MattStrat

It will be all about the trend by the time December/January rolls around. Are they in playoff position but crashing fast? Were they in playoff position?

JR seems to be hip to the emotional climate in the room, so if the team still looks disinterested in the game, I could see him making the move.

are we allowed to discuss the limitations of Toronto's roster yet or do we still need to keep pretending they are some late-90s Red Wings juggernaut?

everyone's talking about ice distribution? who on that roster did anything these last 2 games?

are we allowed to discuss the limitations of Toronto's roster yet or do we still need to keep pretending they are some late-90s Red Wings juggernaut?

everyone's talking about ice distribution? who on that roster did anything these last 2 games?
- DoubleDown

Supposed to play Matthews-Tavares-Marner for 58 minutes and then Hyman takes the rest.

It'll only get better when Marner asks for 14 zillion dollars.

are we allowed to discuss the limitations of Toronto's roster yet or do we still need to keep pretending they are some late-90s Red Wings juggernaut?

everyone's talking about ice distribution? who on that roster did anything these last 2 games?
- DoubleDown

Point is that if the team is behind and needs to score, your best players should probably be getting more than their average ice time, not less, no?

Sure, guys were struggling, but you gotta at least give yourself a chance.