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Leafs Vs Blues

Wayward DP said:
I think we likely both agree though that defensively there is room for improvement, but I lump the forwards in with the D in saying the whole team can perform better as a unit.
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On reason I thought the Leafs would improve defensively this year was improved two-way players on the forward lines.

The Leafs are up there with Carlyle's Ducks in giving up shots. I don't think it's a player personnel issue. Team is not well coached.
 
I think as a figurehead and an insulating factor in the crazy TO market, Babs is the best. Plus he's taken this team up a substantial notch every year.

But I would like to see his assistants jettisoned. They seem like tools.
 
zeke said:
#16 shots against per game
#16 corsi against per 60 5v5
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Now, that's just plain old cherry picking.

Why 5v5 for corsi but all strengths for shots? Do special teams not matter for shots?

#23 for SA/60 5v5.

Curiously, if you do the reverse, and use all strengths for both, Leafs are also #23 for CA/60.
 
BeLeafer said:
Now, that's just plain old cherry picking.

Why 5v5 for corsi but all strengths for shots? Do special teams not matter for shots?

#23 for SA/60 5v5.

Curiously, if you do the reverse, and use all strengths for both, Leafs are also #23 for CA/60.
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one a traditional shots measure which Volc (and most fans) always uses.

the other one advanced measure (of the relevant game state) which Volc hates.
 
yes, I the poor humble common ignorant fan.

if only I too could spend thousands of posts talking about something I don't really have the math skills to understand and critique. like the great Prophet, Zeke.
 
zeke said:
one a traditional shots measure which Volc (and most fans) always uses.

the other one advanced measure (of the relevant game state) which Volc hates.
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I thought you were responding to my claim that they're up there in SA with Carlyle's Ducks?
 
BeLeafer said:
On reason I thought the Leafs would improve defensively this year was improved two-way players on the forward lines.

The Leafs are up there with Carlyle's Ducks in giving up shots. I don't think it's a player personnel issue. Team is not well coached.
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That's what I've been saying. The team is not well coached, at least not from a systematic point of view.

There's no reason we're not at least average in all the defensive stats in the 3rd year of Babs' coaching this core, if Babs was indeed one of the top coaches.
 
number17 said:
That's what I've been saying. The team is not well coached, at least not from a systematic point of view.

There's no reason we're not at least average in all the defensive stats in the 3rd year of Babs' coaching this core, if Babs was indeed one of the top coaches.
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Given the talent level and time he's had with them, those defensive metrics are awful. That's only a 9 game sample but it wasn't yards better last year.

Some people defend him by pointing out how well all the young guys have developed under him. I see a bunch of young guys looking lost defensively. His tutilege of Rielly wasn't great either -- he's much like Matthews (high event player). I had high expectations for what Babcock could do to improve the defensive play of the team. It's pretty disappointing so far.

DJ Smith at least should be dispensed with if it doesn't improve soon.
 
Wayward DP said:
Let's check back in halfway through the season. Its been 9 games with this roster.
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And we will. But even if we exclude this year's result, what's the excuse for last season? Our team, especially the young guys, were rather lost defensively at the end of 2 full seasons under Babcock. I find that pretty inexcusable and at the same time, head-scratching. Babs did not have a problem teaching and implementing a sound defensive system with lesser talent while in Detroit, why hasn't the young Leafs been at least average after 2 full seasons under Babs?
 
number17 said:
And we will. But even if we exclude this year's result, what's the excuse for last season? Our team, especially the young guys, were rather lost defensively at the end of 2 full seasons under Babcock. I find that pretty inexcusable and at the same time, head-scratching. Babs did not have a problem teaching and implementing a sound defensive system with lesser talent while in Detroit, why hasn't the young Leafs been at least average after 2 full seasons under Babs?
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I'm not sure why it would be harder to teach a less talented roster how to effectively defend? It may, in fact, be easier to convince a less talented team to tighten up defensively in order to win games.
 
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