• Moderators, please send me a PM if you are unable to access mod permissions. Thanks, Habsy.

Preseason GDT #7 - babcock surprises me

zeke

zeke

Well-known member
Marleau-Matthews-Ennis
Kapanen-Tavares-Marner
Leivo-Kadri-Brown
Johnsson-Lindholm-Gauthier

Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Dermott-Ozhiganov





Kappy's earned it. Please have a big game.
 
Kappy needs to have a big night. Dermott/Ozzy could be a great pair. Hainsey, however, can’t be where he is all season. They need to get someone into that top 4
 
It's funny that Babs gets so offended when people don't talk up Hyman.

When if he just put Hyman in a proper slot on the 3rd line, everybody would praise Hyman to high heaven.
 
heh. one bad shift and I'm betting Kappy and the Goat trade places.

but that is encouraging. Kappy is too good to be on our fourth line.

Leivo getting his chance too, hopefully he does something with it.

I'd like to see Kadri's numbers when skating next to Brown. My recollection is they have about zero chemistry offensively, and it would surprise me if the stats did not bear that out.
 
Marleau - Matthews - Nylander
Kapanen - Tavares - Marner
Johnsson - Kadri - Leivo
Hyman - Ennis/Lindholm - Brown
 
Yeah, this is a bit of a surprising move.

It was my understanding that Hyman is basically healthy and ready to go, but that they might hold off on putting him into pre-season games. Under those circumstances, you'd typically expect Babcock to leave the rest of his lines the same and insert a place-holder into his spot on the Tavares/Marner line. Instead, Kappy gets a promotion.

It's well-deserved, anyway. Kapanen was one of the only Leafs who was the least bit impressive in that Leafs/Habs scrubs game earlier this week. And he was good again on Wednesday.

I don't think he has any chance of displacing Hyman from that line no matter how well he does tonight, but hopefully he'll provide further evidence to Babcock that he deserves a lengthy opportunity one one of our top-3 lines. Either as a replacement for Brown or Leivo on the Kadri line, or as a replacement for Ennis on the Matthews line if they're starting the season without Nylander.
 
I'm totally liking the Dermott - Ozhiganov pairing they will be the top shut down pairing even strength. I liked Ozhiganov since the first game just a great all around defender that plays the game like Dermott. Hainsey needs to go.
 
Puffy said:
I'm totally liking the Dermott - Ozhiganov pairing they will be the top shut down pairing even strength. I liked Ozhiganov since the first game just a great all around defender that plays the game like Dermott. Hainsey needs to go.
Click to expand...

no, they won't. not a chance. a rookie and an almost rookie?

although that is a role I can see Dermott thriving in moving forward
 
Wow, a skilled player on each wing of the top two lines. The wonders never cease. Probably Dubas' influence.

Yeah, would really like to bump Brown to the fourth line in favour of Johnssen. He's one of Babs' last remaining gud pro toys. Maybe he comes around this season but the preseason performance from him so far has suggested much of the same (works hard, overrated defensively, replacement level winger).

If only he could mix up those top pairings. I find it perplexing that in the preseason -- a time when a coach can experiment -- he just goes with the same top two pairs that weren't effective last year.

That said, I have high hopes for the Dermott-Oz pairing. Was really impressed with the noobie last game and Dermott has top pairing potential written all over him.
 
zeke said:
When if he just put Hyman in a proper slot on the 3rd line, everybody would praise Hyman to high heaven.
Click to expand...

I think that's true. He would be a great 'energy line' guy.

It's like how Bozak drove me nuts when he was the top centre. Once Babs sheltered him and put him on the third line, I grew to like him (a bit).
 
A good sign. Babcock could see Hyman/Brown as more defensively responsible and a necessity on the fourth line for those shifts vs. a top line after a long powerplay from the first unit.
 
How is Brown a Babs toy? He's been great during his time here, played every role asked of him well, and produced wonderfully in bottom line roles.
 
what are you gonna say about babs choices when he sends your boy borgman down again?
 
Count on Dave ****ing Poulin to pump Goat's tires. I'm guessing that low brow had a lot to do with the Leafs drafting him in the first round.
 
That was brown with the touch pass.

I think I just saw Babcock pat Leivo on the back. I want a replay.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top