Babcock: Richards played well; Iginla still not 1st line material

[FanIn80]

I know there are six different Iggy/Babcock threads, but that's the problem. Which one do I post this in? Much easier to just make a new thread. If a Mod wants to merge it with another, it's all good.

Anyway...

Even though Crosby scored a late goal with Nash and Iginla on his line, the trio might not be back together when the puck drops against the Germans.

"No, not necessarily," said Babcock. "I thought Richards played well in the first period, but I'm just looking for more of a shooter in the third period. That's why we went to (Iginla)."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/can...Ih1eeSNVDATeaA

[wooohooo]

How much better chemistry do you need for the first line? Unless you want to start breaking apart the San Jose line and making a different first line, I don't see why you wouldn't stick iggy there.

[flip]

Holy misleading thread title Batman!

You make it sound like Babcock said Richards was the go to guy and Iggy failed, when in reality he said exactly the opposite.

Of course coming off a loss Babcock isn't going to just declare Iggy the 1st line RW for the rest of the tourney. Hell he didn't even say for sure Lou would start and we all know that will happen.

Crosby also didn't say Iggy was great but I guess that means he hates Iggy too.

[Kaine]

What a fool.

Iggy is the only thing making the line click the last few games. No Iggy is not the best player on the team but every time they move him off the line struggles, move him back and the line does very well often being Canada's best line.

"Crap we need some goals, we can't lose this game... Iggy with Crosby"... says all I need to know about this stupid situation. Mike "moron" Babcock has been out coached in the last 2 games and made to look a fool. Not much else to say and not surprising that he would again spout something like this.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by flip

Holy misleading thread title Batman!

You make it sound like Babcock said Richards was the go to guy and Iggy failed, when in reality he said exactly the opposite.

Of course coming off a loss Babcock isn't going to just declare Iggy the 1st line RW for the rest of the tourney. Hell he didn't even say for sure Lou would start and we all know that will happen.

Crosby also didn't say Iggy was great but I guess that means he hates Iggy too.

I don't know which article you're reading, but in the one I posted, Babcock was asked if Iginla was starting the next game on the first line. The answer was no, because Richards played well on that line and he only put Iginla out there in the third to get more shots.

I also have no clue what your deal is with the "Crosby hates Iginla" stuff. I didn't see that anywhere in the article I posted.

[Weiser Wonder]

Let's just bring in Eric Nystrom to play with Crosby. I still don't understand the aversion. You have no time, just put Iginla and Crosby together and live with it.

[Hustle]

I respect Mike Babcock and you can't argue with his credentials at the NHL level.. but I just don't get his thinking here.

Every single time the Crosby line has been a continious threat.. Iginla has been on that wing. It's not even the fact that it's Jarome Iginla.. I want what's best for Canada.. but I don't see how Patrice Bergeron and Mike Richards on our #1 line is in our best interests.

Hell, he might have not needed ' a shooter' on that line if they weren't down heading into the third. Given the type of play we've seen from Nash-Crosby-Iginla.. I wouldn't have been suprised if they could have changed the outcome of the game.

Like I said, I really like Babcock but some of his decisions this tournament have really got me confused. Don't get breaking up Keith-Seabrook. Don't get the reliance on that Getzlaf-Perry line. Oh well, hopefully he gets it figured out sooner rather than later... they're going to have to if they want to get by Russia. Go Canada!

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by Hustle

I respect Mike Babcock and you can't argue with his credentials at the NHL level.. but I just don't get his thinking here.

Every single time the Crosby line has been a continious threat.. Iginla has been on that wing. It's not even the fact that it's Jarome Iginla.. I want what's best for Canada.. but I don't see how Patrice Bergeron and Mike Richards on our #1 line is in our best interests.

Hell, he might have not needed ' a shooter' on that line if they weren't down heading into the third. Given the type of play we've seen from Nash-Crosby-Iginla.. I wouldn't have been suprised if they could have changed the outcome of the game.

Like I said, I really like Babcock but some of his decisions this tournament have really got me confused. Don't get breaking up Keith-Seabrook. Don't get the reliance on that Getzlaf-Perry line. Oh well, hopefully he gets it figured out sooner rather than later... they're going to have to if they want to get by Russia. Go Canada!

All true, but I wouldn't look past the Germans (Oh nozzz the Germans!), Bab's has been outcoached considerably the last couple of games against teams with significantly less talent to work with.

I realize the odds of Canada losing to Germany may be insignificant but with how things have been going lately I wouldn't say it couldn't happen.

[3 Justin 3]

I don't get it. Why not put Iginla on the first line to score goals in the 1st and 2nd, so we can build a lead, rather than come from behind.

Speaks wonders how much weed this guy is smoking in BC right now.

[Fairweather]

This is giving me great despair...

[Joborule]

We need to score, lets put Iggy with Crosby.

Why didn't you stick with that in the first place? Why don't you continue to stick with that?

Something so simple.

[GirlySports]

Don't they need a shooter in the first period?

[HPLovecraft]

I posted this on the other board:

I don't think Babcock knows how to utilize Iginla on this team. Maybe on a squad of stars, he's just one too many, I'm not sure. They may have been better off going with another Bergeron type to fill the role they're trying to force Iginla into. It would likely be better for the team as a whole.

To me, it seems like Babcock doesn't know where to slot Iginla in. Perhaps he's just on the team because of his experience and the respect factor, I don't know.

[getbak]

In 3 games, Crosby and Nash have been on the ice for 4 Goals For and 3 Goals Against.

Iginla was on the ice for all of the Goals For, and none of the Goals Against.

[868904]

I think Iggy has been much better for Canada than he has been for the Flames this year, but that still doesn't mean he's been great in all aspects of his game.

YES, he does seem to have some chemistry with Crosby and Nash and it makes sense to put a shooter like Iggy with those two, BUT, the other parts of his game have been lacking and it's the same parts of his game that have been lacking all year, that is, a desire to be a physical force and a "casualness" in the defensive end.

Everyone KNOWS how good and dominant Iggy can be when he is playing physical and driving the net. When he is on his game, he can single handedly win a game for Canada, but the problem is, he's stricly a shooter now and that is why Babcock keeps wanting to go back to Richards or Bergeron because they are much more effective in a defensive role.

Having said that, I do agree with those who are questioning why Babcock does not wait until they have a lead before he starts switching Iggy up for Richards or Bergeron.

Clearly, you should be going for the goals first and play with the lead rather than vice versa.

I also haven't been that impressed with Nash. He's had some big hits, but I find he's not very good on one on one battles along the boards. He loses A LOT of those battles, and for someone THAT big, that's inexcusable. If fact, the first goal against was a result of two things, Niedermayer's "casualness" behind the net and Langenbrunner out battling Nash for the puck along the boards.

Crosby is jsut great....and it's not even his skill, it's his desire to win and his competitiveness...You can see he wants to win every battle for the puck unlike Iggy and Nash who give up rather easily....

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by 868904

I think Iggy has been much better for Canada than he has been for the Flames this year, but that still doesn't mean he's been great in all aspects of his game.

YES, he does seem to have some chemistry with Crosby and Nash and it makes sense to put a shooter like Iggy with those two, BUT, the other parts of his game have been lacking and it's the same parts of his game that have been lacking all year, that is, a desire to be a physical force and a "casualness" in the defensive end.

Everyone KNOWS how good and dominant Iggy can be when he is playing physical and driving the net. When he is on his game, he can single handedly win a game for Canada, but the problem is, he's stricly a shooter now and that is why Babcock keeps wanting to go back to Richards or Bergeron because they are much more effective in a defensive role.

Having said that, I do agree with those who are questioning why Babcock does not wait until they have a lead before he starts switching Iggy up for Richards or Bergeron.

Clearly, you should be going for the goals first and play with the lead rather than vice versa.

I also haven't been that impressed with Nash. He's had some big hits, but I find he's not very good on one on one battles along the boards. He loses A LOT of those battles, and for someone THAT big, that's inexcusable. If fact, the first goal against was a result of two things, Niedermayer's "casualness" behind the net and Langenbrunner out battling Nash for the puck along the boards.

Crosby is jsut great....and it's not even his skill, it's his desire to win and his competitiveness...You can see he wants to win every battle for the puck unlike Iggy and Nash who give up rather easily....

What are you smoking man? Iggy has been solid defensively in this tournament. He hasn't been on the ice for a goal against and whether he has been on the top line or bottom his line has consistently been playing in the other teams end. The Crosby, Nash, Iginla line has been dominant and have created a plenty. At this point the problem has been just a lack of finish but you got to think the goals will come with this many opportunities.

[3 Justin 3]

It sucks to lose because your coach smokes too much crack.

[OILFAN #81]

Patrice Bergeron is so useless. Morrow and Toews work hard but Bergeron brings nothing really to the team.

Heatley-Crosby-Iginla
Nash-Getzlaf-Perry
Staal-Thornton-Marleau
Morrow-Toews-Richards
Bergeron

I wish they went with that against Germany. No point of leaving Heatley on a line with guys who do dick all.

Nash and Getzlaf had success in previous tournaments.

Joe Thornton, Corey Perry, Patrice Bergeron, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Brent Seabrook, Martin Brodeur...........those guys have been bad.

[CGY12]

Marleau - Crosby - Iginla
Nash - Getzlaf - Perry
Heatley - Thornton - Staal
Morrow - Richards - Toews

I wouldn't mind seeing that.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

First, put a pool ball in a sock, tag Mike Babcock in the backof the head with it, and leave him hogtied with duct tape in the hotel bathroom with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.

Nash-Crosby-Iginla
Marleau-Staypuft-Heatley
Morrow-Richards-Toews
Staal-Getzlaf-Perry-Bergeron get basically zero even strength time.

As a back-up, the following lines are also acceptable IMO

Nash-Getzlaf-Heatley. Basically the most successful line in WC history

Marleau-Thornton-Iginla. Showed promise at ASG, and has the necessary 'shooter-passer-balanced player' ingredients. Also HUGE bodies, and could do some damage if Babcock took the leash off

Staal-Crosby-Toews. Very fast line with tons and tons of heart. Staal needs to be sparked, and being paired with Getzlaf and Perry isn't going to do it. Also contains the required ingredients for a successful line.

Morrow-Richards-Bergeron. These guys are all top-notch 2-way players and the best 2-way players on their respective NHL teams (of 2 of the 3 are captains). There is a world-class checking line.

Perry gets a spot hogtied next to Babcock.

These are all reasonable lines in my mind. So I swear to ****ing god, if I see a Morrow-Thornton-Perry line out there, Im putting a bounty on the head of Babcock and turning off my computer.