Dear Mike Babcock...

[Ren]

I understand that playing physical is a big part of Iggy's game so I don't mind so much if they play him on a checking line but to outright say you don't need a two-time 50 goal scorer and Art Ross/Rocket Richard winner with Olympic gold medal experience to score goals for you right after a hat trick performance, and then follow that up by freaking benching him for no reason? What possible purpose does that serve?

[Reign of Fire]

Originally Posted by Smell My Finger

Babcock's answer was "I told Iginla when he arrived in Vancouver that we need him to play the body and a physical game. We really don't need him to score goals. It just so happened that tonight he did."
Are you kidding me Babcock you arrogant jerk off.
We should have seen this as foreshadowing of tonights game and how Babcock is missmanaging Iginla and others.

Haha this is the funniest thing I have heard...Babcock wants to turn a 50 goal scoring power forward into a grinder...I personally think there is too much Detroit Redwings influence on this team...

[Replay]

Originally Posted by Grimbl420

Did Iginla even play in the last 5 minutes of regulation? Because I don't remember seeing him.

From what I remember, his first shift in the 3rd came near the 10 minute mark. After that he had 2 very short shifts.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Morrow and Richards are on the team for one thing. If we play the Russians, Ovechkin.

If Ovechkin is on the ice, for some unknown reason, Niedermayer will end up on the ice with the Shark line, and then get cut up.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Smell My Finger

After the Norway game the media wanted to talk about to Babcock about Iginla moving from the 4th line to the first line and how smart that was.

Babcock's answer was "I told Iginla when he arrived in Vancouver that we need him to play the body and a physical game. We really don't need him to score goals. It just so happened that tonight he did."
Are you kidding me Babcock you arrogant jerk off.
We should have seen this as foreshadowing of tonights game and how Babcock is missmanaging Iginla and others.

I definatly am not a fan of Babcock.

Ok so I slept on it, and now I wake up to read that quote from Babcock

PLease tell me you are paraphrasing.

So who in the hell do you want to score goals?

Perry?, Nash? Staal? Bergeron?

Good lord

[CGY12]

"I told Iginla when he arrived in Vancouver that we need him to play the body and a physical game. We really don't need him to score goals. It just so happened that tonight he did."

I was talking about this after the 1st game and one poster came here claiming that was a compliment. To me when I read that its a clear sign of disrespect and a dislike for a player. 1st game of the Olympics after so much "hoop la" around the team and 1st time a Team Canada player recorded a hat trick in a game since 88 and their is no mention of how great he played or how he got the team going with the first goal after a mediocre 1st period. Just a meh whatever he didn't need to do that but he did tonight. I can't imagine Iggy being a happy camper deep down inside right now.

[GreenLantern]

[Bahhhhh )#@%ing CP making me grow a conscience, I will moderate myself ]



Babcock should have stuck with Iginla on the first line. He had three goals in 9 minutes, I don't care if it was against the Womens Austrian team, that is impressive.

[HPLovecraft]

I wasn't hurt -- it's just part of it," said Iginla, who was held pointless and shotless in 12:03 of ice time. "You've got to be ready for that. It's part of the flow. You've got to produce and there's no question.

So, Iginla was benched because the 50 goal scorer was trying to score goals instead of laying down to block shots so that Toews can coast around instead and do nothing.

Makes sense.

[GirlySports]

There are only 2 guys who can score on this team Heatley and Iginla. And Iginla is playing like 5 minutes a game.

No snipers on this team, just a bunch of two-way centers.

---

Seriously if I was Iginla and the coach planned a 4th line role for me, I would have stayed home.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

So, Iginla was benched because the 50 goal scorer was trying to score goals instead of laying down to block shots so that Toews can coast around instead and do nothing.

Makes sense.

What is the source for this article?

[Cowperson]

Babcock's answer was "I told Iginla when he arrived in Vancouver that we need him to play the body and a physical game. We really don't need him to score goals. It just so happened that tonight he did."

If that's an actual quote I gotta think Babcock may not be that bright. Sure you want Iggy being physical, but this a player that damn well made his legacy, and continue doing so by scoring a lot of goals.

It would be more accurate to observe that Babcock might not be too bright if he thinks Iginla is a physical banger . . . . . because that's not really much the case anymore.

This game looked like how the tournament might go . . . . . the other side's goaltending is better than ours and can be The Great Equalizer. Meanwhile, Canada pretty much dominated but at some point, the talent has to convert the chances.

Cowperson

[Resolute 14]

Man, Babcock really is an idiot afterall. It's one thing to put Iginla into a support/energy/physical role if the scorers are doing their job. But when the guys you are counting on to score goals are failing repeatedly, why in the hell would staple a two-time Richard winner who had five goals in his previous two games to the bench?

Babcock is too used to his Detroit superstars just being able to go out and do it. We are learning this season, both in the NHL and the Olympics, that he simply is unable to adapt to challenging situations.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

There are only 2 guys who can score on this team Heatley and Iginla. And Iginla is playing like 5 minutes a game.

No snipers on this team, just a bunch of two-way centers.

---

Seriously if I was Iginla and the coach planned a 4th line role for me, I would have stayed home.

Only 2? I don't get it

[Bertuzzied]

Calm down guys. Babcock only put him on the 4th line to get him away from the top checking line of the Swiss.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What is the source for this article?

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Ba...014/story.html

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Seriously.

Mr Babcock played a very large role in the game tonight, and did so with a heavy hand.

This game was an abject failure.

This was a VERY clear example of a coach doing more harm than good to a team. Had the initial lines simply rolled along all night, I suspect the team would have done much better.

The Sharks line was simply out-hustled and out-worked all night, but he rode them like a little red wagon all game.

He lost the game-within-the-game, and he lost it BIG.

What game were you watching?
That line drew 3-4 penalties and scored both goals!

[northcrunk]

Yes Babs is a MORON, MORON MORON MORON! He will be the downfall of this team if they loose gold with his bad line combinations

[Bertuzzied]

Babcock is only doing what Brent Sutter was a afraid to do in a few games earlier this season.

[Smell My Finger]

Babcock said he told Iginla before the game that he wants him to use his size as an asset. He didn't need it on his goals, but he otherwise used his size, as did Nash. Crosby gets freed up to make plays when he's got such big bodies as linemates.

"We need (Iginla) to be a physical presence for us, to be really hard to play against," Babcock said. "He doesn't need to score to help us, but obviously he did tonight. But, that's what we're looking for, and Bergeron was just a very useful player for us."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=517953

Babcock is a hypocrit by that Statement neither Bergeron or Toews are big bodies that will provide a physical game that will open up opportunities for Sid the Kid.

How many points has that line combination generated without Iginla ZERO.
Babcock needs to held accountable for screwing around with this line not using them on 4 out of 6 of the PP is inexcusable. Babcock cutting back their ice time I simply do not get.

[bubbsy]

i agree with the discontent after Babcock's statement on Iginla.

If you aren't expecting Canada's highest scoring RW to contribute offensively, then why the F did he get selected for the team?!

For his leadership, hitting, and defensive play!???!??!?

Why didn't they take ethan moreau, alex burrows, steve ott instead of Iginla then?