Dear Mike Babcock...

[Meers]

My question for Mr. Babcock is, why isn't the team practicing today?

Yeah, they played last night. But given the limited amount of icetime these guys have had together, wouldn't a light afternoon skate have been appropriate?

But perhaps there is a limit on the available practice times and locations for all of the teams.

[Mad Mel]

Canada is doing a hell of a lot better this Olympics than it did in 2002, when they first lost to Sweden, then struggled the same way against Germany (yes, Germany!) as they did yesterday, and then tied against the Czechs. That tournament worked out pretty well. Holy overreaction.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Meers

My question for Mr. Babcock is, why isn't the team practicing today?

Yeah, they played last night. But given the limited amount of icetime these guys have had together, wouldn't a light afternoon skate have been appropriate?

But perhaps there is a limit on the available practice times and locations for all of the teams.

^^^^ Yeah... I don't understand that either. I think they could use all the practice time they can get.... especially on the powerplay which is sucking slew water.

[Ren]

...He also has to find the right person to play on Sidney Crosby's right side. Rick Nash appears at home on his left, but Babcock ran through Jarome Iginla, Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews in the third period and overtime Thursday.

"Well, I didn't think they were good," Babcock said of the Crosby, Nash and Iginla trio that started the game against Switzerland. "I thought our San Jose line was our best line … but as a group, when you go through our whole team and you look at the high end of their game, we weren't as good as we were capable of being. Is that line combinations or is that just individually we need to be better?"

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=518220

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, Nash sucked all night and Crosby felt that cute was better than scoring in the first, so he dumped Iginla from that line. Babcock really does seem more and more like an idiot.

[CGY12]

"Well, I didn't think they were good," Babcock said of the Crosby, Nash and Iginla trio that started the game against Switzerland. "I thought our San Jose line was our best line … but as a group, when you go through our whole team and you look at the high end of their game, we weren't as good as we were capable of being. Is that line combinations or is that just individually we need to be better?"

Ok so you didn't think "they" were good so this resulted in pulling Iginla off the top line, benching him for the majority of the 3rd period, all of OT and rewarding both Nash and Crosby with more ice time? That quote just proves Iginla is held to a different standard and is his personal whipping boy. Guy is a flipping idiot.

[Machiavelli]

Iginla scored a hat trick after moving to Crosby's right wing against Norway, but the chemistry didn't return against Switzerland and Babcock put Bergeron back in that spot. By the end of the game, Toews was there.

"I think we can play anybody on Sid's line and it would work fine," Yzerman said, downplaying any concern he may have over the position. "The coaches are doing some different things, seeing what works best not only for his line but for other lines, trying to maximize everybody's abilities and put people in the right spots. I really don't think we should make too big of a deal about it."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=518281

[CGY12]

Ya thats sure been evident in Crosby's stat line in 40 minutes of play with no Iginla on his line (0,0,0). Iggy aint the saviour but he sure has hell been more effective than anybody else Babcock has tried.

Instead of moving Iggy off the top line all the time why not try moving Nash? If you don't want to break up the Shark line why not try Staal - Crosby - Iginla and Nash - Getzlaf - Perry.

[sa226]

Maybe this is just my Flames blinders

But I find it appalling how little respect Iginla is getting

Is he the Shannahan of this team? Is he the Niewendyk? The Fleury? The Nolan, heck Nolan did very little in Salt Lake, but at least he got regular powerplay time.

I'm just looking forward to Sunday now.....but the issue still bugs me.

At least the media is prodding a little bit.....

[Joborule]

"Well, I didn't think they were good"

So you take off the one player that was doing well when he wasn't hurt afterall?

Come on man. Keenan would be even smarter then that.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Joborule

So you take off the one player that was doing well when he wasn't hurt afterall?

Come on man. Keenan would be even smarter then that.

Thats what has me worried, regarding Iginla's place on the team.

If he truly meant "they" weren't very good, meaning all three of them. Why sit the guy who had the Hattrick?

I'm sure they are big believers in "best players being your best players"

So when things aren't going well he shows a commitment to Nash and Crosby, but not Iginla?

[Ark2]

I just don't get why Crosby and Nash are set in stone. Even the media has bought into it. "Who's going to play RW with Crosby-Nash?" Am I missing something here? What has Nash ever done to garner that kind of confidence? I seem to recall him playing quite poorly during the last Olympics, he's having a poor season, he disappeared in last year's playoffs and the guy has never even cracked 80 points before in his career, yet he is this team's undisputed first line winger. Baffling.

[stignasty]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

Canada is doing a hell of a lot better this Olympics than it did in 2002, when they first lost to Sweden, then struggled the same way against Germany (yes, Germany!) as they did yesterday, and then tied against the Czechs. That tournament worked out pretty well. Holy overreaction.

The difference being the format this time around. Each division winner and one wildcard make the final 4. Thanks to the game last night, if we don't beat the US in regulation we're going to need some help getting the wildcard.

[edn88]

Not a big Babcock fan right about now - maybe as others have said, because I am a Flames/Iginla fan, maybe cause he coaches the Red Wings, maybe cause he's a big fat jerk.

I sure want to see Iggy plays a big role in capturing gold for us this year.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sa226

Maybe this is just my Flames blinders

But I find it appalling how little respect Iginla is getting

Is he the Shannahan of this team? Is he the Niewendyk? The Fleury? The Nolan, heck Nolan did very little in Salt Lake, but at least he got regular powerplay time.

I'm just looking forward to Sunday now.....but the issue still bugs me.

At least the media is prodding a little bit.....

Thing is, it's not just Iginla. Richards and Morrow aren't getting any respect either, and those three were light years ahead of Getzlaf, Perry and Staal. Not to mention Thornton, Toews and Nash.

Babcock wanting to shorten his bench is fine, but he cut the wrong line. The Ducks line should have been dropped. After all, if you tell these three guys you want them to grind it out, and you need a grinding goal, why aren't you using these guys in the situation you are saying you want them in?

Just mind boggling.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CGY12

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.

Do you think Babcock is 10 years old?

There is a difference between "we don't need him to score goals", which is what he said, and "we don't want him to score goals", which is what you appear to think he said.

For months they've been yakking about how all these guys will have to accept different roles, fewer minutes, yada yada yada. Now the coach says that again and suddenly "Babcock is an idiot, he doesn't like Iginla".

I don't like how the team is playing either, but I know it ain't because the coach doesn't like our local hero.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Do you think Babcock is 10 years old?

There is a difference between "we don't need him to score goals", which is what he said, and "we don't want him to score goals", which is what you appear to think he said.

For months they've been yakking about how all these guys will have to accept different roles, fewer minutes, yada yada yada. Now the coach says that again and suddenly "Babcock is an idiot, he doesn't like Iginla".

I don't like how the team is playing either, but I know it ain't because the coach doesn't like our local hero.

YOU DON`T TELL ONE OF YOUR TOP GOAL SCORERS STATISTICALLY OVER HIS CAREER THAT YOU DON`T NEED HIM TO SCORE!!!!

Like I`ve said repeatedly this guy has his personal favorites and that is fine. He will ride them whether they are playing good or not and that is absolutely the wrong idea and game plan. In a elimination tourny you gotta play who is playing well and not your personal favorites. His quote summed it up perfectly, the guy acknowledged the entire line wasnt playing well but he found MORE ice time for Nash (hasn`t accomplished anything in his career) and Crosby, but benched Iginla. If nobody can see that they have absolutely no clue in what they are watching, PERIOD!

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CGY12

YOU DON`T TELL ONE OF YOUR TOP GOAL SCORERS STATISTICALLY OVER HIS CAREER THAT YOU DON`T NEED HIM TO SCORE!!!!

Like I`ve said repeatedly this guy has his personal favorites and that is fine. He will ride them whether they are playing good or not and that is absolutely the wrong idea and game plan. In a elimination tourny you gotta play who is playing well and not your personal favorites. His quote summed it up perfectly, the guy acknowledged the entire line wasnt playing well but he found MORE ice time for Nash (hasn`t accomplished anything in his career) and Crosby, but benched Iginla. If nobody can see that they have absolutely no clue in what they are watching, PERIOD!

Ooh, capslock and bolded. Normally I would retreat when such a strong point is made, but...

YOU DON'T MOVE A GUY FROM THE FOURTH LINE TO THE FIRST LINE IF YOU FOR SOME CHILDISH REASON DON'T LIKE HIM AND WANT TO DISRESPECT HIM LIKE HE'S A GUEST ON THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW.

AND IN OTHER NEWS, THE WHOLE GODDAMN TEAM IS GETTING SHUFFLED AROUND EVERY SHIFT SO MAYBE WE SHOULD STOP CRYING ABOUT OUR FAVOURITE PLAYER AND READING TOO MUCH INTO SOME OFF THE CUFF QUOTE FROM A PRESS CONFERENCE.

[Flash Walken]

All this yelling is making my ears hurt!

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

All this yelling is making my ears hurt!

All this dumb in one thread makes me brain hurt.