R1 - Series Thread - Bruins (A2) vs Maple Leafs (A3)

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

To be fair it's not like this place was a lot different after losing to the Ducks last season.

The concern was justified and proven.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Are you serious?

He took a Detroit team to 10 straight playoffs, without any pick in the top 14 to replenish the cupboards. Let's not forget that when he took the Maple Leafs job, he took it with the understanding it was a bottom dwelling rebuilding team. The fact the Leafs made it 2 straight seasons to the playoffs after picking #1 is a testament to his coaching.

He made the playoffs with a 40 year old Daniel Alfredsson as the leading scorer and one guy above 20 goals for crying out loud. Coaching is the only way that team made the playoffs. The Flames couldn't make it with 4 20+ goal scorers and a 84 and 64 point players.

Did I say somewhere he was a bad coach? I'm also pretty sure I said he had considerable success in the regular season. It's also true what I said about Boudreau (another coach that has had considerable regular season success) having more playoff success than him since 2009. Also lets not forget that Eastern Conference wasn't exactly a powerhouse in those late years where he was making the playoffs in Detroit.

[Oling_Roachinen]

2013 his Wings lost in the second round to the Blackhawks in a Game 7 OT. The Hawks cruised to a Stanley Cup after that. Arguably if that coin-flip goes the other way, we're talking about multi-Cup winning Babcock.

Sometimes I do forget that 2000 wasn't a couple years ago, but it's not like Babcock hasn't made some noise in the playoffs this decade.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by troutman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...eason_droughts

Panthers = 21 years win drought.
Blue Jackets = 16
Leafs = 12
Sabres = 11
Avalanche= 9
Hurricanes = 9

Wild won a series in 2014-15.

It is 24 years since a Canadian team won the Cup. That is a generation.

I hope to see a Leaf's championship pass out of living memory before I die.

It's been 51 years. So about another 30 ought to cover it.

I should probably drink less beer in the meantime.

[savemedrzaius]

I wouldn't be surprised if Matthews really is pissed off at Babcock.

He played with Brown and Hyman! Of course he is going to look rough. The opposition can just key in on him because Hyman and Brown are more diggers than scorers.

People like to say how great Pasternak is (and he is) but must be nice for him to play with two superstar vets.

For next season I hope Babcock can embrace the new NHL a little more and run with the young, fast kids instead of relying on the Gud Pros who actually kind of suck.