Toronto Maple Leafs: Babcock Out-Matched and Out-Coached

A number of Toronto Maple Leafs failed to so much as show up for last night’s series opener at TD Gardens.

Morgan Reilly put forth what likely will stand as his worst performance as a Leaf. Ron Hainsey seemingly wore each of his 37 years on both of his shoulders. And, as much as it pains me to say it, even our infallible son, Auston Matthews, was completely invisible. Neutralized by Boston’s overwhelming top line.

Yet, the member of the Leafs bench with the most regrettable Thursday night performance happened to be the man standing behind it.

Simply put, Bruce Cassidy outcoached Mike Babcock.

In hockey, no coach, GM, or player is immune from criticism. Not a single one. It doesn’t matter if you’re Wayne Gretzky or Tanner Glass. If your performance is worthy of criticism, then criticism shall come.

Somehow losing the matchup battle in such sweeping fashion that Kasperi Kapanen, Tomas Plekanec and Leo Komarov (we’ll get to him) were tasked with taking defensive zone draws against the best line in hockey? That is criticizable.

Ignoring your own lineup’s offensive strengths in an effort to mould them into a defensively cautious unit, set on fulfilling your outdated views of what “winning playoff hockey” looks like? That is criticizable.

Going 0/3 on the man advantage by primarily throwing out a unit featuring Komarov in lieu of the vastly superior Andreas Johnsson? Yeah, that’s criticizable.

Now, not all of last night’s burden is entirely Babcock’s to wear. It certainly didn’t help that Nazem Kadri flew into a murderous rage, nearly decapitating Tommy Wingels in the process.

Are we sure Kadri wasn’t the recipient of the Brad Marchand neck kiss? I’m sure whatever fuels his debauchery is contagious.

Adjustments

Thankfully, no playoff series is won or lost in Game One.

Last night, Babcock may have found himself both outcoached and outmatched, but a good coach is one who identifies his own weaknesses and adjusts accordingly.

So, while Game One was almost certainly Babcock’s worst, Game Two, depending on the choices he’s necessitated to make, could very well be his best.

With Kadri practically guaranteed to miss Saturday’s contest serving his well-deserved suspension, Toronto’s lineup will look markedly lot different. As it stands now, Johnsson draws back in, reportedly assuming Kadri’s regular role on the first PP unit.

As The Athletic’s Jonas Seigel reports, a brand new Leafs practice lineup has taken shape:

Come ON, Mike.

Hey, Kadri will be out, meaning a highly talented forward will draw back in the lineup. Should we pair him with Matthews and William Nylander, giving our top unit an injection of offence likely to granting them a far better shot at matching up against Boston’s?

Of course not! What are you, an idiot?

Let’s move the guy who somehow managed to produce just 19 points in 74 games despite logging heavy PP minutes up instead. Because in the playoffs, icing your best lineup won’t win you games. Everyone knows that!

On the plus side, Johnsson’s addition to the fourth line now hands the Leafs a bottom unit capable of actual effective hockey. As I’ve previously written, Plekanec is a possession black hole with Komarov and a completely different player alongside Johnsson.

I mean, you did pay a second rounder for the former Hab. You might as well optimize him.

Outlook

Huh.

*Unintelligible shrieking* 

Next: My Game Seven Story

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