Leaderboard

With Babcock behind the bench...I would not want my team to meet this Leafs team in the playoffs. Yeah, their D is thin, but we know Babcock has a talent for squeezing blood from a stone. Matthews-Tavares-Kadri is comparable to Crosby-Malkin-Bonino (in theory), and those Pens teams weren't exactly stacked on the blue line. Plus, we all know it's only a matter of time before the Leafs acquire a really good defenseman to solidify their D group. I expect them to pull that trigger this season. Next season at the latest.

It'll be Lavoie Said the Germans at Omaha Beach!

I undestand that concern. And I guess there's a part of me that does share it, based on recent history. But, honestly, I'm not getting that vibe from the piece I linked to or from comments players and coaches have made. I think they realize the Wings have been playing inconsistent, sometimes-soft, sometimes-lazy, sometimes-disinterested, often-plodding hockey and I think they feel that few (zero?) teams really dislike playing them. I suspect they're going to take a cue or two from an aggressive-forecheck team like the Knights or the Panthers under Gallant. Hopefully that doesn't mean looking to our grinders to win us games.

Let me clarify. If this team can win games by playing exciting hockey, getting great goaltending,scoring on their PP, getting 30 goals out of Mantha, 70pts out of Larkin, a solid effort out of AA, and good season from an acceptable number of rookies? Great. Then I don't care about where they finish or draft. If they plan on being hard on the forecheck and backcheck as part of this process and it's fun to watch? Great. Then I don't care about where they finish or draft. IF THEY HOPE TO MAKE UP FOR LACK OF TALENT BY GRINDING IT OUT AND PLAYING GLENDENNING, HELM, AND ABDLEKADER 15 - 20 MINUTES A NIGHT "BECAUSE THEY GIVE IT HELL FOR 60" FOR THE SAKE OF WHAT (???) THEN f*** THAT. *ahem* that's all I meant.

The reality is that the players/coaches want to win, and that's a good thing. The last thing this franchise needs is a 'loser' mentality which only extends for years to come. Granted - this team isn't very good, and will likely be outta the playoff picture by the US Thanksgiving weekend, but we're owed a drop in the draft lottery.

What I wouldn't give to see the Islanders be better at hockey than the Leafs in 2 or 3 years