Babcock Underperforming?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

EDIT: wrong thread

Edited April 1, 2011 by SouthernWingsFan

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I think that "we are what we are" and "we know how to play" stuff isn't cutting it anymore. It seems to make them unaccountable for their play on the ice. Granted, with as many injuries as the team as had this year, it would be difficult for any coach to effectively discipline players by benching or demoting. I think that is what he needs to do though. Just tweaking lines doesn't seem to have been the most successful the last couple years. Too much emphasis on chemistry and not enough on performance. I wouldn't mind him making a big off-season trade to show the boys that he means business.

I felt the after game comments by Babcock and the players was piss poor. Typical nothing answers when they all should of been mad as hell steaming that they allowed 10 goals against by one of the worst western teams. Show some goddamn emotion, show you care that you just got stomped.

[Guest mjtm77]

Stop bitching and complaining the playoffs are a whole new ball game. How did playing well going into the playoffs last year work out??????? I think it was a second round exit don't remeber tho....

Edit- why are wings fans so spoiled we were Injured up this season and we are 1 point out of second. You guys are complaining give me a break.

Edited April 1, 2011 by mjtm77

[MGreenberg 105]

Stop bitching and complaining the playoffs are a whole new ball game. How did playing well going into the playoffs last year work out??????? I think it was a second round exit don't remeber tho....

Edit- why are wings fans so spoiled we were Injured up this season and we are 1 point out of second. You guys are complaining give me a break.

Yeah, optimistically I am hoping for a reverse last year. Going from bad-great-bad(1st half-2nd half-playoffs) last year to great-bad-great this year.

Edited April 1, 2011 by MGreenberg

[LadyInRed 33]

I felt the after game comments by Babcock and the players was piss poor. Typical nothing answers when they all should of been mad as hell steaming that they allowed 10 goals against by one of the worst western teams. Show some goddamn emotion, show you care that you just got stomped.

Thank God I'm not the only one who felt this way. This is what bothered me the most

[Tim Cheveldae's Ghost 9]

Thank God I'm not the only one who felt this way. This is what bothered me the most

I didn't like that any of the players apologized for playing like that in front of their home fans. People paid good money to see that and its despicable that none of the players had the balls to admit it.

To the topic at hand, this isn't Babcock's fault. Coaches are always supposed to foot the blame for things, but they don't play the game. It's why I stopped coaching, because I was getting too emotionally involved for something I couldn't control. The buck stops with the players and they know that. If they get bounced early, Babs will report to Kenny and tell him who he thinks should be off this team if there are any rotten eggs, and I suspect that may happen. The Wings have obviously expressed confidence in his coaching abilities with the extension so he's not going anywhere, this is a player issue and only the players will be the ones able to resolve it.

[clutchngrab 12]

Babcock has never figured out how to coach a veteran team. Unlike Bowman, he doesn't know when to drive or lay off. To be honest, I don't forgive him the loss in the SCF when we had a 3-2 lead in games. Coaches have a shelf life and maybe Babs has expired.

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

I'd really like to see Babcock sitting guys if there playing poorly, and it should be from our top guy right down the the bottom guys.. If your not going to play sit up in the press box

Agree, maybe even just use it as a ploy to sharpen up others. He should make a bold move, something like taking Z aside, assistant captain and all, and say to him, take a game in the press box and show everyone that any of them can be scratched. Just like to reiterate though, SOMETHING like that.

[Rivalred 630]

HM and I discussed this the other night as we sat and had to choke on wings at BWW....

HM suggests Babcock say nothing to the team after the game or the practice

Myself suggested that he go Bobby Knight on their asses...

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By the way, ever since that clip came out about a day in the life of Babcock with his family showing is softer side and smiling, this team has went south quick.

Edited April 1, 2011 by Rivalred

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Are you guys serious ... Mike Babcock is the best coach in the NHL. Thank god we have him or else considering how things have gone this year we probably wouldn't even been in the playoffs or probably just looking into the playoffs.

This is probably the worst thread I have seen on LGW for years now. I'm really dissapointed by all the Wings fans that are even agreeing that Babcock is under performing. Our problem isn't Babcock our major problem is the goalie and if you guys want to blame our losings on something ... blame it on the goal tending situation.

Unfortunately Wings have had no goalie support this year, nor will they ever win a Stanley Cup until they get themselves a above average goaltender. I am not convinced with Jimmy Howard nor do I ever think he can win us a cup. So I hope the Wings are in the market for a goalie ...

* Why do you guys think Holland was after Nabby, if you guys actually think it was only due for injuries then don't kid yourselves.

Edited April 1, 2011 by KrazyGangsta

[Datsyerberger 279]

I'll reserve judgement until I see what happens in the playoffs (and the injury state while doing so). If the Wings put up a solid performance in the playoffs, I'll feel fine about the team going into next season. If there are obvious defensive/goaltending/scoring consistency issues, I think there will be some serious shakeups during the offseason.

[drwscc 212]

I really don't think this is Babcock's fault. He can only do so much, and if he pushes too hard he risks losing the team. It really is up to the players to turn it on, and recognize that they control their own destiny.

I think that what this team is missing is a gritty veteran (think Drake, Shanny, etc.) that isn't afraid to step up and be a leader when needed. The HBO 24/7 with the Caps and Pens really spotlighted this for me. During one of the episodes, the Caps were down 3-0, and they showed the team in the room between periods. Everyone was just kind of looking down, and not really talking. Then Mike Knuble piped up and said the following:

"Today, it's 3-0 and it will not f****** be one of these laughers again. It will not f****** turn intoo a 5-0, 7-0 f****** laugher. Where they're f****** giggling getting out of their f******* mess here. We are f****** down 3-0 and we are going to come back and we're gonna f****** win this thing. We're not f****** going in the tank. That is enough right there. That's f****** more than a year's worth. It's not going to happen again."

Now, I look at our team, and we don't have the equivalent of a Knuble or a Drake anymore. We don't have anyone really that can provide that kind of kick in the ass when it's needed. We don't have anyone that will go out there and take the body and try and make things happen. I mean, you're down 9-3 in the 3rd, and no scraps? I really think that's the problem with this team.

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

Are you guys serious ... Mike Babcock is the best coach in the NHL. Thank god we have him or else considering how things have gone this year we probably wouldn't even been in the playoffs or probably just looking into the playoffs.

Maybe...maybe not. I do want him as our coach (right now) and think he is an elite NHL coach. However, I just think he's been underperforming and getting out coached in cases since Jan.

btw....What has been so horrific this year to merit saying "Thank god we have him or else considering how things have gone this year we probably wouldn't even been in the playoffs or probably just looking into the playoffs." Last year was worse. What speficifally has been the travisty that Babs has had to overcome?? Dats, Z, Lids out for the entire year? Either of these guys being hurt for long stretches simultaneoulsy? What is the video montage with sad music about for us to cry over and say what a great job Babs has done with "all this adversity"? This is what all NHL teams go through on average. I don't get it. Yes, we've had our share of injuries. Yes, some of the injuries had a big impact on our goaltending situation. However, with our line-up (Wings pedigree/expectations, having one of the hardest buildings in the league for the opposition to win in, etc...) the play since Jan has been sub par. I believe Babs and staff have not been their best and share responsibility in our performance as of late. Geez, if we were Nashville and the talent limitations that Barry Trotz has to contend with that's one thing....but look at our line-up. Unbelievable. Z, Dats, Lids, Raffi, Stewey, Kronner, Homer, Cleary, Franzy, Fil, Bert, potential Hall of Famer Ozzy, Jimmy Howard Calder trophy finalist last year....not to mention our 4th liners who would most likely be 2nd/3rd liners on most other teams. Are you kidding me?? I sure the hell am not going to start feeling sorry for Babs and the team for "how things have gone this year". I wanna win a cup!!

All is believe is something is amiss at getting the most out of our line up right now. Hoping this will change starting tomorrow.

[mjlegend 155]

I hear Dave Lewis is available.

[VM1138 1,921]

Honestly, I think it has the most to do with team makeup. Perhaps the Wings organization has been a little too lenient? Maybe a trade of a not-likely-to-be-traded figure would wake the team up and realize even though it's a great place to work, it's still a business, and that business is winning?

Sadly, I'm thinking Kronwall, who I like but just hasn't been that indispensable this season, but is indispensable enough to be a bit shocking.

EDIT: I pick Kronwall of course because defense has been the real big flaw this season, and trading Ericsson or Kindl just isn't going to have a huge impact on the locker room. Obviously Lids stays, Rafalski can't go, and Stuart ranges from consistently solid #3 D-man to absolutely fantastic shut down D-man throughout a season. Kronwall is good too but if someone has to go for impact's sake, it'd be him.

Edited April 2, 2011 by VM1138

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

It has been a while since Babs scored a goal, hasn't it? Geez, 1988?! How does this guy keep getting re-signed!

[dragonballgtz 273]

Besides Z and Datsyuk I will say the only other forwards that is consistent this season has been Helm. Cleary was doing good but since he got back from his injury he has been off. Our defense has been inconsistent all year round... it's hard to understand why this team just looks mediocre since that great start.

[Majsheppard 203]

All I have to say is, the Penguins have had bigger injury concerns than us and are playing better than we are.

Sure they haven't had as many injuries, but the quality of their injuries are better than ours, and we pretty much have the same amount of points. Byls has impressed me more than Babs this year.

I look at how the Wings have been playing, and how the rest of the league has been playing and I think that we are the worst in terms of drive and direction amongst the playoff teams.

Even 8th seeded Chicago and 9th seeded Carolina seem to be more mentally prepared for a run at the cup than us.

I had a ton of hope that we would be winning a cup this year, and now I wonder if we make it out of the first round. I never am this panicked about the Wings. Something just isn't right about them and the omen of Lidstrom being a negative player is quite foreboding to our immediate future.