Penguins @ Leafs - Nov. 14th, 7:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Redleaf]

I was just curious as to where all the Carlyle haters went to? What's the latest knock on him?

I'm not going to say he's a fantastic coach who is perfectly positioned to be the Leafs head coach for years to come, but man, last year he was 'Satan' on some of these boards, and the cause of all the Leafs woes.

The criticism hasn't gone away, it's more that he's actually corrected some of the things and others haven't been as pronounced over the past couple weeks. Also, there's no sense in beating a dead horse. I doubt you'd find too many people that believe a good couple weeks is really indicative of any significant differences in the team's fortunes or in Carlyle's thinking. It's also not a coincidence that, now that he's actually doing some of the things people around here wanted him to do - like giving the 4th line ice time, playing guys like Holland in offensive situations, etc - is leading to the team to some success of late.

seriously? You're talking about not beating a dead horse regarding Carlyle? Wow.

Anyways, I agree he has made some changes that has helped them team, but for as many people that wanted him fired after last season, there are probably just as many that like what he's doing so far this year. So a knee jerk reaction of firing him last season probably wasn't the way to go after all...agreed?

 

[Redleaf]

So, you've withdrawn some of your cristisms of him as coach because the team's winning more this year, or your realizing these things go in ups and downs, and not always in straight lines?

Are those really the only two options?

No. Just the first that come to mind.

 

[herman]

So a knee jerk reaction of firing him last season probably wasn't the way to go after all...agreed?

Agreed. Knee-jerk reactions are rarely the right way to go about this business.
Carlyle's extension (and Nonis') put the onus on the players to sack up and take responsibility for their tepid play and ownership over the results on ice.

In turn, Carlyle has made needed changes to the way he's done things (some of those forced by Management) so that playing the game is now not quite as much of an uphill battle.

Thomas Greiss starts for Pittsburgh. Didn't realize the Pens play the Rangers again tomorrow so Fleury will get that game.

Maybe we can catch them flatfooted the way the Bruins overlooked us for Montreal.

 

[bustaheims]

Anyways, I agree he has made some changes that has helped them team, but for as many people that wanted him fired after last season, there are probably just as many that like what he's doing so far this year. So a knee jerk reaction of firing him last season probably wasn't the way to go after all...agreed?

No. Not agreed at all. The Leafs have played well for 2 weeks. That's it. That's not an indication that keeping Carlyle was in any way the right decision. In a lot of ways, he's had his hands forced into doing things that have helped the team. Injuries and cap issues haven't left him a lot of options. The team's recent success doesn't erase their failure last season or the trend Carlyle's teams have showed since before he was fired in Anaheim. It's going to take a lot more than that to make keeping him look like the right decision.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Anyways, I agree he has made some changes that has helped them team, but for as many people that wanted him fired after last season, there are probably just as many that like what he's doing so far this year. So a knee jerk reaction of firing him last season probably wasn't the way to go after all...agreed?

No. Not agreed at all. The Leafs have played well for 2 weeks. That's it. That's not an indication that keeping Carlyle was in any way the right decision. In a lot of ways, he's had his hands forced into doing things that have helped the team. Injuries and cap issues haven't left him a lot of options. The team's recent success doesn't erase their failure last season or the trend Carlyle's teams have showed since before he was fired in Anaheim. It's going to take a lot more than that to make keeping him look like the right decision.

There was also a thing on twitter the other day saying the Leafs have had one of the 3 easiest schedules in the league thus far.

Got to keep it up for a lot longer to make believers out of people.

 

[bustaheims]

There was also a thing on twitter the other day saying the Leafs have had one of the 3 easiest schedules in the league thus far.

Got to keep it up for a lot longer to make believers out of people.

The next few games should be interesting. Pittsburgh, Nashville and Tampa have some of the best P% in the league right now. It's an opportunity for the Leafs to show that maybe they're for real.

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired. A good two weeks doesn't erase all of that, it merely delays it - especially when that stretch also included a few questionable performances. It's going to take at least 2-3 months of the team consistently playing at a higher level to really turn opinion on Carlyle around.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired.

I did forget about that! This season has been funny.

 

[bakeapples]

Tonight's Menu: Penguin Flipper Soup

 

[L K]

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired.

I did forget about that! This season has been funny.

I haven't forgot how fat Kessel is though.  Imagine what he could do if he was in shape!!

 

[dappleganger]

So, Do I bench Benier on my fantasy team tonight?

 

[ZBBM]

There was also a thing on twitter the other day saying the Leafs have had one of the 3 easiest schedules in the league thus far.

Got to keep it up for a lot longer to make believers out of people.

The next few games should be interesting. Pittsburgh, Nashville and Tampa have some of the best P% in the league right now. It's an opportunity for the Leafs to show that maybe they're for real.

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired. A good two weeks doesn't erase all of that, it merely delays it - especially when that stretch also included a few questionable performances. It's going to take at least 2-3 months of the team consistently playing at a higher level to really turn opinion on Carlyle around.

This is the sensible way to look at it.  We have been so bad for so long that we no longer hold the team to a decent standard.  If they play well for a whole season, then come talk to me about Carlyle, is how I look at it.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

There was also a thing on twitter the other day saying the Leafs have had one of the 3 easiest schedules in the league thus far.

Got to keep it up for a lot longer to make believers out of people.

The next few games should be interesting. Pittsburgh, Nashville and Tampa have some of the best P% in the league right now. It's an opportunity for the Leafs to show that maybe they're for real.

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired. A good two weeks doesn't erase all of that, it merely delays it - especially when that stretch also included a few questionable performances. It's going to take at least 2-3 months of the team consistently playing at a higher level to really turn opinion on Carlyle around.

This is the sensible way to look at it.  We have been so bad for so long that we no longer hold the team to a decent standard.  If they play well for a whole season, then come talk to me about Carlyle, is how I look at it.

Simply watching the team last season and looking at their place in the standings early in the season versus later in the season should demonstrate to anyone not to get too down or up this far into the season.

 

[ZBBM]

There was also a thing on twitter the other day saying the Leafs have had one of the 3 easiest schedules in the league thus far.

Got to keep it up for a lot longer to make believers out of people.

The next few games should be interesting. Pittsburgh, Nashville and Tampa have some of the best P% in the league right now. It's an opportunity for the Leafs to show that maybe they're for real.

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired. A good two weeks doesn't erase all of that, it merely delays it - especially when that stretch also included a few questionable performances. It's going to take at least 2-3 months of the team consistently playing at a higher level to really turn opinion on Carlyle around.

This is the sensible way to look at it.  We have been so bad for so long that we no longer hold the team to a decent standard.  If they play well for a whole season, then come talk to me about Carlyle, is how I look at it.

Simply watching the team last season and looking at their place in the standings early in the season versus later in the season should demonstrate to anyone not to get too down or up this far into the season.

Du bist richtig.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

There was also a thing on twitter the other day saying the Leafs have had one of the 3 easiest schedules in the league thus far.

Got to keep it up for a lot longer to make believers out of people.

The next few games should be interesting. Pittsburgh, Nashville and Tampa have some of the best P% in the league right now. It's an opportunity for the Leafs to show that maybe they're for real.

Let's also not forget that before this recent stretch began, there was plenty of speculation that Carlyle was one poor effort away from being fired. A good two weeks doesn't erase all of that, it merely delays it - especially when that stretch also included a few questionable performances. It's going to take at least 2-3 months of the team consistently playing at a higher level to really turn opinion on Carlyle around.

This is the sensible way to look at it.  We have been so bad for so long that we no longer hold the team to a decent standard.  If they play well for a whole season, then come talk to me about Carlyle, is how I look at it.

Simply watching the team last season and looking at their place in the standings early in the season versus later in the season should demonstrate to anyone not to get too down or up this far into the season.

Du bist richtig.

That having been said, I do think their success so far this season, as Mirtle also put it on Twitter (not to steal his thunder) has more "substance" to it.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Please get Benedict Cumberbatch to call tonight's game.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GnLDJAgrws[/youtube]

 

[bustaheims]

That having been said, I do think their success so far this season, as Mirtle also put it on Twitter (not to steal his thunder) has more "substance" to it.

Maybe. I agree that there are definitely aspects of their game that have improved, but, at the same time, a lot of their success still comes from riding hot goaltending and a small number of consistent offensive contributors. Their margin of error is still razor thin (which, I suppose is an upgrade from last season, where there really was no margin for error).

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That having been said, I do think their success so far this season, as Mirtle also put it on Twitter (not to steal his thunder) has more "substance" to it.

Maybe. I agree that there are definitely aspects of their game that have improved, but, at the same time, a lot of their success still comes from riding hot goaltending and a small number of consistent offensive contributors. Their margin of error is still razor thin (which, I suppose is an upgrade from last season, where there really was no margin for error).

Well they've also got 17 different players with goals this season, last season at this point it was only 11.  And the possession numbers have trended upward from last season's basement.  I don't expect those things to dramatically change this quickly.

 

[lamajama]

Carlyle is still the wrong guy.

I give him little credit for the changes as he was essentially forced into all of them and other than this most recent stretch he still wasn't allowing the 4th line any minutes - something that was stressed was very important to do.

The Leafs are still awaiting Babcock's decision and if he's available RC is gone. If he's not available I still hope he's
punted.

 

[ZBBM]

Suit him up!! 

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Sundin!