Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
^ I haven't really read up in detail on Keefe's past, but I saw the news articles last week that spoke to Keefe's sociopathic background. Why would the Leafs swap one maladjusted head coach for another?
|
Really? I've heard nothing of the sort and I thought I digested every piece of hockey news available.
All I've heard about Keefe is how every player who's been coached by him loves him. He's followed Dubas from the Sault Greyhounds, to the Marlies, and now to the big club. Dubas doesn't seem like the type to bring someone with heavy baggage along for the ride. He wanted Babcock gone for well over a year (mostly for personnel utilization, but it's hard to imagine he didn't also know about some of this stuff going on).
I think the most telling piece of evidence is that 13 of the current Leafs have played for Keefe at one point or another on the Marlies. Since the firing, every single interview and quote from said players has shown nothing but excitement for having their old coach back, and nothing but non-answers regarding their thoughts on Babcock. Hell Dermott actually publicly said he thought firing Babcock was the right move. In a sport known for zero genuine player insight, that's about a big an F you as you can get.
Every player has been using the same word too. Freedom. They know that Keefe actually lets his players utilize their skill on offense. Part of Keefe's philosophy is if you want your players to play hard on defense, give them a reason too. He wants them to desperately want the puck back to be able to display that skill carrying the puck through the neutral zone and keeping play on the other side of the ice. As opposed to Babcock where you were supposed to give 110% to stop the cycle only to then dump the puck in so he can toss the fourth line "real gud pros" back on the ice. It's only two game so far, but the amount of new life injected into the team is already obvious. Sustaining that through the rough patches will be the real test.
Prev
Linear Mode
