Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, and for reasons that make no sense, Mike Babcock will sit Connor Carrick in place of Roman Polak.
Connor Carrick shouldn’t sit for anyone. He’s the Leafs best right-handed defenseman.
Last season Carrick was a mainstay on the Leafs best pairing, along with Jake Gardiner. This season, because he isn’t big, or doesn’t have the pedigree, or who knows why, he isn’t playing nearly as much. After playing in 67 games last year, he’s only played in 37 so far this year.
The problem with this is that Carrick is extremely effective and consistent, and so the Leafs are intentionally dressing a worse version of their team every time they sit him.