Anyone else concerned about Matthews?

[Jojalu]

Kane and Crosby had already won cups for their teams. We'd all be giving Matthews a big break this off-season if he had won us 2 cups by now.

Ovechkin took A LOT of heat for his no show in 2011. There were hit pieces about how he spent the entire summer partying and chasing girls.

Don't demand to be paid as McDavid's equal (when term is included) and then get HALF as many goals and points. How dare he. Outrageous contracts come with outrageous expectations.

I am skeptical that any Leaf would get a pass the following year if they win the Cup.

The point remains that players have down years. Even Pasta went from Rocket winner and 98 points to 77 points the next year and has bounced back nicely.

You can't find a player outside of McDavid so far that hasn't experienced a bad year. Whether they have won a cup or not.

Matthews finishes with 40-90 it still will be a bad year for him but it's not the end of the world if he has a good playoffs.

Plauers get paid to help their team win. Period. So far the Leafs are winning the majority of their games. Now do it in the playoffs and end this never ending debate

 

[Craig Button]

I don’t mind his performance for now.
It better pick up in the playoffs.

It also lowers his value.

 

[BayStBullies]

I guarantee this guy needs some sort of surgery. He is a fraction of his prior self.

 

[wingman75]

I wouldn't go that far though, look at how much worse Tampa's best players did than ours but they still won the series.

I just really hope there's a legitimate reason for this that gets fixed by the time the playoffs start but I'm getting ready to accept that that may not be the case and this is what we're getting.

Fair, it might be an overstatement by me... and, if we can win with Matthews at this level, then I will go the other way and say we are unstoppable then. No middle-ground for me... lol

 

[leafsfan5]

I don't like our chances of going far with him like this

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Kane's regular season totals for the last 2 cups are 55p in 47GP and 64 in 61. Sometimes I've noticed a correlation between star players "down" seasons and good playoffs.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

You know he's invisible when my wife asks in the middle of the second period "is Matthews playing tonight"? I understand he's having a down year, not completely healthy, but at the very least show some fire and passion in a big game. It's happened before in game 7's where he just kinda disappears when you're looking for that spark that great players find in big games.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Kane's regular season totals for the last 2 cups are 55p in 47GP and 64 in 61. Sometimes I've noticed a correlation between star players "down" seasons and good playoffs.

Those are typical regular season numbers for Kane. He's had a few outlier great seasons.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Not in slightest .. he will be back to game shape soon

 

[AuraSphere]

Everyone keeps saying he's obviously injured, but what part? Is it his wrist because he's not shooting as much? If so, then why is he not skating and floating around? Does he have a leg injury as well?

He's definitely just playing demotivated hockey

 

[Leaffan1991]

Pasta signed for 8'more
Years at 11.25 so Matthews shouldn't be asking for more than that. 11.75 maybe but any more than that and it's overpay

 

[kb]

Podcasts have already confirmed he's been playing hurt.

I'm only concerned if this is the best he can do until surgery.

 

[Aashir]

I am skeptical that any Leaf would get a pass the following year if they win the Cup.

The point remains that players have down years. Even Pasta went from Rocket winner and 98 points to 77 points the next year and has bounced back nicely.

You can't find a player outside of McDavid so far that hasn't experienced a bad year. Whether they have won a cup or not.

Matthews finishes with 40-90 it still will be a bad year for him but it's not the end of the world if he has a good playoffs.

Plauers get paid to help their team win. Period. So far the Leafs are winning the majority of their games. Now do it in the playoffs and end this never ending debate

Mackinnon
Kucherov
Draisaitl

Since breakout, none have been outside top 10 in scoring

 

[Menzinger]

Mackinnon
Kucherov
Draisaitl

Since breakout, none have been outside top 10 in scoring

That's a big qualifer though. It took MacKinnon 5 NHL seasons to even get to the top 10 to begin with

 

[Aashir]

That's a big qualifer though. It took MacKinnon 5 NHL seasons to even get to the top 10 to begin with

I get that, but I don’t think talking about a 19 year old Mackinnon putting up a 41 point pace really targets the point. Matthews did hit the league running but it’s not like Matthews has been top 10 ppg that much earlier. He was much better than Mackinnon however.

Matthews since 2019-2020 has been above top 10 in ppg so it took Matthews 4 years to get there

 

[Notsince67]

If you want to argue his point production in a down year is adequate then fine, but the reality is if he is not leading the charge for us as a difference maker in the playoffs our chances of winning are very slim.

True that

 

[MJ65]

There is nothing to worry about - he is going to bounce back and hopefully can perform at elite level come playoffs time

 

[Notsince67]

Podcasts have already confirmed he's been playing hurt.

I'm only concerned if this is the best he can do until surgery.

Need John Wicks doctor. Healthcare sucks in Toronto

 

[mapleleaf979]

Matthews must have had a leg injury for his entire career because his effort is always subpar....

 

[DarkKnight]

Podcasts have already confirmed he's been playing hurt.

I'm only concerned if this is the best he can do until surgery.

Link?

 

[WTFMAN99]

He's had 4 points in the last 7 games

 

[ACC1224]

Link?

Just ask Jeffler, that's where the insight seems to come from these days.

 

[Jmo89]

I am skeptical that any Leaf would get a pass the following year if they win the Cup.

The point remains that players have down years. Even Pasta went from Rocket winner and 98 points to 77 points the next year and has bounced back nicely.

You can't find a player outside of McDavid so far that hasn't experienced a bad year. Whether they have won a cup or not.

Matthews finishes with 40-90 it still will be a bad year for him but it's not the end of the world if he has a good playoffs.

Plauers get paid to help their team win. Period. So far the Leafs are winning the majority of their games. Now do it in the playoffs and end this never ending debate

Yep, most players have down years. Even superstars. The exception will probably be McDavid.

It's nice that Matthews having a down year will probably round out to him scoring 40 goals, be above ppg, and solid defensively.

Now, if it becomes a trend and he looks the same next year, management may have to reevaluate what to offer for his next contract.

Edit: Just wanted to clarify this doesn't mean I'm "happy" with his play/production and I guess you could said I'm mildly concerned.

 

[Guy Boucher]

He's been battling injury all season. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Don’t you think it could just be the simple fact that he broke up with his girl and need to do it by himself all the time which lead to his wrist getting tired with no snap on his shot.

It is possible.

Use the other hand. It feels like somebody else...