Anyone else concerned about Matthews?

[BraveCanadian]

He's injured or he doesn't care or both. So yes, I'd be concerned.

 

[rdogg]

In the 2015-2016 season Matthews played for the Zurich Lions. They were the top seeded team and got swept in the first round. The guy seems to have a hard time in the playoffs

 

[NewEraGM]

He has to be injured. On the Petersson goal, he had a head start by about 10 feet and was 15 feet behind EP40 by the time they reached the other end. Matthews was stopped and EP did have a bit of moving start but not enough to explain a 25-35 foot passing in the neutral zone

 

[thewave]

In the 2015-2016 season Matthews played for the Zurich Lions. They were the top seeded team and got swept in the first round. The guy seems to have a hard time in the playoffs

The day is coming quick that the fans here are going to understand how badly Dubas and Shanahan blew it. The contracts were too much, the pandering was too far and the JT contract probably shouldn't have happened. On top of that there was the Kyle Dubas NuHockey that flopped for years.

ECF+ or bust

 

[Niagara Bill]

He has to be injured. On the Petersson goal, he had a head start by about 10 feet and was 15 feet behind EP40 by the time they reached the other end. Matthews was stopped and EP did have a bit of moving start but not enough to explain a 25-35 foot passing in the neutral zone

Then get the f... off the ice. We had lots of centers to survive.
If it is not physical...the we have a far far bigger problem.
I have seen Sid, Mario, even Stamkos play injured, they say they are injured, but give effort...that is why I think we have a mental or room problem

 

[thewave]

Then get the f... off the ice. We had lots of centers to survive.
If it is not physical...the we have a far far bigger problem.
I have seen Sid, Mario, even Stamkos play injured, they say they are injured, but give effort...that is why I think we have a mental or room problem

I see a lack of drive. Is that because of an injury? Is it his legs? His back? If it's not his legs or back then he should be able to compete at least. It's weird.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

It's good that he avoided a knee injury and came back to finish the game but he looked very sloppy out there. Mentally checked out, half hearted effort. Doesn't look like someone gearing up for the playoffs.

Could it be because Biebs is sick with some kind of facial paralysis and he is just not in the game mentally?

 

[HamiltonNHL]

i don’t know many injuries that don’t benefit from rest.

I think he’s trying to keep playing to get home advantage vs Tampa.

I was told on Marner vs Rantanen contract discussions that Marner pays 10% more taxes than Rantanen so his aav will be higher to account for that.

Where did you hear that ?

 

[57 Years No Cup]

The idea of a nagging injury that can be played through, requiring no rest, that doesn't get worse with repeated wear and tear is a mystery to me.

Exactly. Admittedly, I'm older and not an in shape hockey player but at the beginning of The Days of Covid I injured my shoulder. Some type of rotator injury and I couldn't even lift my arm over my head, put my arm behind my back, etc. Got in to see the doc and due to covid I was unable to get to see a specialist at all for about a year. Doc said forget it as the only cure besides unnecessary surgery is time, aka rest. Sure enough, it took a year but my shoulder got back to 100%. Playing thru soft tissue injuries doesn't do anyone any good.

 

[DarkKnight]

If he is injured how come he looks great for stretches, wiring wicked shots, skating and hounding pucks? Is he just injured sometimes, it’s the weirdest thing? So he was injured in Edmonton, recovered in Calgary and hurt again?

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Would it surprise everyone to know that Matthews has only played a full 82 game schedule ONCE in his career.... his first year, 2016-17? The only other 'full season" he played has the first covid year, 2019-20, when they played 70 games.

2016-17: 82 games
2017-18: 62 (missed 20 games)
2018-19: 68 (missed 14 games)
2019-20: 70 (covid shortened, missed 0 games)
2020-21: 52 (covid shortened, full season was 56 games, missed 4 games)
2021-22: 73 (missed 9 games)
2022-23 to date: team has played 63 games (Matthews 56, missed 7 games)

He's injury prone and he is not worth paying full asking price. The best ability is avail-ability.

 

[Beaumaris]

No

Tongue in cheek I’m guessing.

 

[1specter]

If he is injured now come he looks great for stretches, wiring wicked shots, skating and hounding pucks? Is he just injured sometimes, it’s the weirdest thing? So he was injured in Edmonton, recovered in Calgary and hurt again?

I didn't think he looked that great in Calgary either to be honest. Yeah, he was more aggressive and active, but everything just seems a little 'off'. The shots don't quite have the same zip to them, his timing and release are a little slower, he's bobbling passes and one time opportunities more etc.

Last year he had this aura of dominance every time he was on and was very noticeable, this year it feels like you don't notice him half the time and even when you do it doesn't look right.

 

[Arzak]

Ya, the Leafs should bring back an experienced GM like Lou to handle the negotiations. Worked real well with Zaitsev and Marleau.

Lou haters trying to push this narrative for years.

Meanwhile, Lou got 30+ years of track record of overpaying experience UFA but is super cheap on ELC and RFA players that got realistically no other option than sign with your team.

If you think our players would the money they got with Lou, you are dreaming.

 

[DarkKnight]

I didn't think he looked that great in Calgary either to be honest. Yeah, he was more aggressive and active, but everything just seems a little 'off'. The shots don't quite have the same zip to them, his timing and release are a little slower, he's bobbling passes and one time opportunities more etc.

Last year he had this aura of dominance every time he was on and was very noticeable, this year it feels like you don't notice him half the time and even when you do it doesn't look right.

Then why is the hurt guy blocking shots like never before? His shot looks fine to me, the release is good, it’s just accuracy. He does look off, but to me it’s a mental thing, because I see him turn it on whenever he wants, that doesn’t speak to a physical problem to me. But who knows, just hope he come around, he’s still good just not superstar game changer.

 

[NewEraGM]

What I find really strange is that if it was an injury I would think leafs would sit him out. So logically, I’m thinking it has to be an injury based on his play but then I keep wondering why they are not sitting him out. It’s really strange…

I refuse to believ they wouldn’t sit him out if inured. They have done that before so I get the sense it’s something else

 

[Stephen]

Then why is the hurt guy blocking shots like never before? His shot looks fine to me, the release is good, it’s just accuracy. He does look off, but to me it’s a mental thing, because I see him turn it on whenever he wants, that doesn’t speak to a physical problem to me. But who knows, just hope he come around, he’s still good just not superstar game changer.

It is a baffling situation because he came back from a three week injury layoff and didn't look right other than for a few spurts. But why is he back at all? The body language looks wrong, he's bobbling pucks, sometimes the skating and puckhandling look fine but it's a concentration issue because the puck will just roll or skip on him, and that's never been an issue in the past.

He's just not someone you want to go through the motions doing David Kampf stuff if he isn't healthy.

 

[DarkKnight]

It is a baffling situation because he came back from a three week injury layoff and didn't look right other than for a few spurts. But why is he back at all? The body language looks wrong, he's bobbling pucks, sometimes the skating and puckhandling look fine but it's a concentration issue because the puck will just roll or skip on him, and that's never been an issue in the past.

He's just not someone you want to go through the motions doing David Kampf stuff if he isn't healthy.

Agree. My head scratcher is how does concentration translate to an injury? And what is the injury? I mean could tell when it was his wrist, but here, he skates fine, his release is there, he doesn’t shy from contact, it does seem mental to me. Last year he was continually motivated by his totals, this year without that carrot, he seems to have trouble getting into a groove. Like the game against Calgary, he fed off Marner’s desire, he strated feeling it, but he wasn’t the catalyst. He was off when the season began as well, just passively waiting for the game to come to him.

 

[Stephen]

Agree. My head scratcher is how does concentration translate to an injury? And what is the injury? I mean could tell when it was his wrist, but here, he skates fine, his release is there, he doesn’t shy from contact, it does seem mental to me. Last year he was continually motivated by his totals, this year without that carrot, he seems to have trouble getting into a groove. Like the game against Calgary, he fed off Marner’s desire, he stated feeling it, but he wasn’t the catalyst. He was off when the season began as well, just passively waiting for the game to come to him.

I wonder if there's a contract re-negotiation anxiety we're not privy to. Declining numbers, uncertain negotiations, looming playoffs. Probably more stress than someone who has flown at such a high level would not be used to.

 

[DarkKnight]

I wonder if there's a contract re-negotiation anxiety we're not privy to. Declining numbers, uncertain negotiations, looming playoffs. Probably more stress than someone who has flown at such a high level would not be used to.

He does seem distracted.

Just to add, he hasn’t been terrible, it’s just the bar is pretty high and he’s rarely our best player, more concerning for me, never the guy that gets us going when we need it.

 

[Arzak]

It’s sickening that matthews caphit is 700k less then mcdavid…..

5M more than Pasta this year
400k more than Pasta next year, but that's for single season only.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Or not. I shall keep my wondering to myself. Haha.

 

[Matthews4Calder]

I don't buy the injury thing. He may not be 100% but if it was anything worrisome he'd probably be rested. Last games now are basically finding the right players and chemistry for round 1. Having said that I'm extremely disappointed at his play and last night's loss I'm going to say was his laziness on the back check. Inexcusable for a guy making his money. I've taken this pic of the JT dumb turnover that changed the game. Yes it was a dumb pass but look where everyone is once the puck is turned over. You tell me how this turns into a 2 on 1. Complete BS from your so called leaders.

 

[ACC1224]

I don't buy the injury thing. He may not be 100% but if it was anything worrisome he'd probably be rested. Last games now are basically finding the right players and chemistry for round 1. Having said that I'm extremely disappointed at his play and last night's loss I'm going to say was his laziness on the back check. Inexcusable for a guy making his money. I've taken this pic of the JT dumb turnover that changed the game. Yes it was a dumb pass but look where everyone is once the puck is turned over. You tell me how this turns into a 2 on 1. Complete BS from your so called leaders.


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That was an absolutely brutal effort. Zero f***s given there by Matthews.
Should have sat a few shifts after that.

 

[Matthews4Calder]

That was an absolutely brutal effort. Zero f***s given there by Matthews.
Should have sat a few shifts after that.

Problem is and that's why this team will never go anywhere is M&M call the shots. Look what happened last time Marner got sat. Cooper sitting and calling out his stars is perfectly fine but in TO our stars are coddled.