Anyone else concerned about Matthews?

[rojac]

Matty is on an 82 game pace to score 42 goals (29/57*82) , Willie is on an 82 game pace to score ...42 goals (33/64*82) ... what's the problem?

Perhaps the more accurate projection for Matthews is that he will continue to collect points in his final 18 games of the season that he did in his first 57 games which would put him at 38 goals (29 + (29/57 *18)) and 43 assists (33 + (33/57*18)) for a total of 81 points in 75 games. That would be the second highest point total in his career.

We never thought he would be playing like he is right now

Why? It's always possible that a good player will have an off year. It seems silly to rule it out as a possibility.

 

[mapleleaf979]

I personally think Matthews doesnt really care about the city of Toronto. Im not sure if Matthews wants to stay and I dont really care as long as we get the proper return. If Matthews had a mean streak, competed hard, a leader basically that scores 50 easily...id be stressed about him leaving but he has alot of flaws in his game.

 

[rojac]

I personally think Matthews doesnt really care about the city of Toronto. Im not sure if Matthews wants to stay and I dont really care as long as we get the proper return. If Matthews had a mean streak, competed hard, a leader basically that scores 50 easily...id be stressed about him leaving but he has alot of flaws in his game.

So, is it your theory that he cared last year but doesn't care this year? Any evidence to back up your theory?

 

[hfman]

If it was about Marner playing with Tavares, then it's a level of immaturity and entitlement I don't want around the team. That shit spreads like the flu.

time to face the truth no one can deny that Matthews can sometimes give off this sort of vibe

Hey everyone look at me I have this cool cheesy moustache, I'm in commercials, I wear cool clothes just look at me

he's an incredible talent but he lacks the maturity level and drive of real superstars like McDavid and this is where the problem lies

I remember recently there was a real debate about who was the real superstar of the league, McDavid or Matthews

that's a big L-O-L now.

Matthews will never be on McDavid's level, he is always going to be a tier down.

And most of that is because they are on two completely different maturity levels. McDavid grew up a lot faster. Matthews has a lot of catching up to do.

 

[rojac]

There seem to be a number of posters on the Leafs boards who just lay in wait for a reason to jump all over a Leafs star player. Look at the way people jumped all over Sundin when he chose to be loyal and then jumped all over him again when he decided to move on being told by Burke that Toronto wouldn’t be signing him.

But I suspect every fanbase has posters like that. Unfortunately.

 

[rojac]

Same

It's gone on way too long, if he's hurt sit him out, it's not hard to figure out, if he's distracted about something off ice, give him time off to get whatever the problem is straightened out and get his head right.

If it was about Marner playing with Tavares, then it's a level of immaturity and entitlement I don't want around the team. That shit spreads like the flu.

I remember the Leafs having to deal with some crap like that in the past. They didnt do enough about it and let that crap fester. It created an atmosphere of disunity, a disgruntled dressing room and turned the team into losers and cost a coach his job.

So, when Matthews played with Marner at the start of the season, he had 14 points (6G, 8A) in 15 GP and was -3. He then played with Nylander and had 43 points (20G, 23A) in 37 GP and was +25. If his reduced performance for the season was due to him being moody about not playing with Marner, why did he play better with Nylander?

 

[Hellcat]

Perhaps the more accurate projection for Matthews is that he will continue to collect points in his final 18 games of the season that he did in his first 57 games which would put him at 38 goals (29 + (29/57 *18)) and 43 assists (33 + (33/57*18)) for a total of 81 points in 75 games. That would be the second highest point total in his career.


Why? It's always possible that a good player will have an off year. It seems silly to rule it out as a possibility.

Agreed, some Leaf fans are like jackals, it takes very little for them to turn on a player. i think they are called fair weather fans. IMO not really fans at all. Matty is an elite center, in every facet of the game and I'm estatic he's on our team.

 

[Hellcat]

You can expect anything you want, does not mean it's reasonable, this kabal of "fans" who are hating on Matty needs to stop, this is how a small group of idiots becomes a big ball of morons. Mattys talent is not in doubt, he's an elite player. For all we know he's been dealing with an injury and is being a hero playing through it. He's what a little over a year removed from wrist surgery? Maybe his wrist injury is back? Perhaps instead of being assholes and shitting all over the guy, we could have his back and lift him up. WOW what a novel concept having someone else's back. This "me first" generation are conditioned to be the last to have someone's back and the first to expect everyone to have theirs when things are not going well.

People sack up, be a man and support Matty. In a bad year he's still a better than every center in the league but one guy.

So, when Matthews played with Marner at the start of the season, he had 14 points (6G, 8A) in 15 GP and was -3. He then played with Nylander and had 43 points (20G, 23A) in 37 GP and was +25. If his reduced performance for the season was due to him being moody about not playing with Marner, why did he play better with Nylander?

It's scary how many people have a thought, don't research their thought to find facts back it up and then just blurt out their thought like its the truth. Well said rojac.

 

[Gary Nylund]

That is my issue with Matthews, his skating effort is poor. Other factors play into this too, like how active the players stick is. He simply does not skate hard too often. The shot blocking is a main focus of the media and commentators but Matthews isnt paid 11.6 to block shots. I am 99.9% he will have surgury in the offseason, I believe it is his right hand. A smart coach like Cooper and the best goalie in the world could potentially leave Matthews having an extremely poor playoff.

The fact that he's top 10 in the NHL in takeaways suggests that stick is a lot more active than you think and that effort isn't an issue.

If he had the same SH% as last season, he'd have 11 more goals than he has now and statistically speaking, his season looks a lot better. I think it's likely he has some sort of injury that's preventing him from shooting the puck the way he can. What I don't understand is why the f*** he's been playing, it seems like it's been an issue since October so even if he needs surgery, just do it then.

 

[AcerComputer]

For a fanbase who complains about having a team that plays well during the regular season, and can't close a series in the playoffs. What does it matter if he is having a down year during the regular season? Even if he was on pace for a 50+ goal 100+ point season. All that matters is the playoffs. That's how he will be judged.

 

[Da Mash]

If he was or is injured then they should of rested him. If he still has issues with his wrist and it won’t get better then we better get a discount on next contract.

I personally think it off ice issues like coke or some other drugs.

He hasn’t looked himself…his shot isn’t the same and he seems out of shape in all honesty. Sure he is better defensively but we need him to be dominate and he hasn’t this year like yrs past. Has there been one game this yr he has won and been dominate? I can’t remember one

 

[therealkoho]

So, when Matthews played with Marner at the start of the season, he had 14 points (6G, 8A) in 15 GP and was -3. He then played with Nylander and had 43 points (20G, 23A) in 37 GP and was +25. If his reduced performance for the season was due to him being moody about not playing with Marner, why did he play better with Nylander?

Who knows but with Nylander playing at such an accelerated pace, maybe Matthews had no choice in upping his game.

We all know that this year's Willie, is the best Willie we've seen in all the years we've had a Willie to see.

 

[hamzarocks]

Perhaps the more accurate projection for Matthews is that he will continue to collect points in his final 18 games of the season that he did in his first 57 games which would put him at 38 goals (29 + (29/57 *18)) and 43 assists (33 + (33/57*18)) for a total of 81 points in 75 games. That would be the second highest point total in his career.


Why? It's always possible that a good player will have an off year. It seems silly to rule it out as a possibility.

It would also likely be his 2nd worst season in the NHL with 2018-2019 being his worst

 

[therealkoho]

There seem to be a number of posters on the Leafs boards who just lay in wait for a reason to jump all over a Leafs star player. Look at the way people jumped all over Sundin when he chose to be loyal and then jumped all over him again when he decided to move on being told by Burke that Toronto wouldn’t be signing him.

But I suspect every fanbase has posters like that. Unfortunately.

Don't include me in that bunch, I am appalled at some of the antics that LeaFlanders get up to, and especially the irrationality of the Sundin hate.

 

[Apex Predator]

Perhaps the more accurate projection for Matthews is that he will continue to collect points in his final 18 games of the season that he did in his first 57 games which would put him at 38 goals (29 + (29/57 *18)) and 43 assists (33 + (33/57*18)) for a total of 81 points in 75 games. That would be the second highest point total in his career.


Why? It's always possible that a good player will have an off year. It seems silly to rule it out as a possibility.

I brought that up earlier and one poster was so adamant that super stars don’t have off years.

 

[Martin Skoula]

If he was or is injured then they should of rested him. If he still has issues with his wrist and it won’t get better then we better get a discount on next contract.

I personally think it off ice issues like coke or some other drugs.

He hasn’t looked himself…his shot isn’t the same and he seems out of shape in all honesty. Sure he is better defensively but we need him to be dominate and he hasn’t this year like yrs past. Has there been one game this yr he has won and been dominate? I can’t remember one

Can you explain how drugs make you forget how to shoot a wrist shot you’ve practiced 100k times in your life?

 

[horner]

Perhaps the more accurate projection for Matthews is that he will continue to collect points in his final 18 games of the season that he did in his first 57 games which would put him at 38 goals (29 + (29/57 *18)) and 43 assists (33 + (33/57*18)) for a total of 81 points in 75 games. That would be the second highest point total in his career.


Why? It's always possible that a good player will have an off year. It seems silly to rule it out as a possibility.

The problem is 47 million of of our cap is tied up in 5 players, I include Mo in this group now.
We can't afford to have one of theses players to have a down yr.

It seems that Matthew's didn't put in the effort last summer to prepare for the season.
Also Matthew's put this on himself by not signing a yr deal and when he seems to think he is one of the top players in the league.

Marner has also got some heat when he doesn't do the things he needs to do.

Mo is catching now because he is making 7 million ,;when he was making 5 million it wasn't such a problem.

Also we haven't done anything in the playoffs.

To me it seems Marner, Nylander and JT did what they needed to due this summer.

I have always Matthew's to be more about the money than the team again it could be tat he didn't sign a 7 yr contract.

We will find out this summer if it is about the money or the team .

His contract will set the bar for Marner and Nylander.

Marner and Nylander have been our best players this yr.

 

[DarkKnight]

When he plays like he did last night, it really makes the injury stuff look a bit too convenient. Physical, fast, heat on his shot, engaged.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

THAT is what we've been whining about in here. He is THAT player and honestly that would've been a pretty average game for him last season. Really glad to see he has it in him still and him just showing us it is still there gives me 100% confidence he's going to bring it when it really matters this year.

 

[Judas Tavares]

Maybe not in those exact words, but the sentiment has been there. I don't know how many times I've seen some say something like "you guys don't know how good you have it" or "I guess you'd prefer to go back to the days when we didn't even make the playoffs".

I agree, but also when I see posts about "entitlement" and "cool guy" and all that, then it is very easy to say "You don't know how good we have it".

It truly reminds me of

Can replace sideburns with moustache or handbag. Can replace Unitas with Tavares or insert non-Leaf here.

 

[Hellcat]

I have to think that Matty is injured, last year, he was in every sense of the word a bull in a China shop, he went through people. This year he is bouncing off people, that IMO, is the behavior of someone trying to avoid contact. If the play is open he takes it but there is not as much physical engagement. I go back to that cross check to the kidneys against Dallas, one of the first games of the season. I think his back is bugging him.

 

[myleafs]

Right now I am more concerned about this crappy schedule. Game on Tuesday....nothing til Saturday??? UGH

What am I missing? I see leafs play tonight and 4 times this week

 

[3blizzard4]

What am I missing? I see leafs play tonight and 4 times this week

Was talking about past two weeks.

 

[myleafs]

Why do we have to argue over who is best? They are both world class hockey players.

McDavid is clearly the best offensive player in the world, he's a train wreck defensivly and a liability without the puck but when he's scoring 2 points a game, who really gives a F? He' a +9 and has scored 124 points, think about that. Generally he's been pretty crappy on the face off dot but is getting better. He's a one dimensional elite generational talent. He scores that's it and when you score at the pace he scores that is pretty damn good.

Matthews is an elite sniper who plays a really solid two way game, OK-ish on the faceoffs. He plays well with and without the puck. Matty has scored 63 points and is a +21. As much as Oiler fans wont like this Matthews is a more complete center than McDavid in all aspects of the game but one, offence.

So who would you prefer to have? Mcdavid or Matthews?

 

[authentic]

I have to think that Matty is injured, last year, he was in very sense of the word a bull in a China shop, he went through people. This year he is bouncing off people, that IMO, is the behavior of someone trying to avoid contact. If the play is open he takes it but there is not as much physical engagement. I go back to that cross check to the kidneys against Dallas, one of the first games of the season. I think his back is bugging him.

Keefe and Dubas have both said he's been playing hurt.