Anyone else concerned about Matthews?

[Larcos_Unal]

I agree. I don't think people realize that an elite player lacking motivation is a really big issue. Elite players are elite and they find all sorts of crazy things to keep the fire going to be their best whenever there's a game. Obviously there are off nights, but you don't see McDavid, Draisaitl passing up an opportunity to torch the league and stats pad.

I wonder if Crosby, MacKinnon, McJesus, Pasta, Marchand ever took it easy and rested up for the playoffs.

 

[6ix]

The only thing I don’t like is that he’s missing the net high or wide from places he used to automatically snipe from.

Other than that he’s extremely responsible defensively and isn’t cheating for offense to break out of his slump.

Fix that shot Matty

 

[3blizzard4]

Hymann?

I think you try and find a big LW that can create time and space for Matthews. He’s F1, going in for puck retrieval. Not a whole lot of counter attacking for his line which is his bread and butter

 

[Stephen]

I wonder if Crosby, MacKinnon, McJesus, Pasta, Marchand ever took it easy and rested up for the playoffs.

View attachment 656303

Never, never, never. I just don't get this mentality some Leafs fans are bringing to the table. If I were to guess I think it comes from people either grew up watching the Kawhi and the Raptors championship run or are galaxy braining it too much.

 

[therealkoho]

OH NO HE'S GONE 2 GAMES WITHOUT A POINT WHAT WILL WE DO????

Forget the fact we won both

WHAT WILL WE DO!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

trade him I think, and get a whole bunch of new shiny things and some cap space

Willie can move to centre, I know you used to have kind of a crush on that idea a couple of years back, and I think he's ready for that now

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

trade him I think, and get a whole bunch of new shiny things and some cap space

Willie can move to centre, I know you used to have kind of a crush on that idea a couple of years back, and I think he's ready for that now

You have me confused with somebody else I have NEVER wanted Nylander at center

 

[Super Mega]

I didn't really see it that much this season, and frankly thought it was a bit overblown. Then he goes out for injury and just doesn't look right on returning. Either he's really in his head or it's an injury

 

[34]

We heard you the first 1000x times.

True. I am more concerned to get Willy resigned anyway. What a beast 88 has developed into.

 

[keonsbitterness]

True. I am more concerned to get Willy resigned anyway. What a beast 88 has developed into.

Two or three pointless games in a row and you'd be trashing him as well.

 

[34]

Two or three pointless games in a row and you'd be trashing him as well.

No, 88 has been the best Leaf this season.

I am not trashing Matthews whatsoever. He is my favorite player for sure, but I will call a spade a spade. he ain’t staying.

 

[sxvnert]

Hes been coasting for months. Not buying the "hes playings better D so of course his offence will suffer" nonsense because Marner shatters that theory.

 

[Racer88]

I missed the game tonight. How did our 4th best player do…….I read that Willy our 2nd best player saved the day

 

[leafsfan5]

Are we thinking the Leafs are putting him out there knowing he's hurt?

I very much doubt it.

He isn't playing with Marner anymore 5v5.

I don't read into it as much more than that, and the fact that consistent 50 goal seasons are an incredibly hard feat for even the best goal scorers to acheive.

Not playing with Marner isn't the reason his shot is gone

His wrister is nowhere near as powerful or accurate as last year, there has to be something bothering him because how else did he lose this

Leafs played him hurt in the bubble season when he needed wrist surgery. I'm worried it's something similar again, just hoping he powers through and dominates come playoff time

 

[Bomber0104]

Not playing with Marner isn't the reason his shot is gone

His wrister is nowhere near as powerful or accurate as last year, there has to be something bothering him because how else did he lose this

Leafs played him hurt in the bubble season when he needed wrist surgery. I'm worried it's something similar again, just hoping he powers through and dominates come playoff time

If this is something he can rehabilitate then the Leafs would be doing it surely with Tavares and ROR able to split the top two lines...

Why send him out kinda sorta hurt game-after-game, when we're in sound playoff position and he'd be better off coming back better equipped to power through the playoffs?

You'd think the Leafs would be protecting their best asset.

 

[leafsfan5]

If this is something he can rehabilitate then the Leafs would be doing it surely with Tavares and ROR able to split the top two lines...

Why send him out kinda sorta hurt game-after-game, when we're in sound playoff position and he'd be better off coming back better equipped to power through the playoffs?

You'd think the Leafs would be protecting their best asset.

My guess is the Leafs know this is something that won't be healed by the playoffs so he's just playing through it (similar to the bubble season)

 

[Maple Leaf]

I missed the game tonight. How did our 4th best player do…….I read that Willy our 2nd best player saved the day

The giraffe was alright

 

[Bomber0104]

My guess is the Leafs know this is something that won't be healed by the playoffs so he's just playing through it (similar to the bubble season)

I don't know, he's already missed time so there's definitely a good chance of a persistent injury but I'm also looking at what he's doing out there and I'm seeing positioning off and an overall lack of chances.

He's taking the body decently and playing plus-defence, you need a wrist/shoulder to do that, but it's the o-zone stuff that isn't quite the same we're used to. Recall he didn't exactly tear up the league to start the year and without a space-maker, inventive guy like Marner on his line anymore, we can explain definitely eye-ball some of the drop-off in shot opportunities and production..

 

[Gabriel426]

The fact that he is not giving opposing players anything in defence means he is not giving up plays or mailing it in.

I really think there is something off about AM
And Bunting. It seems like both of them are picking their moments to go all in. It could very well be that both of them are saving for the playoffs since both of them were not 100% last year as they were rushed to come back from injuries.

 

[3blizzard4]

This nonsense of wishful thinking that come playoff time magically a switch can be turned on.

If today's game was any indication of what playoff hockey will be like, AM34 was invisible out there.

I say this with sadness as he is my favourtite player.

 

[leafsfan5]

I don't know, he's already missed time so there's definitely a good chance of a persistent injury but I'm also looking at what he's doing out there and I'm seeing positioning off and an overall lack of chances.

He's taking the body decently and playing plus-defence, you need a wrist/shoulder to do that, but it's the o-zone stuff that isn't quite the same we're used to. Recall he didn't exactly tear up the league to start the year and without a space-maker, inventive guy like Marner on his line anymore, we can explain definitely eye-ball some of the drop-off in shot opportunities and production..

For the last couple games there has definitely been a drop off in chances and positioning. But before that I thought his line still generated chances well, the numbers show when he's on the ice it tilts in the offensive zone

Part of it may be Nylander's ascension as a high-end goal scorer and taking opportunities for himself, but that doesn't result in the complete diminishing of Matthews shot imo. Do we remember the last time he ripped it past a goalie? It doesn't even have to be 5v5, he doesn't shoot on the powerplay either. This is a player who under a year ago looked like he would score everytime he shot, I don't think something like that just goes away

 

[mapleleaf979]

This nonsense of wishful thinking that come playoff time magically a switch can be turned on.

If today's game was any indication of what playoff hockey will be like, AM34 was invisible out there.

I say this with sadness as he is my favourtite player.

Agreed. The only reason he disappears, is he doesnt care. He checks out mentally. Its not like he loses his legs randomly. Then add in what that MTL defenseman did to him, roughing him up and he was smiling and not doing anything back. Konecny did the same thing and is 5-8 165, challenged him to a fight, Matthews hide behind team-mates while taunting Konecny. Bottom line his lack of compete level overall is a reason i would not care if he is traded his summer. I personally will be surprised if Mattews signs an extension.

 

[Gabriel426]

Agreed. The only reason he disappears, is he doesnt care. He checks out mentally. Its not like he loses his legs randomly. Then add in what that MTL defenseman did to him, roughing him up and he was smiling and not doing anything back. Konecny did the same thing and is 5-8 165, challenged him to a fight, Matthews hide behind team-mates while taunting Konecny. Bottom line his lack of compete level overall is a reason i would not care if he is traded his summer. I personally will be surprised if Mattews signs an extension.

Not saying you are wrong but did you have the same feeling when he was a Rocket Winner the last two seasons?
I agree he is struggling but if he checked out already, he probably would not be playing any defence.

 

[Tak7]

This nonsense of wishful thinking that come playoff time magically a switch can be turned on.

If today's game was any indication of what playoff hockey will be like, AM34 was invisible out there.

I say this with sadness as he is my favourtite player.

It's not the playoffs though.

If he plays like this during the playoffs, it's time to be concerned. He's got a good few weeks to shake off whatever the hell is bothering him.

I'm concerned by how passive he's looked all season, and it's notable that he didn't take the offensive zone draw in OT that led to the winner - he's not right. There's still time to fix that.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Getting 4 goals in his debut

Not saying you are wrong but did you have the same feeling when he was a Rocket Winner the last two seasons?
I agree he is struggling but if he checked out already, he probably would not be playing any defence.

Scoring 60 goals, its easy to turn a blind eye to his compete level. He has a blessed shot and can score 1 goal but literally be mentally checked out all game. He could use his legs if he wanted too but he doesnt want too. At certain points in tonights game, he turned the jets on and the defense was in chaos. But all too often he is just floating around, playing defense like a free safety hanging back and has no ambition to skate with the puck.

 

[3blizzard4]

It's not the playoffs though.

If he plays like this during the playoffs, it's time to be concerned. He's got a good few weeks to shake off whatever the hell is bothering him.

I'm concerned by how passive he's looked all season, and it's notable that he didn't take the offensive zone draw in OT that led to the winner - he's not right. There's still time to fix that.

It's in the head. I think he has had a bad breakup or something.

If its physical and he is playing through something thats very idiotic of the Leafs.