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Anyone else concerned about Matthews?

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Tak7 said:
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.
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I wonder how happy Matthews is with Marner off his line. He looks like he is unhappy and not inspired playing with Nylander. The opportunities that Marner gave Matthews last year as his linemate, id personally be slightly pissed off to be Matthews and not have the best playmaker on the team. Matthews and Nylander have chemistry issues.
 
mapleleaf979 said:
Getting 4 goals in his debut

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.
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There is definitely something not right with AM but I don’t think he checked out mentally bc the way he plays defense still needs efforts. If you want to see players checking out mentally, watch the Nucks, as they only check in during PP.

mapleleaf979 said:
I wonder how happy Matthews is with Marner off his line. He looks like he is unhappy and not inspired playing with Nylander. The opportunities that Marner gave Matthews last year as his linemate, id personally be slightly pissed off to be Matthews and not have the best playmaker on the team. Matthews and Nylander have chemistry issues.
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Didn’t AM made a great pass to Willie the other night for a goal.
 
Yeah he has had an unspectacular year. The only Matthews month compared to last season was probably November. I suspect he has been playing hurt but if he is in the lineup we won't hear that. As long as the real AM is able to show up by game # 70 or so I don't care too much. The team is winning and regular season achievements don't carry over into the post season.
 
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nuck said:
Yeah he has had an unspectacular year. The only Matthews month compared to last season was probably November. I suspect he has been playing hurt but if he is in the lineup we won't hear that. As long as the real AM is able to show up by game # 70 or so I don't care too much. The team is winning and regular season achievements don't carry over into the post season.
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what are the odds that he can just magically flip a switch come game 70 when he wasn't able to do that for the 69 games preceding it?

in past seasons when he's gotten hurt he hasn't recovered fully until after the offseason and looked like a shell of himself.
 
saffronleaf said:
what are the odds that he can just magically flip a switch come game 70 when he wasn't able to do that for the 69 games preceding it?

in past seasons when he's gotten hurt he hasn't recovered fully until after the offseason and looked like a shell of himself.
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We just need to wait and find out and hope he is saving for the playoffs. if he is still a shell of himself in playoffs, then it will be an interesting and entertaining summer esp if the Leafs win the Cup while AM is just playing okay.
 
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Gabriel426 said:
We just need to wait and find out and hope he is saving for the playoffs. if he is still a shell of himself in playoffs, then it will be an interesting and entertaining summer esp if the Leafs win the Cup while AM is just playing okay.
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sadly I don't think it's possible for the Leafs to win the Cup without AM playing at his peak. Unless we're so deep we can do what TB did when they won without Stamkos.
 
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saffronleaf said:
sadly I don't think it's possible for the Leafs to win the Cup without AM playing at his peak. Unless we're so deep we can do what TB did when they won without Stamkos.
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AM not at his peak doesnt mean he plays like Kerfoot. Even now, AM is still a top 10-15 C in the league.
 
He looks shaky this year and i don't buy the injury thing, i wouldn't even be surprised if his recent injury was as much taking a mental break as physical. Every game he's choking 1 timers, over handling the puck, we couldn't make it 30 seconds into overtime with him on the ice for the first half of the season.

He also looked awful with Marner and Mitch clearly isn't struggling at all. I think after the repeated poor performances in the playoffs he's tried too hard to change his game this year and messed up his head, He was leading the team in hits to start the year. It's like when a golfer tries to "fix" his swing and ruins it for a year.

Best goal scorer in the league but 5 game 7's in a row and 0 goals. If an NBA player pulled something like that i can't even imagine how they'd be treated.
 
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3blizzard4 said:
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.
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Just sent him a couple of prostitutes dressed as security guards so he can moon them and be done with it
 
Year prior to his trade clause kicking in.

Probably a little injured and not really pushing it on the instruction of his agent.

Doesn't make sense to damage yourself or increase you market value this year.

Makes it harder for team to trade you. Less return etc.

Next year he will have 70 goals and demand the world or be poached.
 
Stephen said:
Willie has been outshining Matthews lately, but as long as we're winning it doesn't matter other than Matthews needing to get caught up to speed for us to be 100%.
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It kinda does matter, if AM starts to think he's having a down year because of his line mates, do you want an unhappy star going into his negotiation year thinking the team doe not have his best interest at heart?
 
if he's not ready he should sit, we have the centre depth now if he needs more time off, he certainly looks rusty out there.
 
Gabriel426 said:
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.
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Isaac Nootin said:
Quite the conspiracy thread.

Breakups. Unhappy with linemates. Leaving town. Wants 15 x 8.

Of course zero source for anything.

Peak Leafs Nation.
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Just watch him and then tell us he is his normal self
 
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34 said:
True. I am more concerned to get Willy resigned anyway. What a beast 88 has developed into.
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What you have to be concerned about is WN agent, his dad and his dads history of mercenary service. Is WN putting in the effort for contract and then drop back again or is he truly driven.
 
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No. I will judge him on his play in the playoffs.

Didn't expect him to win MVP + Rocket every year.
 
mapleleaf979 said:
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.
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Yup.
 
LOL at this thread. And people wondering why players don't want to play in Toronto.

He's having an off year offensively but has made more strides in his 200 foot game. He's still on pace for over a PPG and 40+ goals. But yeah, lets get rid of him. He's entitled. He's not signing...bleh bleh.

Morons
 
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mapleleaf979 said:
I wonder how happy Matthews is with Marner off his line. He looks like he is unhappy and not inspired playing with Nylander. The opportunities that Marner gave Matthews last year as his linemate, id personally be slightly pissed off to be Matthews and not have the best playmaker on the team. Matthews and Nylander have chemistry issues.
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This is what I was thinking at first as well. Maybe he's not happy losing one the best playmakers in Marner. After more thought though I really hope that's not the case. Yes you've gotten all the regular season accolades running with Marner, but how much playoff success has he seen with Marner on his wing? An embarrassing loss to Columbus, and even more embarrassing loss to Montreal and then another loss to Tampa. This season with Marner getting JT back to a PPG and Nylander pushing 100points on your wing Matthews should be happy about that (and honestly he himself should be pacing for atleast 100 with the way Willy is playing). I'll say that since Matthews was also off his game early on when he did have Marner I don't think that's the case (giving him the benefit of the doubt).
 
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