Toronto is a better team with Matthews in the lineup obviously, but I do think that this will be his lowest goal scoring season since he entered the NHL. There is definitely something missing from this guy for sure.
Are the Leafs a better TEAM without Matthews?
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Welsh Maple Leaf
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notDatsyuk
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Unless you replace him with McDavid, it's pretty obvious the team is better with him.
But I think it's also pretty obvious that the team plays better when he and Marner are separated.
But I think it's also pretty obvious that the team plays better when he and Marner are separated.
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Racer88
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A stud centre is for sure a necessity. It doesn’t have to be Matthews but someone. Yes he is rewriting the record books on personal stats but so far it has not helped the team in the playoffs.
As far as a lesser centre than Matthews it makes no difference because every year since he has been in the league a team has won rounds and cups without him.
saying that we couldn’t win without Matthews is not accurate
I think the question is more interesting when asked from a slightly different perspective....
Do the rest of the players, collectively, play better when Matthews is not on the ice?
Meaning, they aren't better overall as a team without Matthews as they are with Matthews. But when you take him away. He is better than the player that replaces him. But, the 'other 19' step up their game when he isn't on the ice, and they take a step back when he is there.
Do the rest of the players, collectively, play better when Matthews is not on the ice?
Meaning, they aren't better overall as a team without Matthews as they are with Matthews. But when you take him away. He is better than the player that replaces him. But, the 'other 19' step up their game when he isn't on the ice, and they take a step back when he is there.
Aashir Mallik
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I’d take around 5-10 players over him.
He’s too bipolar to build around. Year to year, month to month, game to game you don’t know what you’ll get
You shouldn’t be able to say this for a guy making 13.25 but here we are.
He’s too bipolar to build around. Year to year, month to month, game to game you don’t know what you’ll get
You shouldn’t be able to say this for a guy making 13.25 but here we are.
I don’t think the Leafs are a better team without a healthy Matthews.
But this clearly isn’t a healthy version of Matthews.
Matthews found a way to still be effective without being at the top of his game 2 seasons ago so hopefully he can at least get back to that. But until then they need to reduce his minutes and responsibilities imo.
But this clearly isn’t a healthy version of Matthews.
Matthews found a way to still be effective without being at the top of his game 2 seasons ago so hopefully he can at least get back to that. But until then they need to reduce his minutes and responsibilities imo.
Not a better team likely, but for sure a lot more likeable. They have become as uninteresting to watch again as they have been for long stretches in every other season with Marner and Matthews running the show.
Stephen
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A couple of things I found interesting this week with Matthews and the team energy levels.
The Leafs were sluggish and terrible vs New Jersey but won on that Matthews OT breakaway where he came in charging down the ice at 100 km/h, took control, there was so much energy in that moment, kind of Exhibit A of what a Matthews led offense is supposed to do for Toronto.
When he scored the one timer in Detroit to tie the game at 1-1, it was so nonchalant, like silent killer, assassin mode and it was just so flat.
Now I'm not going to draw any conclusions from goal scoring celebrations and what they mean, but you can see the difference when your best player and captain is playing with emotion, building emotional energy vs not. It's definitely a skill and something they need to be aware of as a factor in how the group behaves, feels, etc.
Aashir Mallik
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With stolarz out we are going to need him and nylander to step up.
Can’t run woll into the ground and Hildeby shouldn’t be expected ti do much right now
We need him to start scoring some goals and leading the team.
If not, depending on the stolarz injury the standings could start to look ugly
Can’t run woll into the ground and Hildeby shouldn’t be expected ti do much right now
We need him to start scoring some goals and leading the team.
If not, depending on the stolarz injury the standings could start to look ugly
@Stephen The gdt was closed before I could respond to your post about Marner driving his own line.
This year Marner wasnt controlling play when Matthews was injured.
Marners on ice stats this year without Matthews pretty much across the board show that his line has been largely outplayed by the opponent:
Corsi without Matthews 42%
FF% without Matthews 41%
Xgf% without Matthews 37%
SCf% without Matthews 43%
HDCF% without Matthews 39%
Tavares stats are better with Marner not on his line this year.
I'm mystified where this narrative about Marner "driving his own line" is coming from.
This year Marner wasnt controlling play when Matthews was injured.
Marners on ice stats this year without Matthews pretty much across the board show that his line has been largely outplayed by the opponent:
Corsi without Matthews 42%
FF% without Matthews 41%
Xgf% without Matthews 37%
SCf% without Matthews 43%
HDCF% without Matthews 39%
Tavares stats are better with Marner not on his line this year.
I'm mystified where this narrative about Marner "driving his own line" is coming from.
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Stephen
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I think one would look at Marner’s 8 G 11 A and the Leafs vying for first place in the Atlantic in November largely without Matthews and just be generally okay with those results. Without having to go look for reasons to be upset with Marner.
Marners stats 5v5 while Matthews was injured:
9 gp 0 goals 2 assists 2 points 5 shots on goal
1 primary assist, 1 secondary assist
Given these stats. And the atrocious 5v5 advanced stats I posted earlier.... how can anyone conclude that Marner "drives his own line without Matthews"?
Im genuinely curious.
TonsofPuppies
Pack your shit, Shanny!
Yes, they are. Not in a vacuum where you just remove Matthews from their lineup, of course. But if you factor in the quality of player(s) that you could replace him with for his salary, the answer to this question is obvious. Auston is a semi-regular regular season hero and career playoff zero. His level of play in big games doesn't come anywhere close to justifying his salary and frankly his regular season performances, which are super goal heavy because the dude is a shit passer, are underwhelming. I'd take 50G and 100A over 70G and 30A any day.
Stephen
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I dislike Marner as much as the next guy come May playoff failures, but I don’t know what to tell you if you’re digging that deep looking for flaws after a 20 point month and contending for first in the division. Don’t know what more you need to see in a regular season month.
