Auston Matthews' agent questions 'abuse of star players'

[Gallagbi]

BS right there...the rule book is the rule book if not then what’s the point in having it, I don’t care who it is

Funny thing about hockey, the rule book is rarely the rule book. It's the worst major sport for officiating consistency, especially within the same game. A penalty in the first minute is rarely the same as a penalty in the final minute

 

[Leafsfan74]

Funny thing about hockey, the rule book is rarely the rule book. It's the worst major sport for officiating consistency, especially within the same game. A penalty in the first minute is rarely the same as a penalty in the final minute

It hurts the games ability to grow and be taken seriously. Most outside of major hockey nations just think of hockey as the movie Slap Shot.

I respect a tenacious, tough battling game. When rules are broken, the consistency needs to be there, for all teams.

 

[sparxx87]

D men are given leniency to clear the front of the net. It’s part of the game. Some players don’t want to stand there and take that punishment. That’s their choice.

Complaining about it comes across as whiney, especially from the agent of a player who broke his stick on an opponent, and got away with what should have been a kneeing penalty on another in the same game.


5’8 Brendan Gallagher on the other bench posts up there as much as anyone. Never hear him (or his agent) complaining. He makes his living in those dirty areas.

 

[ACC1224]

I’m not a fan of complaining. I’d rather Matthews deal with it himself on the ice, make the player answer for their action.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I’m not a fan of complaining. I’d rather Matthews deal with it himself on the ice, make the player answer for their action.

You mean like how he did handle it? The media directly asked him about it and he did not complain

 

[Gabriel426]

AM or not, NHL needs better officiating or more consistency. Umpires in MLB might varies in their interpretation of the strike zones but they don’t Change their views between Innings or batters.
I am not saying refs should act like the NBA where they protect their Superstars but the last thing NHL wants is injuries due to not protecting its players.

 

[kevsh]

I also don't like the idea of a game ending when their is a PP still active. If someone takes a penalty with 45 seconds left in the game. Well, the game shouldn't end until the PP ends. This would cut down on the all out flop fests and "do or die" plays at the end of the game when players know even a penalty won't cost them the game, but, they could save it by breaking the rules.

Sounds good at first, but what if a team is down by a goal, 10 seconds left and the puck is in their own zone. One of the players would certainly take an intentional penalty just to prolong the game. Sure, they are down a man, but you now have 1:50 to tie the game vs. 10 seconds.

 

[Menzinger]

AM or not, NHL needs better officiating or more consistency. Umpires in MLB might varies in their interpretation of the strike zones but they don’t Change their views between Innings or batters.
I am not saying refs should act like the NBA where they protect their Superstars but the last thing NHL wants is injuries due to not protecting its players.

Yep. Its not about giving players special treatment. It's more about just having consistent officiating.

Star players do however seem to attract a higher degree of physical attention from other players. And while that has obvious reasons, it doesn't make the uneven rule application in the league any less worthy of criticism.

 

[Voodoo Child]

The culprit is this whole 'game management' kick the officials have been on for about a decade now.

They seek to line up penalties - 'oh we called three penalties on team A and none on team B, so we need to give the next two penalties to team B!'

Instead of just calling stuff as it happens, the team be damned.

Both teams got away with stuff; some Habs D held Marner's stick for like five seconds at the beginning of the 2nd and Rielly was bleeding from a high stick when he scored. Danault got sticked in the face, but he was down on a knee during and so it wasn't really a 'high stick'.

Interference? If interference was called in the true spirit of the rules there'd be an interference penalty every two minutes, slashing same.

Call this shit as it happens, stop trying to make sure each team has the same amount of power plays a game.

 

[LaPlante94]

I think shoulder pads should have some kind of pad/protection thing for the lower back imo. Not fun to get cross checked there but it's also one of the few things a defender can do to a pest in front of the net screening the goalie.

 

[1specter]

Last night was nothing compared to a series with the Bruins where a 6'9" 250lbs ogre is given carte blanche on the ice in the name of "playoff hockey".

I am so happy that disgusting team has lost its bodyguard. All of a sudden I don't think Marchand will be as confident taking liberties.

 

[Nooodles]

It's a fair complaint, but he's not exactly innocent breaking his stick over Chiarot.

I think there is a slight difference between checking someone face-to-face while chirping and repeatedly cross-checking someone in the back and hip.

 

[cookie]

Games being managed is a reason why rat-like behaviour will continue to exist in the NHL. If you're a team on a PK, what's stopping you from sending out scrubs and telling them to anchor themselves in front of the net and dish out cross checks and spears during a PK? Refs will seldom call the penalties so they can appear to be impartial and the team employing this trick will achieve their goal and even get a cherry on top by hurting the opposing team's player. Imagine this crap in the playoffs. I hate tit-for-tat caveman think, but in these kind of situations, bombs from the point should be the way to go if you're in the offensive zone... employ a strategy where your guys determine who gets hurt. I'm not one to advocate outright hurting another player but there are other ways to move players instead of cross checks - reading plays develop and having the skating chops to be in the right position defensively are still parts of a game. And yes, shooting directly at an opposing player is a penalty but at the end of the day, it's at the ref's discretion. This is why the NHL is bush league.

Just look at the stuff that goes uncalled - slew foots during routine hits, consistent head hunting disguised as finishing checks high. Players can and do get frustrated and are not shy about using what's available to them. It's not the morally right thing, but surrounding your stars with dirty, fast skating pests seems to be a strategy that can do wonders in the playoffs.

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

They all do it. What about when Sid Crosby hacked Marc Methot's finger literally severing part of it? Is that ok because it's Crosby who was the "assaulter"? There have to harsher penalties on anyone using stick as a weapon all across the board.

OK I don't come on leafs board even as a leaf fan but I had to reply to this. I believe the point is, it doesn't have to get to the point of retaliation by your superstar to get a Whistle. I understand hockey has to uphold this old fashion tough guy persona but come on...they all do it needs to go! As shitty as it sounds op is correct yiu have to protect your stars... It's what every league is doing since... A while.

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

They all do it. What about when Sid Crosby hacked Marc Methot's finger literally severing part of it? Is that ok because it's Crosby who was the "assaulter"? There have to harsher penalties on anyone using stick as a weapon all across the board.

"they all do it" sounds like the excuse of the guy bully everyone and gets confronted

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

I think there is a slight difference between checking someone face-to-face while chirping and repeatedly cross-checking someone in the back and hip.

It's was a retaliation by Mathews... If the first one was called it wouldn't have been needed. I lobe seeing Mathews mad but I f***in don't like him injured cuz of cheap shots... And it's mostly cuz of his size

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

I just think it's not in the culture of the game for refs to protect a star player. They didn't protect Mario Lemieux, they're not going to protect Auston Matthews. Being a net front presence is hard business and you're going to pay a heavy price trying to score those garbage goals. So a guy like Matthews can either pick his spot and go for more of a Stamkos like 'ghost' around the net and find the tap in, or if he's going to stand there like Tomas Holmstrom or JVR, be prepared to battle but protect yourself too.

I mean Wayne Simmonds also had a similar interaction battling in front of the net with Ben Chiarot. Nothing to say Auston Matthews should necessarily fight but nothing wrong with getting a sneaky elbow up on Edmundson here and there.

And that needs to change just like every other league has... If the nhl is trying to control every other part of the game then they need to adapt to this aswell. I'm the biggest fan of fighting, hitting, any carnage but your Zack hymen, Ben chiruit don't entice the fans. If we need to use a Mario to back up the reasoning then it's time to change

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

The real need, is people who can react quickly, when something happens to our star players on the ice. Not a loaded 4th line of tough guys, who aren’t there when needed most.

The real need is to call the penalties and not differentiate which part of ice or time of the game to change how you offiate. Call game 1 of the regular season to game 7 of the Stanley cup the same you call a preseason. No more "its the playoffs" or "its over time" or "last min" just call it. The nba, nfl and many other leagues has done it and guess what there was complaints but ain't shit now.

 

[sparxx87]

The culprit is this whole 'game management' kick the officials have been on for about a decade now.

They seek to line up penalties - 'oh we called three penalties on team A and none on team B, so we need to give the next two penalties to team B!'

Instead of just calling stuff as it happens, the team be damned.

Both teams got away with stuff; some Habs D held Marner's stick for like five seconds at the beginning of the 2nd and Rielly was bleeding from a high stick when he scored. Danault got sticked in the face, but he was down on a knee during and so it wasn't really a 'high stick'.

Interference? If interference was called in the true spirit of the rules there'd be an interference penalty every two minutes, slashing same.

Call this shit as it happens, stop trying to make sure each team has the same amount of power plays a game.

That’s not true at all. They’re constantly scrutinized for the calls they make/don’t make and would be out of the league in a hurry if that was their objective.

Maybe you’re confused with ‘even-up’ calls, which can happen from time to time. If an official makes a bad call/non-call, he’s usually the first to know it. I don’t really have an issue with an even-up to correct the mistake if it comes within the flow of the game. (Calling a more marginal infraction that otherwise wouldn’t have been)

It’s the hardest sport on the planet to officiate but I think most do a pretty damn good job.

Leaf fans complain about referees far more than any other group IMO.

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

Then you’re not being nasty enough.

The point is he shouldn't have to be "nasty enough" it should of been called after the first one and especially after the 2nd. Also his stick broke what u want him to do Marty him across the head? I'm sorry but if I know you ain't tough how are you gonna affect me. You want Mathews to be more nasty but how? He showed more physicality that game then probably 99% of his. But he isn't a nasty kid, can't change that.

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

ummm.... this is hockey this isn't soccer

refs just need to call the game fair instead of "game management"

things happen in hockey; tough it out

Hockey is the same as any other sport,, you f***ing adapt to the times. Even soccer has van their most dangerous plays, hockey should do the same. Be roigh, be tough, hit legally but mf call your penalties.. Doesn't have shit to do with soccer.. Just stop using the rules as guild lines

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

you've never watched lacrosse if you think they cross check like that , lol

You think your a tough guy eh... Using ballet as an insult someone manhood. Let's see how tough you are big guy...

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

i don't want to see anyone get injured but i'm not going to whine and expect the league to change rules because our GM wants to go with a soft team .

and Mathews rarely does but doesn't need to plant himself in front of the net to be effective

also wondering if his agent mentioned the knee Mathews threw on Anderson

 

[sparxx87]

The real need is to call the penalties and not differentiate which part of ice or time of the game to change how you offiate. Call game 1 of the regular season to game 7 of the Stanley cup the same you call a preseason. No more "its the playoffs" or "its over time" or "last min" just call it. The nba, nfl and many other leagues has done it and guess what there was complaints but ain't shit now.

Can’t really speak to the NFL because I’m a casual fan and never officiated football, but the NBA has the worst officials in pro sports and people constantly complain about them. Their standards vary based on the players involved. A foul on LeBron should be the same as one on the 15th man. A foul on the Lakers/Celtics should be the same as one on the red headed step child in Toronto. Playoffs last year were a prime example - Jayson Tatum frequently committed offensive fouls but would end up shooting free throws vs the Raptors. In the next series vs Miami, Celtics fans were losing their shit when the referees didn’t offer that same bias. It was pretty funny.

Is that the kind of star protection you guys are looking for?

And the NBA literally had corruption and game-fixing issues where one of their officials served jail time (Tim Donaghy) and it wasn’t all that long ago.

 

[Kaynen Ouch Chhay]

you've never watched lacrosse if you think they cross check like that , lol

You must think you tough with a lacross pic thinking you insultin people by using ballet, what else you got tough guy... Any more hockey tough lingo you want to throw out..