Auston Matthews' agent questions 'abuse of star players'

[darrylsittler27]

As I have said, the Leafs need a power forward in the mold of Tkachuk. Teams target star forwards in many sports. Over the course of a season, nagging injuries add up and Mathews will stop going to those dirty areas. Unless you want to put Simmonds out there.

 

[saffronleaf]

This league is a joke for not protecting its stars.

I will say though that this is not at all in any way exclusive to Matthews. All the stars get screwed. Some of it is painful and injurious (cross checks to the unpadded back), and a lot of it isn't but still should be called. How many PPs would McDavid draw a night if the rules were actually enforced?

Rules should be enforced. INCLUDING IN THE PLAYOFFS!

 

[saffronleaf]

It is a joke how few penalties Matthews draws despite being an absolute beast with the puck and going to all the dirty areas.

And all because he refuses to ever embellish or dive like all the other rats in the league do.

Yup, refuses to embellish AND he isn't a cry baby out there with the refs (like how Crosby used to be in his first few years, just as an example nothing against Sid himself).

 

[saffronleaf]

Mats Sundin didn’t take that crap and he was not a fighter. Mats would break his wrist with a slash and get right in their face. He’d take the penalty but they would be feeling a busted wrist. Mats was way more fiery than Auston

Sundin grew into it that kind of player, though. Matthews will, too.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

It is a joke how few penalties Matthews draws despite being an absolute beast with the puck and going to all the dirty areas.

And all because he refuses to ever embellish or dive like all the other rats in the league do.

Haha they are rats Zeke, they truly are. Matthews is solid like that. I’ve never seen him dive,ever.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Sundin grew into it that kind of player, though. Matthews will, too.

He did. Right out of necessity and his buds telling him to hack them and they’ll have his back. Mats never had a good winger much but he always had protection. Simmonds can’t do it all. Matthews will definitely get sick of it eventually. Almost to disciplined. He’s not scared. I hope he cuts loose on these guys trying to slow him down

 

[Menzinger]

You are replying out of context, without having read the discussion string.

Let me summarize.

Yes, rules should be called properly.

BUT -> They aren't going to be, so how to handle that REALITY... now how do we deal with it?

Does multiple 4th line guys, rarely on the ice do it? Maybe a little, but we need people who can react immediately. Yes, it's the wild west of retaliation, it shouldn't be, but that's the way it is, because that's what the NHL wants. Matthews needs to toughen up more, and/or have people on the ice, who can deal with these things.

Jumping up and down, saying the rules need to be called... when it's apparent then won't be, doesn't help a thing.

Though its not as if thr NHL rules are static. The league does respond, albeit gradually to public pressure. Two line pass, clutch and grab, ect being taken away.

So stuff may not change over the course of this season, if enough higher profile folks raise the issue who knows what the future may bring

 

[Menzinger]

This league is a joke for not protecting its stars.

I will say though that this is not at all in any way exclusive to Matthews. All the stars get screwed. Some of it is painful and injurious (cross checks to the unpadded back), and a lot of it isn't but still should be called. How many PPs would McDavid draw a night if the rules were actually enforced?

Rules should be enforced. INCLUDING IN THE PLAYOFFS!

Yep.

If thr league just wants to "let them play" then they should issue a separate rule book for the post season that gets rid of interference, roughing ect from being penalties. At least it wouldn't be hypocritical anymore

I get that some people prefer "tough" hockey from an entertainment perspective, and that's fine. To each their own, but I can't wrap my head around are the outright denials that the league has inconsistent officiating