News Article: Auston Matthews - August 1st., Contract Crickets
- Thread starter willmma
- Start date
-
Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
- Status
I think it’s undeniable that Matthews comes off as caring more about the money than results. What other teams franchise players demand 5 year max term contracts while asking to be the highest paid player in the league? Most either sign for max term or demand a trade like Tkachuk and then sign max term with their new team.
He just seems greedy and unlikeable as a result. Especially given the context of our cap situation and the multiple choke jobs he’s spearheaded along with the rest of the core.
He just seems greedy and unlikeable as a result. Especially given the context of our cap situation and the multiple choke jobs he’s spearheaded along with the rest of the core.
I didn't say that I hung out with the players, nor did I claim to have ever spoken to a player.
Look at the results my good man. There is more imagining. Poor little Mitchy took a face wash...oh my. AM was frightened. Not one ounce of leadership. Gutless.That's just a fancy way of saying you're judging on team success. The only personal success they're lacking thus far is team playoff success.
High character individuals are always targeted by teams, and especially so when the majority of your core is quite young, and when you're adding to a team mid-season. They also tend to be either some of the best players available at the deadline, or the players nearing the end of their career who are willing to take less to go to a destination in the offseason, who we'd want to target anyway. That doesn't equate to Matthews being a bad leader.
Lol. No they didn't. What are you even talking about.
Good lord.You imagining Matthews making some face and arbitrarily concluding the reasons for it based on nothing is not an argument. I'm not sure why anybody would think somebody would care about taking a faceoff, but the funniest part is that the number of faceoffs Matthews took pre and post deadline didn't even meaningfully change.
If Keefe and Dubas thought AM was a leader, then why supplement the team and pay for O'REILLY. A third line or 4th line player will not give their body and soul to a team for leaders who do not show leadership. That is the TML team of 22/23
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 82,547
- 61,057
The big question is if Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews were amazing leaders why did Kyle Dubas keep importing vocal veterans with past captaincy experience?
How many first and second round picks went out the window for temporary injections of personality, maturity and vocal leadership?
You know what, if Matthews wants to be this great leader certain posters want to proclaim him to be based on media sound bites, he can sign a contract at a discount. Willy and Mitch would follow suit. Set an example.
If he doesn’t do that, he is not a team first player and certainly no leader worth his weight.
If he doesn’t do that, he is not a team first player and certainly no leader worth his weight.
- Jan 22, 2007
- 14,719
- 7,854
The difference being Mario (with a bad back) was 10x the player Matthews is when healthy. Mario fought cancer and returned the same season to mop the ice with the rest of the league, scoring at Gretzkys 215 point pace. Mario was also a playoff demigod whereas Matthews comes up small. I do agree that Matthews has some "Lemieux" in him where he would rather be left alone to perform -- remember Mario's "garage league" diatribe? But, when Mario got angry, he would put a team through the shredder by himself. When Matthews gets angry, Steven Stamkos ragdolls him around the ice like a sack of potatoes.
I have to be honest -- "leadership" is one of the qualities completely missing from Matthews game. He has zero hatred of losing. He doesn't fire up his team. He doesn't take less money for the betterment of the team. He doesn't play angry when it's needed. He doesn't produce at a high level when the chips are down. He's the exact opposite of what a leader is. He spends his offseasons following Bieber around, wearing Disney clothes, and complaining about the team dress code. Who or what is he leading exactly? The Leafs have won 1 playoff round in 7 years with him "leading" the team.
Matthews a great leader?
The results don't indicate that they are bad leaders.
Because competitive teams like upgrading their team at the deadline, and O'Rielly was one of the best options out there.
TMLBlueandWhite
Go Leafs Go
- Feb 2, 2023
- 2,190
- 2,269
Lol... There ya go folks.
There's your "I really love it here, want to stay here" for ya. Just reach into your pockets deep enough. Matthews will keep playing here.
It's a good thing Matthews loves it here so much.
Because, whoa Nelly, imagine what this greedy Gus would be asking for if he didn't. He got everything he wanted the first time around. He fully expects to do so again.
This team is so screwed up.
They have enabled a culture where making as much money as possible for one's self is all that matters. Where gutless losing performances are acceptable. Where winning is not a priority.
Winning a cup is the farthest thing from this guys mind.
But that won't stop him from demanding to be paid like a winner. He's still privileged and entitled that way. Matthews can demand whatever he wants and the team will pay.
There's thirty one other teams that can buy this money whore's love if they don't.
There's your "I really love it here, want to stay here" for ya. Just reach into your pockets deep enough. Matthews will keep playing here.
It's a good thing Matthews loves it here so much.
Because, whoa Nelly, imagine what this greedy Gus would be asking for if he didn't. He got everything he wanted the first time around. He fully expects to do so again.
This team is so screwed up.
They have enabled a culture where making as much money as possible for one's self is all that matters. Where gutless losing performances are acceptable. Where winning is not a priority.
Winning a cup is the farthest thing from this guys mind.
But that won't stop him from demanding to be paid like a winner. He's still privileged and entitled that way. Matthews can demand whatever he wants and the team will pay.
There's thirty one other teams that can buy this money whore's love if they don't.
Not going to continue this debate, AM has shown to be a very good player, better in past years than the last year. He lost his push, played at slower pace, lost his incredible shot but did play more D.
But his inability to be the leader, to be strong when required, to become the best man on his team not the best player means we will be waiting past 56 yrs.
Jmo89
Registered User
- Mar 21, 2010
- 4,650
- 4,331
It's wild when two meme accounts meet in the same thread.
You are just stating the obvious. I cannot fathom why everyone else cant. The results ( or lack there of) speak for themselves....
I think if Mathews was going to give deal it would have been done by now
13 mil
I think he wants 14 mil for 4 yrs
I hope treliving is holding the line at 13 mil * 5
If that is not enough bye
We won't win this trade
Sign
Nylander 9.5 * 8
He has more to give
When Marner's contract is up .
11 mil * 8
We need to reset our cap
Next summer right now are UFA's
Toews D
Peace D
Build a strong defence
13 mil
I think he wants 14 mil for 4 yrs
I hope treliving is holding the line at 13 mil * 5
If that is not enough bye
We won't win this trade
Sign
Nylander 9.5 * 8
He has more to give
When Marner's contract is up .
11 mil * 8
We need to reset our cap
Next summer right now are UFA's
Toews D
Peace D
Build a strong defence
Matthews has shown to be one of the best players in the entire cap era, and a good leader, and the only thing that happened last year was he played injured.
The reason we're waiting past 56 years has nothing to do with his leadership.
Disagree 100%. He is not a leader period. Give examples of where he demonstrated that or willed a team to win like Messier did at will...like I said, wishful thinking. Now, by comparison, Mackinnon is a leader....as an example
People making claims that he's not a leader are not only bringing absolutely nothing to support that position, but are also contradicting everybody that would actually know.
"Auston has really transformed into a leader in this locker room,” Spezza said. “His daily habits have always been exceptional, but he’s having conversations with guys away from the group, he’s having conversations at the right time in the dressing room.
“He has pushed us at times to be better. He has a great mind for the game and we’re starting to see it now in the room.
“And he also knows when maybe it just wasn’t (going on a certain night) and you have to move on quickly. It’s good to have a fresh take on things sometimes and he’s been able to give that.”
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe has taken note of the change in Matthews.
“We’ve seen him stepping up vocally, whether it’s talking to the team on the bench or in the dressing room, or pulling guys aside and communicating with them,” Keefe said. “Whether it’s encouragement or correction, or just strategizing, he’s taking a lot more initiative.
“We’ve talked about that evolution in his leadership, but he’s taken a lot of it on himself, knowing that’s a big part of being a great player, is to lead the way and make others better and set the standard and have a level of accountability."
There are multiple different ways to lead effectively, you don't see the majority of leadership that happens, and winning the cup is about way, way more than the leadership of one individual. Messier didn't will his teams to win. Mackinnon hasn't demonstrated any leadership qualities beyond Matthews. That's not why they won.
In fact, Mackinnon's leadership is the most questionable, considering the stories about him and how he treats his teammates.
Now you have no idea if he was injured. You argued when I said the talking heads have not chased down what he has done if anything to help this yr. If he had serious injury one of those all talk reporters surely had some inside info. No info, no injury, no treatment, no excuse.
He took his foot off the peddle plain and simple and wants to be paid as best player.
Talk is just that.... talk! His team mates can claim he is or will be one but he has to prove it on the ice where the game is played. This is a results orientated business. That's why he gets paid big bucks. He can be a great scorer, but that does not infer he's a great leader....that involves intangibles he does not have....or...has not developed yet, if that is even possible. I believe they are born with those qualities. These are just my opinions...
He literally confirmed it himself.
Their talk on Matthews' leadership means a heck of a lot more than your talk about Matthews' leadership, considering they would actually know and you wouldn't.
ULF_55
Moderator
Taylor Hall won the Hart.
Kucherov won Hart, Lindsey, Ross
Draisaitl won Hart, Lindsey, Ross
Someone else showed up with a birr under their saddle, but had this history before 2022-2023.
How long before Leafs clean up their mess?
It could be years.
I'm using talk in contrast to action. He has not acted nor demonstrated to be a leader. I don't want to go off forever & bandy words with you....if you dont get it - I dont want to try & convince you....
So far, only one of them is on record as saying he wants to be a Maple Leaf.
Yes he has, even if some don't want to acknowledge it due to team playoff results.
It really is the difference between a winning leader and a losing leader isn't it?
The winning leader will say and do things that isn't always the most popular thing to do, even may cause them to be hated. Some of those stories about Mack basically say that he's this kind of leader, and he definitely rubs people the wrong way because he puts winning above all else and if you don't align with him on those beliefs he will call you out on it.
You can tell by Leafs players interviews the type of leadership that governs that team. It's always just a stunning lack of accountibilty from everyone, from the management down to the players. Always a victim of the circumstances but never anything about what they could have done about it.
When Eichel went to Vegas their leadership made it clear right from the get-go that the bullshit attitude he had in Buffalo would not be tolerated there. Part of it was also Eichel maturing quite a bit from his younger years too but it's amazing what proper leadership can do for a team.
I fully believe that Matthews does have the potential to be that kind of leader however. But I have yet to see him be willing to sacrifice is body in the playoffs like Mack does. So until then, he will not be any sort of leader like him.
Actions are what makes a good captain/leader in hockey, not talk. When you see your captain putting his ass on the line every shift like a Mack or Toews the rest of the team follows suit almost immediately.
The winning leader will say and do things that isn't always the most popular thing to do, even may cause them to be hated. Some of those stories about Mack basically say that he's this kind of leader, and he definitely rubs people the wrong way because he puts winning above all else and if you don't align with him on those beliefs he will call you out on it.
You can tell by Leafs players interviews the type of leadership that governs that team. It's always just a stunning lack of accountibilty from everyone, from the management down to the players. Always a victim of the circumstances but never anything about what they could have done about it.
When Eichel went to Vegas their leadership made it clear right from the get-go that the bullshit attitude he had in Buffalo would not be tolerated there. Part of it was also Eichel maturing quite a bit from his younger years too but it's amazing what proper leadership can do for a team.
I fully believe that Matthews does have the potential to be that kind of leader however. But I have yet to see him be willing to sacrifice is body in the playoffs like Mack does. So until then, he will not be any sort of leader like him.
You're correct.
Actions are what makes a good captain/leader in hockey, not talk. When you see your captain putting his ass on the line every shift like a Mack or Toews the rest of the team follows suit almost immediately.
ULF_55
Moderator
I think Dubois is the only player who might actually say he wants to play for a certain team ... and then he didn't.
- Status
Ad
Upcoming events
-
-
-
Australian Open - Women Veronika Kudermetova vs Elina SvitolinaWagers: 2Staked: $225.00Event closes- Updated:
-
-