News Article: Auston Matthews - August 1st., Contract Crickets

[geo25]

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.


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.

Well said. Leaders HATE to lose & set the example. They expect others to follow. Leaders dont smile after a loss or show indifference. I see that a lot in Matthews & honestly (imho) he just dosent have it. It cannot be taught. It's genetics...inbred in your personality. We need a real leader. Tavares aint one either....

 

[IPS]

Well said. Leaders HATE to lose & set the example. They expect others to follow. Leaders dont smile after a loss or show indifference. I see that a lot in Matthews & honestly (imho) he just dosent have it. It cannot be taught. It's genetics...inbred in your personality. We need a real leader. Tavares aint one either....

People lost their shit about the story of Mackinnon basically telling his team what they can and can't eat. He apparantly got rid of all the sugary stuff and deserts from team meals (and this was well before their cup winning year). I'm sure a lot of Avs teammates hated him for that and many other things.

Call me crazy but this is the type of leadership I want in Toronto.

 

[geo25]

People lost their shit about the story of Mackinnon basically telling his team what they can and can't eat. He apparantly got rid of all the sugary stuff and deserts from team meals (and this was well before their cup winning year). I'm sure a lot of Avs teammates hated him for that and many other things.

Call me crazy but this is the type of leadership I want in Toronto.

Correct...we need someone like him to take charge over our sorry group...

 

[Martin Skoula]

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.

He took his foot off the pedal by.. forgetting how to shoot and instead deciding to block shots and play more physical?

If he was healthy and lazy, why not just continue ripping unstoppable shots from the circles on the PP? Seems like the easiest thing he can physically do in terms of effort and the biggest reward on his next paycheck.

 

[geo25]

Correct...we need someone like him to take charge over our sorry group...

PS - the losers like Marleau & Thornton actually made our group worse. Spezza was refreshing but it didnt rub off of the core. Either scrap the core or bring in a alpha leader type with some skill that can attempt to motivate them. If that wont work then whats the point? May as well scrap the core...
Its not like they've won anything in 7 years except tons of $$$

 

[Niagara Bill]

He took his foot off the pedal by.. forgetting how to shoot and instead deciding to block shots and play more physical?

If he was healthy and lazy, why not just continue ripping unstoppable shots from the circles on the PP? Seems like the easiest thing he can physically do in terms of effort and the biggest reward on his next paycheck.

He did rip shots. They just didn't rip. Lazy off season?
Maybe if you stopped protecting your boy and think for a minute, and he had a long term injury, do you not think 1. Some sort of off season physical regime would be in order, or 2 surgery, and 3. don't you think he would be in TO for physical and monitoring. Even the talking heads would know if he was in town on and off his boating season in Atizona.
IMHO, he lost his hunger, he wanted to play more jn the shadow, shunned his leadership and was never fully engaged.

 

[Sypher04]

He did rip shots. They just didn't rip. Lazy off season?
Maybe if you stopped protecting your boy and think for a minute, and he had a long term injury, do you not think 1. Some sort of off season physical regime would be in order, or 2 surgery, and 3. don't you think he would be in TO for physical and monitoring. Even the talking heads would know if he was in town on and off his boating season in Atizona.
IMHO, he lost his hunger, he wanted to play more jn the shadow, shunned his leadership and was never fully engaged.

Respectfully, your opinion is a bad one then. A player who isn’t fully engaged doesn’t lead the league in blocked shots by a forward for the season (and in less games than everyone trailing him to boot)

Also, you don’t think the Leafs medical staff travel? Quite confident if there are things to keep up on, they don’t need Matthews in Toronto to do so.

 

[myleafs]

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.


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.

Does picking up sticks while your teammate is involved in a scuffle count as leadership?

 

[Gary Nylund]

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.


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.

Yup. Matthews just just come out and say he wants a 15x3 contract and f*** the haters.

 

[hockeyes]

He likely has his eye on at least one other team and wants to kick the tires as a UFA. He may end up with the Leafs in the end, but it will be because his chosen teams can't fit him in or offer what he wants. There is like a 5% chance he signs before UFA at this point, he would have already received an inflated offer to stay in Toronto and continue to be pampered. No different than JT or Stamkos when they were in this position. Stamkos 100% would have left if he got what he wanted to leave.

 

[Sypher04]

He likely has his eye on at least one other team and wants to kick the tires as a UFA. He may end up with the Leafs in the end, but it will be because his chosen teams can't fit him in or offer what he wants. There is like a 5% chance he signs before UFA at this point, he would have already received an inflated offer to stay in Toronto and continue to be pampered. No different than JT or Stamkos when they were in this position. Stamkos 100% would have left if he got what he wanted to leave.

While possible, they’re nothing currently to support this.

 

[Kurtz]

He likely has his eye on at least one other team and wants to kick the tires as a UFA. He may end up with the Leafs in the end, but it will be because his chosen teams can't fit him in or offer what he wants. There is like a 5% chance he signs before UFA at this point, he would have already received an inflated offer to stay in Toronto and continue to be pampered. No different than JT or Stamkos when they were in this position. Stamkos 100% would have left if he got what he wanted to leave.

That's a lot of supposition, but my main beef is with the JT/Stamkos part, as those two acted completely differently. JT left his team to come play home, whereas Stamkos took a discount to remain with Tampa rather coming home. Note that Stamkos was offered everything here - more money, lots of sponsorships. He passed.

 

[hockeyes]

That's a lot of supposition, but my main beef is with the JT/Stamkos part, as those two acted completely differently. JT left his team to come play home, whereas Stamkos took a discount to remain with Tampa rather coming home. Note that Stamkos was offered everything here - more money, lots of sponsorships. He passed.

Stamkos was offered more money but not enough for him to join a team that was literally bottom of the standings, apparently he asked 14m, so probably would have accepted 12-13 and the Leafs obviously didn't want to make that offer at the time. There is zero doubt in my mind that if the Leafs were willing to pay up, they could have got him.

 

[hockeyes]

While possible, they’re nothing currently to support this.

The fact he hasn't signed supports it. Do we really think the Leafs are trying to squeeze their franchise center? They are going to sign whatever he demands unless it is completely insane, which would mean he isn't interested in signing anyway.

 

[Sypher04]

The fact he hasn't signed supports it. Do we really think the Leafs are trying to squeeze their franchise center? They are going to sign whatever he demands unless it is completely insane, which would mean he isn't interested in signing anyway.

No actually, it doesn’t. Pretending like there’s nothing about his deal that will require negotiation is an absurd position to take

 

[Martin Skoula]

He did rip shots. They just didn't rip. Lazy off season?
Maybe if you stopped protecting your boy and think for a minute, and he had a long term injury, do you not think 1. Some sort of off season physical regime would be in order, or 2 surgery, and 3. don't you think he would be in TO for physical and monitoring. Even the talking heads would know if he was in town on and off his boating season in Atizona.
IMHO, he lost his hunger, he wanted to play more jn the shadow, shunned his leadership and was never fully engaged.

Makes sense, his shot is a shadow of what it was in 2021 because he’s out at the cottage and skipping wrist day. That’s why he was wearing a wrist brace in the playoffs, he has neglected wrist day at the gym so much that they’ve atrophied and can’t stay up on their own anymore.

Shooting is what makes him 100 million dollars without needing to sacrifice his body playing D, why on earth would that be the thing he neglects if he’s trying to become Kessel?

 

[hockeyes]

No actually, it doesn’t. Pretending like there’s nothing about his deal that will require negotiation is an absurd position to take

There is nothing for Matthews to negotiate, he gets exactly what he wants or goes to UFA.

 

[The Apologist]

There is nothing for Matthews to negotiate, he gets exactly what he wants or goes to UFA.

Says who?

 

[therealkoho]

He did rip shots. They just didn't rip. Lazy off season?
Maybe if you stopped protecting your boy and think for a minute, and he had a long term injury, do you not think 1. Some sort of off season physical regime would be in order, or 2 surgery, and 3. don't you think he would be in TO for physical and monitoring. Even the talking heads would know if he was in town on and off his boating season in Atizona.
IMHO, he lost his hunger, he wanted to play more jn the shadow, shunned his leadership and was never fully engaged.

Why in the wide world of sports would that fool be hanging around Phoenix in 118F instead of enjoying a beautiful summer in a sumptuous cottage by the lake in Muskoka, enjoying world class golf courses, world class fishing and some friendly Leaf Angel's, not to mention skating twice a day

 

[Niagara Bill]

Makes sense, his shot is a shadow of what it was in 2021 because he’s out at the cottage and skipping wrist day. That’s why he was wearing a wrist brace in the playoffs, he has neglected wrist day at the gym so much that they’ve atrophied and can’t stay up on their own anymore.

Shooting is what makes him 100 million dollars without needing to sacrifice his body playing D, why on earth would that be the thing he neglects if he’s trying to become Kessel?

Agree, why indeed would he neglect?
Do you give a guy 14M who cannot shoot.
Did he need surgery to fix it? Is it unfixable?
Or does he not care and just content? If October comes and we see him play like last March, we will wish Treliving traded him in June.
It is hard to believe that AM, the Leafs and all the talking heads have not addressed the off season and his shot. Hmmmm. Everyone knew about MacKinnon. If McDavid was in this situation you bet it would be news.
I hope he returns in Sept and looks like 2021, but....

 

[Niagara Bill]

Why in the wide world of sports would that fool be hanging around Phoenix in 118F instead of enjoying a beautiful summer in a sumptuous cottage by the lake in Muskoka, enjoying world class golf courses, world class fishing and some friendly Leaf Angel's, not to mention skating twice a day

There is a reason? It must be personal and his agent is afraid it will affect his income off ice.
This is a young man who has been in the spot light since he was 16. Now he wants the shadows and even the talking heads are silent. Max Domi is more visible, JT, MM, are seen, and they were not injured...wtf is going to happen to the Leafs and 56 yrs if he is not our best player.
Giving him 8 yrs is dumb, 2 or 3 maybe ok.
He will never be a leader but he better be our best player like 2021.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Respectfully, your opinion is a bad one then. A player who isn’t fully engaged doesn’t lead the league in blocked shots by a forward for the season (and in less games than everyone trailing him to boot)

Also, you don’t think the Leafs medical staff travel? Quite confident if there are things to keep up on, they don’t need Matthews in Toronto to do so.

The most important wrist in Canada, and we get silence? Hmmmmm
If Vladdy's problem was a bad wrist, you would know.
You don't earn the best player in the league title by blocking shots as a center. It is admirable stat but Kerfoot could have done that. You pay 13M for a guy who scares the dmen on the other team, at the other end of the ice

 

[Sypher04]

The most important wrist in Canada, and we get silence? Hmmmmm
If Vladdy's problem was a bad wrist, you would know.
You don't earn the best player in the league title by blocking shots as a center. It is admirable stat but Kerfoot could have done that. You pay 13M for a guy who scares the dmen on the other team, at the other end of the ice

Pick an argument and stick with it. You claimed that you didn’t think Matthews was fully engaged last year. I said his blocked shots clear show that’s a bad opinion. There was no claim that his shot blocking makes him the best player in the league (he’s right there with just about everyone else at the top after McDavid). Whether other people could do it is completely immaterial as again, a player who isn’t engaged doesn’t lead the league in blocked shots by a forward.

 

[geo25]

There is a reason? It must be personal and his agent is afraid it will affect his income off ice.
This is a young man who has been in the spot light since he was 16. Now he wants the shadows and even the talking heads are silent. Max Domi is more visible, JT, MM, are seen, and they were not injured...wtf is going to happen to the Leafs and 56 yrs if he is not our best player.
Giving him 8 yrs is dumb, 2 or 3 maybe ok.
He will never be a leader but he better be our best player like 2021.

The longer this drags on the more hesitant I feel. He should have been dealt. Guy is not a winner & I'm sick of his me first attitude.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Pick an argument and stick with it. You claimed that you didn’t think Matthews was fully engaged last year. I said his blocked shots clear show that’s a bad opinion. There was no claim that his shot blocking makes him the best player in the league (he’s right there with just about everyone else at the top after McDavid). Whether other people could do it is completely immaterial as again, a player who isn’t engaged doesn’t lead the league in blocked shots by a forward.

So if he was engaged, why the drop off? He just decided to stop playing offense the way he can to get bruised? I understand the need to improve defence but not at the expense of second best offensive player in the NHL.
His skating speed was noticeably slower heading up ice. It appeared to me he was less hungry many games.