Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Seath The Scaleless]

One issue I'm noticing is how he can't handle being pressured as the puck carrier. He just can't escape it and doesn't make good plays

He had a good shift where he won a battle and drew the penalty, but those are few and far between

 

[fahad203]

Last 20 playoff games
3 goals

 

[Aashir]

He should be dealt

I’d be more fine with building around Marner and nylander and trying to acquire a top C

We sure as shit don’t have one in Matthews that’s for sure

 

[ORRFForever]

Every year it's the same injury excuse: "BUT HIS BACK, BUT HIS GROIN, BUT HIS WRIST!"

He can't be injured for EVERY playoff. It's simply too much. Or, too little, is more like it.

 

[The Shadow]

Loser

 

[Aashir]

I'm so over this bum and pretending he's some sort of franchise player on the level of MacKinnon and McDavid. Guy isn't even as good as Wyatt Johnson or RNH in the playoffs.

Every year it's the same injury excuse: "BUT HIS BACK, BUT HIS GROIN, BUT HIS WRIST!"

Sadly stuck with him for three more years.

No one stops to think maybe it’s in his head

Maybe he just can’t be the guy, he can’t elevate himself or others.

Than the really scary questions pop up:
1. Why is he making 13.25M

2. Why is he the captain of the team

 

[GlitchMarner]

Agreed about the extra gear.

I don't know if he doesn't have it, or he simply doesn't want to push himself too hard.

When you watch the playoffs, its like other stars dig deep, really really deep and push themselves to the point of being out of breath, leaving everything on the ice. Not Matthews. Its like he gives his 90-95%, and thinks that should be good enough. He's not going to push himself to the point of sucking wind, what he gives better be good enough.

He's kind of reminiscent of guys like Yashin and Seguin.

He's a big, goal scoring centre who struggles to score goals in the playoffs. He doesn't seem to have another gear in terms of intensity and competitiveness.

 

[Gabriel426]

Another disappointing game from our Capt, the highest paid player in the league and Multi Rocket winner.

He needs to pick up his game bc he just completely disappear in the Ozone

 

[centipede2233]

If you have the highest paid player in the league and he has 3 goals in his last 20 playoff games, your in deep trouble.

 

[Stephen]

No one stops to think maybe it’s in his head

Maybe he just can’t be the guy, he can’t elevate himself or others.

Than the really scary questions pop up:
1. Why is he making 13.25M

2. Why is he the captain of the team

Of all the hockey cliches I can think of to explain the AM34 experience, Matthews biggest problem is he’s Adam Banks.

In a sport dominated by actual rich kids who cosplay blue collar work ethic and perseverance playing a game, Auston is the low intensity rich kid who can’t deal with the anxiety of competition.

 

[Gabriel426]

Of all the hockey cliches I can think of to explain the AM34 experience, Matthews biggest problem is he’s Adam Banks.

In a sport dominated by actual rich kids who cosplay blue collar work ethic and perseverance playing a game, Auston is the low intensity rich kid who can’t deal with the anxiety of competition.

I really do think AM just doesn’t have it in him.

No doubt he wants to be Capt, he wants the spotlight, he wants to be the MAN, but he also can’t seem to handle the pressure when going gets tough.

 

[Ho Lee Mackinaw]

Matthews’ Defensive Excellence vs. Fan Complaints
Matthews in 2024–25:

• Defensive Prowess: Matthews has emerged as one of the NHL’s best defensive centers, per The Athletic. His 52% defensive zone start percentage (DZS%, up from 45.8% in 2023–24) shows Berube trusts him against top lines (e.g., McDavid, MacKinnon). He ranks top-10 among centers in 5-on-5 expected goals against/60 (xGA/60, ~1.8), per Evolving-Hockey, and his 61.2% faceoff win rate (7th in NHL) anchors Toronto’s PK. Fans praise his Selke-caliber play, with 48 takeaways (top-20) and a +11 rating.
• Goal Dip: Matthews has 33 goals in 67 games (0.493 GPG), down from 69 in 81 games (0.852 GPG) in 2023–24, when he led the NHL. His 8.9% 5-on-5 shooting percentage (vs. 18% last year) and 261 projected shots (vs. 368) reflect fewer chances, partly due to Berube’s system and his wrist injury (post-2021 surgery). Fans
  lament his “disappointing” 40-goal pace, expecting 50–60 after last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy.
• Fan Frustration: Leafs Nation loves Matthews’ 200-foot game but misses his sniping. His 0.95 5-on-5 goals/60 (vs. 1.84) and reduced PP one-timers (1.2 shots/game vs. 1.8) fuel complaints, as Berube’s net-front PP role and defensive starts (52% DZS%) limit high-danger looks. It’s a classic trade-off: elite defense for fewer goals.
• Wrist Factor: The wrist injury (post-2021 surgery, possible 2022 procedure) lowers his shot pop (8.7% slap-shot conversion vs. 32%). His missed nets (25.8% vs. 20%)
• Scotty Bowman asked Steve Yzerman to take on a more defensive role and his stats suffered but he won multiple cups as a result.
• In the mid-1990s, Scotty Bowman transformed Steve Yzerman from a 100-point scorer (65 goals in 1988–89) to a two-way leader, emphasizing checking, faceoffs, and PK. Yzerman’s DZS% rose to ~50% by 1996–97, and his goals dropped (24 in 1998–99 vs. 62 in 1989–90). Fans initially griped, per Detroit Free Press archives, as his points fell from 137 to 85, but his 1998 Selke Trophy and +3 rating in the 1997 playoffs silenced doubters.
• Cup Payoff: Yzerman’s sacrifice fueled Detroit’s 1997, 1998, and 2002 Stanley Cups. His 1.45 xGA/60 and 56% faceoff wins in 1997–98 locked down opponents, like Eric Lindros in the Finals. He still scored clutch goals (6 in 1997 playoffs), earning the 1998 Conn Smythe. Red Wings fans cherish how “Stevie Y” traded personal stats for team glory.

 

[MSZ]

He's kind of reminiscent of guys like Yashin and Seguin.

He's a big, goal scoring centre who struggles to score goals in the playoffs. He doesn't seem to have another gear in terms of intensity and competitiveness.

He is the modern day Marcel Dionne. Both high end goal scoring center in the regular season, and both sucked in the playoffs.

And like Dionne, Matthews also has questionable physical conditions during the seasons.

 

[Stephen]

I really do think AM just doesn’t have it in him.

No doubt he wants to be Capt, he wants the spotlight, he wants to be the MAN, but he also can’t seem to handle the pressure when going gets tough.

He’s not The Man.

Comparatively Knies shows us a lot more fire and effort doing the work to lead by example.

 

[fahad203]

He is the modern day Marcel Dionne. Both high end goal scoring center in the regular season, and both sucked in the playoffs.

And like Dionne, Matthews also has questionable physical conditions during the seasons.

Perfect comparable actually

 

[Stephen]

He is the modern day Marcel Dionne. Both high end goal scoring center in the regular season, and both sucked in the playoffs.

I doubt he has the durability to compile 2 decades of highly productive regular season numbers like Dionne.

I think he regresses into a Steven Stamkos center shooter, but if he doesn’t figure out his health issues you might also see a productivity collapse a la Dany Heatley.

 

[MSZ]

I doubt he has the durability to compile 2 decades of highly productive regular season numbers like Dionne.

I think he regresses into a Steven Stamkos center shooter, but if he doesn’t figure out his health issues you might also see a productivity collapse a la Dany Heatley.

Dionne was switched to be a winger in the latter half of his career so his job became easier and less demanding. If Matthews stays at center his numbers will definitely go down because of his checking abilities.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Is this chatgpt?

 

[Stephen]

Dionne was switched to be a winger in the latter half of his career so his job became easier and less demanding. If Matthews stays at center his numbers will definitely go down because of his checking abilities.

Matthews has a lot of issues and will need a long summer to work on his health and figure some of the mental side of the game and what he wants to be and is capable of.

For a guy who was supposed to be running in the Draisaitl and Mackinnon echelon, he’s fallen several tiers down in a short amount of time.

I dunno if this is a guy we can build around anymore.

 

[Gabriel426]

He’s not The Man.

Comparatively Knies shows us a lot more fire and effort doing the work to lead by example.

I said he wants to be the Man, didn’t say he is.

Knies and Willie were leading charge this whole playoffs.

 

[saffronleaf]

Last 20 playoff games
3 goals

Disgraceful. This should be put to him in a post game interview for a response.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

What a disappointment this guy is, my god. We've given him every penny he asked for, caved to his demands for short term deals when the other stars are happy to take 8 years. Stripped JT of the C, and gave it to a guy who's never shown heart, fight, balls.

Quite Leafy to draft and develop the 1 superstar who cannot seem to elevate his level.

 

[Woodman19]

Matthews has a chronic back issue and that's why he's falling off a cliff. He will be out of the league by 34

 

[centipede2233]

Matthews has a chronic back issue and that's why he's falling off a cliff. He will be out of the league by 34

If that’s the case, might be sooner. Also, I pity the fool team that signs his next contract. That thing will sit on Ltir like other fan favs Price, Weber

 

[Stephen]

Matthews’ Defensive Excellence vs. Fan Complaints
Matthews in 2024–25:

• Defensive Prowess: Matthews has emerged as one of the NHL’s best defensive centers, per The Athletic. His 52% defensive zone start percentage (DZS%, up from 45.8% in 2023–24) shows Berube trusts him against top lines (e.g., McDavid, MacKinnon). He ranks top-10 among centers in 5-on-5 expected goals against/60 (xGA/60, ~1.8), per Evolving-Hockey, and his 61.2% faceoff win rate (7th in NHL) anchors Toronto’s PK. Fans praise his Selke-caliber play, with 48 takeaways (top-20) and a +11 rating.
• Goal Dip: Matthews has 33 goals in 67 games (0.493 GPG), down from 69 in 81 games (0.852 GPG) in 2023–24, when he led the NHL. His 8.9% 5-on-5 shooting percentage (vs. 18% last year) and 261 projected shots (vs. 368) reflect fewer chances, partly due to Berube’s system and his wrist injury (post-2021 surgery). Fans
  lament his “disappointing” 40-goal pace, expecting 50–60 after last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy.
• Fan Frustration: Leafs Nation loves Matthews’ 200-foot game but misses his sniping. His 0.95 5-on-5 goals/60 (vs. 1.84) and reduced PP one-timers (1.2 shots/game vs. 1.8) fuel complaints, as Berube’s net-front PP role and defensive starts (52% DZS%) limit high-danger looks. It’s a classic trade-off: elite defense for fewer goals.
• Wrist Factor: The wrist injury (post-2021 surgery, possible 2022 procedure) lowers his shot pop (8.7% slap-shot conversion vs. 32%). His missed nets (25.8% vs. 20%)
• Scotty Bowman asked Steve Yzerman to take on a more defensive role and his stats suffered but he won multiple cups as a result.
• In the mid-1990s, Scotty Bowman transformed Steve Yzerman from a 100-point scorer (65 goals in 1988–89) to a two-way leader, emphasizing checking, faceoffs, and PK. Yzerman’s DZS% rose to ~50% by 1996–97, and his goals dropped (24 in 1998–99 vs. 62 in 1989–90). Fans initially griped, per Detroit Free Press archives, as his points fell from 137 to 85, but his 1998 Selke Trophy and +3 rating in the 1997 playoffs silenced doubters.
• Cup Payoff: Yzerman’s sacrifice fueled Detroit’s 1997, 1998, and 2002 Stanley Cups. His 1.45 xGA/60 and 56% faceoff wins in 1997–98 locked down opponents, like Eric Lindros in the Finals. He still scored clutch goals (6 in 1997 playoffs), earning the 1998 Conn Smythe. Red Wings fans cherish how “Stevie Y” traded personal stats for team glory.

Yeah, sure. He’s Steve Yzerman.