Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

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lol. Terrible take
Matthews has clearly had an injury the entire year from preseason that he is trying to play through, but sure let’s just erroneously attribute it to the fact the coach wants more physicality, while ignoring the fact that Matthews has played physical with zero issues before.

If you don’t think he has, go back and rewatch the last 2 years playoffs.
If you call that physicality go right ahead but dude is soft its not debatable
 
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If you call that physicality go right ahead but dude is soft its not debatable

Matthews can play the physical game as well as anyone, the only problem is it's usually not a sustainable play style for him either because of commitment or wear and tear.

One of the big weaknesses to his progression as a player is he's never really integrated an innate mean, power-ish, straight line game where he can use his body to create space and respect for himself. Guys like Draisaitl (or a Sundin) just now how to get the elbows and hands up, braced for impact when going into a crowd, drop the shoulder, pop the hip and drive. Throw in a little stick work in the corners, etc. Matthews doesn't do those things. For his own self preservation he's got to make it scary business for other guys to get close to him.
 
If he doesn’t pay for a while but forces the Leafs to let him go the 4 nations BS it would be really telling how much he cares about the Leafs.

That's definitely a PR tightrope the Leafs will have to manage to keep player, team and fanbase on side...

Matthews has not been healthy all season to be in a position to thrive as captain and highest paid player. The secrecy puts distance between player and public, and questions really go back to how was the summer used or not used to be ready for this important season.
 
That's definitely a PR tightrope the Leafs will have to manage to keep player, team and fanbase on side...

Matthews has not been healthy all season to be in a position to thrive as captain and highest paid player. The secrecy puts distance between player and public, and questions really go back to how was the summer used or not used to be ready for this important season.

Agreed. It would be an awful look if he uses the Leafs regular season to rest up and recover for the 4 nations. The captain choice was a very controversial one already. Stripping a current player of the C is never a good look regardless how much of a class act JT was about it. If he does this, it would create a huge rift in the locker room I feel. If he gets injured at the 4 nations it would be disastrous.
 
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What a joke He is injured FFS. This fanbase is the worst. Do you think he wants to be injured

From what we see but haven't been told, Matthews is probably suffering something like a month to month injury - if it goes back to the playoffs in the spring, or the first scrimmage of the regular season or if it's the thing that knocked him out for most of November. This is a 7-8 month injury with a 4 month summer in between with rest and relaxation and clandestine trips to Germany... all probably to avoid some kind of surgery.

So the normal thing to do is shut it down and get whatever needs to be done to be healthy at the earliest, and not do this day to day song and dance. Because frankly it's annoying.
 
From what we see but haven't been told, Matthews is probably suffering something like a month to month injury - if it goes back to the playoffs in the spring, or the first scrimmage of the regular season or if it's the thing that knocked him out for most of November. This is a 7-8 month injury with a 4 month summer in between with rest and relaxation and clandestine trips to Germany... all probably to avoid some kind of surgery.

So the normal thing to do is shut it down and get whatever needs to be done to be healthy at the earliest, and not do this day to day song and dance. Because frankly it's annoying.
And once again you have no idea. You are talking out of your ass . You have no idea if it's the same injury. If it's a new injury or what it is but the bottom line is he is injured and to blame him for it like it is somehow his fault like that other poster did is ridiculous
 
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And once again you have no idea. You are talking out of your ass . You have no idea if it's the same injury. If it's a new injury or what it is but the bottom line is he is injured and to blame him for it like it is somehow his fault like that other poster did is ridiculous

We are all talking out of our asses because the player and team have chosen to withhold the facts for some perceived benefit. The injury could be one or five separate ones. The blame could lie anywhere, the alternative solution could have been anything.

All we know is the preparation coming into the season was not good, the performance has been subpar and the secrecy game is a distraction. The timelines are long enough that we know an extra couple of rest days won't make a difference and the idea of playing through an injury without making it worse is a complete fiction. At least just shut it down so the player can get right and we don't have to hear about it every day.
 
I haven't been on here for close to 2 years...I came back to see how the boards were doing, and I remember why I left. This is why no one wants to play in Toronto lol Everyone is so negative.

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Hopefully, it is fixable.

Being a Leafs fan, I don't expect good outcomes, so names like Neely pop to mind.

Eichel took the bull by the horns ... he's back, but maybe he never hit his ceiling?
 
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This.

Let’s do a Vegas / Tampa
I get the 'vegas /tampa' thing, but in order to do that you need to have an extra player that allows you to do that.

Who is the player the Leafs would get now that is going to improve this team that much, where do you get him from, and what do you pay to get him?
 
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Matthews obviously doesn’t want surgery. It’s usually a last resort. Seems like this has lingered a loooooong time.

Yeah seems like something with an offseason in between the without getting better will eventually result in surgery. If that’s the case and this has all been delayed - what a waste of time.
 
A healthy Auston is the best player I've ever seen on the Leafs and it's not even close.
He's also shown very little in the way of leadership skills and clutch performance that I want to see in our Captain.

Both things can be true sadly.
Best player ever :huh:
Leadership skills ? a big Zero from me.
 
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