Let's take a step back and just be honest, the Leafs superstars on the big stage are not where we want them to be. They aren't among the big dogs running the show.
Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)
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Canada and the US are the center of gravity in this tourny. Matty and Mitch have fallen to the wayside. Not a good look.
Sweden is doing the worst as a team. Willy is still a big dog on his team, for whatever that's worth, but unfortunately hasn't created any big plays, which is the expectation for him. It's lesser news though out of circumstance.
He hasn’t ? He has more points than them and made more plays leading to goals then them you’ve been watching haven’t you?
hamzarocks
Registered User
Dont they all have 1 pt in 2 games? Or did nylander ger an assist on Goal 1 vs Finland?
Thought they had taken it away
The comeback vs Columbus where Leafs were down 3-0 with 5 mins remaining in the game and won 4-3 in OT. Was also an elimination game.
Matthews had two primary assists and the game winning goal. Kept the Leafs from being swept. Highlights in the last 5 mins of the game and OT were pretty much all him (Tavares looked great too).
Tie Domi Esquire
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- Oct 18, 2010
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Somehow you're making this thread about me and not Matthews. I wonder why.
The injury excuse must be getting old, must find a different distraction.
ITM
Out on the front line, don't worry I'll be fine...
- Jan 26, 2012
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Meaning we don’t have players to lead us.
Matthews post-game cited the Tkachuk brothers (and Miller) as “hard” players in a way supporting players defer to team leaders.
Definitely a Simon and Garfunkel Sounds of Silence moment for me thinking about how Matthews played his first years in the league.
Personally, I blame the mustache.
thewave
Toronto Maple Leafs Toy Co.
- Jun 17, 2011
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Not many will remember but I have said this at some point year after year after year.
MLSE does not know how to build a coherent sports programe(system). They start preaching hard nosed hockey and then pivot to a run and gun soft team and then back again. They consistently have the same broken management template and never correct it, rather break it further.
Do they not have a formula? I thought Shanahan was going to develop a system like Detroit here. It was a joke under Dubas. Lou started a disciplined system, tossed away and Babcock.
The organization is in crisis. Maybe sole Rogers ownership can fix its bipolar schizophrenic disposition.
Maybe
Matthews is the best player this organization has had in over 50 years. They are wasting him.
thewave
Toronto Maple Leafs Toy Co.
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Your Mathew’s comment at the bottom of the page is utter nonsense.
He is an exceptional player. Hurt this year for sure but look at what he is able to do with the USA defensively even. He is a really good C goal scoring or not. He is being used wrong here. Marner is not the freaking answer to AM
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Well, of course he's going to be supportive like a captain and say diplomatic words about his teammates doing the heavy lift... that part is fine and words don't carry that much weight in the grand scheme of things.
That said, Auston needs a reality check here in 2025. You're not a 38 year old Sidney Crosby and captain with a complete Hall of Fame resume here at the 4 Nations to play a supporting cast air tight defensive role and bring quiet leadership.
These Tkachuk Brothers, Miller, Eichel, Connor are all your peers and competing for the same things as you and if you're not out there spearheading the US effort, not building legendary moments, not scoring the big goals, making the big plays, you're just being a passenger. And when the NHL schedule starts up again, they'll be eating your lunch because you're so damn passive, complacent, inconsistent and undermotivated.
Since scoring his 69th goal last year Matthews has just been a complete disappointment in all categories. And here's a crucial point. Here in Toronto we don't have the Tkachuk Brothers or Miller, we only have you.
Stephen
Moderator
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I don't think Matthews has his head screwed on right this year. Has nothing to do with MLSE and deployment.
Probably related to the injuries and it throws him off what he wants to do out there but the work rate on the Leafs is completely off (relative to the effort for Team USA) and the offensive goal scoring instincts are just so passive, hardly going into traffic, never taking the shot.
Did Matthew’s get a point? Nylander didn’t get one on zibenijad(butchered spelling I’m sure) but set the whole goal up Hes been better on the offensive side not even a question
hamzarocks
Registered User
Matthews had 1 pt in the 6-1 blowout.
Think was a primary apple on an 5v5 goal.
He didnt do much offensively vs Canada besides a few nice plays on that PP and one solid drop low pass to dropping Werenski.
Nylander was horrific vs Canada but I heard he was good vs Finland. Did not watch that game but a lot of people did say he was creating a fair bit for them
Horrific is a huge stretch he got the opening penalty at the beginning of the game and was the player that lead to the goal against not covering the slot properly not sure he was horrific though
hamzarocks
Registered User
Yea that is why I have him as horrific he was responsible in part for 2 goals and I dont recall him creating really anything vs Canada.
Crosby was terrible game 2 vs US and his turnover was what was us along with Binnington being terrible so he had similarly horrific game as Nylander did vs Canada.
ITM
Out on the front line, don't worry I'll be fine...
- Jan 26, 2012
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Agreed. Referencing my earlier point, the nature and intensity of his play has changed. This season the contrast is shocking.
I try to pay particular attention to the words spoken by players. I think Matthews 4-Nations words are a major red flag that indicate a kind of…apathetic professional tourism? If that’s aptly descriptive? Almost like collegial resignation.
This season in several interviews when Matthews was out, players like Tanev and McCabe were very quick to take attention from his absence and point back to the character in the room. That was different from previous years and they didn’t feel formulaic or media trained. They were almost dismissive.
Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s smoke?
Apex Predator
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2019
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Looking like this USA and Sweden game will mean nothing for the states. Incoming big game for Matthews.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Matthews talks a good game about wanting to win, but even on Team USA, there has to be the desire to be the difference maker in winning, not the guy doing the quiet work while everyone else has their star turn. Especially when all these dear American teammates and good buddies are actual division rivals in disguise, one more championship notch under their belt.
If you're a passive passenger in a format like this, where does it set you up to lead your club team? I don't know, between the inconsistent play and having such a minimal impact on the big stage, I just don't find Matthews to be having the correct career progression. Seems to be enjoying the superstar goodwill he's accumulated throughout the league but from a Maple Leafs perspective, I seriously question his ability to lead.
Guided by Veseys
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- Nov 14, 2011
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I haven’t minded his tournament. He made some good plays and hit the post in the first game. Second game he is matched up against McDavid and MacKinnon and nobody particularly dominated that game (McDavid goal was unbelievable though). Lacklustre but decent workmanlike performance.
BraveCanadian
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- Jun 30, 2010
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Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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I can’t decide if I want to see Matthews prove me wrong and go off and dominate the next two and prove what he can do, win with Team USA in a lead role and build momentum for a Leaf run or just confirm my suspicions he isn’t a viable big game player and Team USA will see first hand. Very conflicted.
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