Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Jacquestrapless]

He's getting more dzone starts than ever in his career and I think Berube has to drop that strategy real quick, too much too soon, reduce his minutes and his dzone starts, he doesn't seem to be up to game shape yet for whatever reason.

you might be right

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853281325362368898

Likely the reason, Domi isn't paired with him as well.

I don't like him getting that many PK minutes and hope Jarkrok/Dewar takes away most of it when they come back.

You could also build a shutdown 3rd or 4th line and take away his DZ starts too

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

you might be right

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853281325362368898

Likely the reason, Domi isn't paired with him as well.

I don't like him getting that many PK minutes and hope Jarkrok/Dewar takes away most of it when they come back.

You could also build a shutdown 3rd or 4th line and take away his DZ starts too

Confirmed: Fake Selke nomination by people that don't watch the games.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Nick Kypreos has mentioned a few times over the years about how younger Matthews had conditioning issues which prevented him from logging massive minutes earlier in his career. Doesn't look like he's worked on anything in the offseason because like you say, he does not look fresh physically or mentally.

But I thought "It's renowned around the Leafs org that Matthews is the hardest worker on the team and the most dedicated."?

 

[TheGreatOne11]

I was never a fan of making Matthew's the Captain purely and simply because in back to back contracts he refused to sign for Max term.

If you're the Captain you should be COMMITTED to the franchise, not holding them hostage every 4-6 years to max your revenue.

If the best player in the league doesn't do it, you look like an a**hole.

 

[mjd1001]

Matthews has 6 goals and 9 assists in his last 20 games (including the playoffs). Not good.
But also remember right before that he scored a goal in 8 games in a row.

Hes a goal scorer, goals scorers are streaky. The year Ovechkin had 65 he went 8 straight games with no goals at one point that season.
As long as he isn't injured, I'm still confident he is good for at least 50 goals this season.
He remains probably the best goal scorer in the league. He is very good positionally (knowing where to be) in the D-zone and neutral zone. And he's not half bad at setting up other guys either.
He is, even right now, a top player in the league.

Part of the issue with him on this forum is that he is not THE top player in the league, and it seems a lot of people expect that. He's someplace in the middle of the top 10 (you can group him anywhere between 2-7, most of those guys are interchangeable) in the Regular season...but he doesn't 'elevate' as much in the post season as others.

He'll be fine. The issue is he likely isn't going to carry this team to a presidents trophy anytime soon and the bigger question is can he ever carry the team in the postseason?

My personal opinion is Matthews cares about winning, a lot. Its not wiining that is the issue though, its losing. Its just I don't think it HURTS him when he loses as much as the other top Guys (McDavid, McKinnon, Tkachuk, etc) Sometimes you get that maximum effort, you push yourself harder than you thought you could...not when you want to WIN badly, but rather when you don't want to LOSE.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Part of the issue with him on this forum is that he is not THE top player in the league, and it seems a lot of people expect that. He's someplace in the middle of the top 10 (you can group him anywhere between 2-7, most of those guys are interchangeable) in the Regular season...but he doesn't 'elevate' as much in the post season as others.

McDavid salary (signed until 29 years old):

Total: 102.78M

Matthews salary (signed until 30 years old):

Total: 113.98M

Both will sign one more contract at their prime value. By the age of 29, McDavid will earn 102.78M and Matthews will be paid 100.73M. In a limited dollar system he's being paid like he's on McDavid's level. It's going to look even worse when he signs his next deal.

 

[Jojalu]

McDavid salary (signed until 29 years old):
View attachment 926220
View attachment 926221
Total: 102.78M

Matthews salary (signed until 30 years old):
View attachment 926217
View attachment 926218
View attachment 926219
Total: 113.98M

Both will sign one more contract at their prime value. By the age of 29, McDavid will earn 102.78M and Matthews will be paid 100.73M. In a limited dollar system he's being paid like he's on McDavid's level. It's going to look even worse when he signs his next deal.

I am not advocating either way but this is pretty standard in every sport.

Matthews has been the best goal scorer in the league since he arrived. He got paid according to that.

Ohtani had never made the playoffs but signed the most lucrative deal in sports.

Cousins and Love just got paid a kings ransom while never winning anything.

When you are the best, or one of the best at your craft, you will end up getting paid.

Right or wrong, owners seem to pay players across all sports for regular season production.

 

[thewave]

I am not advocating either way but this is pretty standard in every sport.

Get a C and play like Crap?

Matthews has been the best goal scorer in the league since he arrived. He got paid according to that.

Looks like a 37 year Kessel to me

Ohtani had never made the playoffs but signed the most lucrative deal in sports.

thats ball

Cousins and Love just got paid a kings ransom while never winning anything.

doesnt .ake it right

When you are the best, or one of the best at your craft, you will end up getting paid.

just not overpaid I hope

Right or wrong, owners seem to pay players across all sports for regular season production.

Owners can be stupid too

 

[Jojalu]

Get a C and play like Crap?

Looks like a 37 year Kessel to me

thats ball

doesnt .ake it right

just not overpaid I hope

Owners can be stupid too

It is pretty crazy to point to a 13 game span over a 9 year career. He has not played up to expectations for sure. No arguing that. The only way to judge whether he was overpaid will be at the conclusion of the contract.

Owners for sure make mistakes, horrible contracts are handed out all the time.

It's too bad they all made the choice to max out their contracts. It will tarnish their careers for a lot of the fanbase if they never achieve post season success. Which is too bad as they have managed to put together the most successful era in Leafs history during the regular season.

But while that would be good in some markets, it won't and shouldn't fly here

 

[34]

I believe it is a mental block at this point. The pressure is consuming him.

 

[Stephen]

It is pretty crazy to point to a 13 game span over a 9 year career. He has not played up to expectations for sure. No arguing that. The only way to judge whether he was overpaid will be at the conclusion of the contract.

Owners for sure make mistakes, horrible contracts are handed out all the time.

It's too bad they all made the choice to max out their contracts. It will tarnish their careers for a lot of the fanbase if they never achieve post season success. Which is too bad as they have managed to put together the most successful era in Leafs history during the regular season.

But while that would be good in some markets, it won't and shouldn't fly here

Matthews current cold streak extends back to the entire Bruins series, where he missed a couple of games, as well as the regular season games post Detroit. Just hasn’t looked the same ever since he scored the 69th and was the snakebit trying to get to 70.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Matthews current cold streak extends back to the entire Bruins series, where he missed a couple of games, as well as the regular season games post Detroit. Just hasn’t looked the same ever since he scored the 69th and was the snakebit trying to get to 70.

What happened before those games.

 

[Stephen]

What happened before those games.

Who cares?

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

From what I recall, Matthews game has taken a dip since he hit 69 goals and stalled in the Detroit game when he crashed into the end boards looking for the 70th.

The last 2 regular season games were a bit of a shit show trying to score the one goal. He was good in 1 of the Bruins playoff games and struggled/MIA for the rest of the series and has been ice cold and sloppy in 2025.

Going back 19 games, he only has 6 goals for a 25 goal pace over 82. If that's not regression, I'd be interested to hear your definition.

I guess his 4yr deal is a blessing in a way...

 

[mapleleaf979]

I guess his 4yr deal is a blessing in a way...

I personally think so. Matthew's has been very inconsistent thru-out his career. His desire to shoot right now is the most bothersome. He has structured his deals to maximize his earnings thru the cap era. I think the stanley cup isnt a big dream of his as compared to his total money earned over his career. He is obviously on pace to break Gretzky's record too which is stunning based on Matthews compete level. Matthew's overall hunger seems to level off in the playoffs, he never appeared to me like he loves that jersey like Clark, Gilmour, Kadri.

 

[Stephen]

I personally think so. Matthew's has been very inconsistent thru-out his career. His desire to shoot right now is the most bothersome. He has structured his deals to maximize his earnings thru the cap era. I think the stanley cup isnt a big dream of his as compared to his total money earned over his career. He is obviously on pace to break Gretzky's record too which is stunning based on Matthews compete level. Matthew's overall hunger seems to level off in the playoffs, he never appeared to me like he loves that jersey like Clark, Gilmour, Kadri.

He needs to commit more to a power game as a center, know where to go and use skill or power to get there urgently to create offense. I just find when he's on the dynamic duo frequency with Mitch he loses the plot. Mitch is a player who needs to escape to the perimeter. Auston doesn't really need it. I think being more forceful will help with those big pressure moments, one on one matchups.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Who cares?

Can you just tell us what happened before that awfully specific timeline of yours?

 

[Stephen]

Can you just tell us what happened before that awfully specific timeline of yours?

How am I supposed what happened to him?

On the surface he crashed into the end boards trying to score on Detroit, pressed for the 70th goal over the next couple, fell short of his goals, came out typically unprepared vs Boston in the playoffs, got hurt and hasn’t looked the same since.

 

[HellasLEAF]

How am I supposed what happened to him?

On the surface he crashed into the end boards trying to score on Detroit, pressed for the 70th goal over the next couple, fell short of his goals, came out typically unprepared vs Boston in the playoffs, got hurt and hasn’t looked the same since.

Before that.

 

[Stephen]

Before that.

Dude. Going from a 70 goal scoring clip and cratering to a 30 goal pace over 20 plus games is a problem when you have the status and paycheque of a Matthews. I’m not sure why you’re referring to past accomplishments.

 

[Jojalu]

Dude. Going from a 70 goal scoring clip and cratering to a 30 goal pace over 20 plus games is a problem when you have the status and paycheque of a Matthews. I’m not sure why you’re referring to past accomplishments.

I read today Matthews is still top 3 in shots, shots directed at net, high danger shots, slot shots, which makes it all the more perplexing on why he isn't finishing.

20 games is still a small sample size, but big enough that it warrants having a discussion about what is going on

 

[notDatsyuk]

Dude. Going from a 70 goal scoring clip and cratering to a 30 goal pace over 20 plus games is a problem when you have the status and paycheque of a Matthews. I’m not sure why you’re referring to past accomplishments.

I think what he want's you to say is:

In the 20 games prior to the Detroit game, he scored 15 goals, basically a 60 goal pace.

In the 20 games since the Detroit game, he scored 6 goals, basically a 24 goal pace.

 

[IPS]

How am I supposed what happened to him?

On the surface he crashed into the end boards trying to score on Detroit, pressed for the 70th goal over the next couple, fell short of his goals, came out typically unprepared vs Boston in the playoffs, got hurt and hasn’t looked the same since.

Simping for this core has almost become a reflex for some.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Guys he was hurt. Give him a break. He was so sick that his belly turned yellow.

 

[Stephen]

I read today Matthews is still top 3 in shots, shots directed at net, high danger shots, slot shots, which makes it all the more perplexing on why he isn't finishing.

20 games is still a small sample size, but big enough that it warrants having a discussion about what is going on

I think it’s more likely than not he’ll find his way back to the kind of production we’ve seen in years past. My ongoing criticism is we don’t just need him to be at his 2022 and 2024 version but we need him to elevate a few different aspects of his game to reach full potential. And he needs to be challenged to get there.