Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)
- Thread starter Aashir Mallik
- Start date
Fogelhund
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- Sep 15, 2007
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I think it's his back. When he was on IR, he didn't skate at all. How would a wrist injury prevent him from skating with the team, to maintain his fitness? A back injury on the other hand, you wouldn't want to skate with that.
Stephen
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- Feb 28, 2002
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Speculating wildly due to lack of information.
If it’s his back, I’ve wondered if it’s related to his tennis playing in the offseason.
Or if it was related to the crash into the boards vs Detroit before last year’s playoffs. He’s never looked consistently the same after that week, although he was still buzzing the last couple of games in the regular season.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
I distinctly remember Tre telling us that he will be back once his issue is 100% behind him. Doesn't look like it's 100% behind him to me.
Stephen
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Yeah but to fair Matthews problems don’t look like any one thing. There’s a lack of energy and focus at times, maybe a conditioning problem, the skating looks off and laboured at times and casual at times, the defensive coverage is bad at times. And the shooting is off. Plus it doesn’t make sense to me that if he was really unhealthy that he would be used in low value PK time. Like how many SHG will he actually score in one year? Doesn’t seem like a task for someone who is having massive back problems.
Aashir Mallik
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque
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this mix of tre + berube is like 0/100 in terms of injury details
we've been told day to day/minor and it turns into weeks at a time
I don't really trust what they say anymore tbh
He's been awful. Looks lazy and disinterested. Also sick of the excuses year after year with him.
At this point we should assume being in the lineup means you actually are day-to-day. That term has no meaning with this org right now.
Every time the time line is day-to-day -> IR -> week-to-week
At this point we should assume being in the lineup means you actually are day-to-day. That term has no meaning with this org right now.
Every time the time line is day-to-day -> IR -> week-to-week
BallardEra
Leafs&Caps Since 1982™
Torontonian
Registered User
Whatever is bothering him, I guess the surgery option is going to keep him out for 6 months? Don't see why they wouldn't opt for surgery now if he would be 100% for the playoffs.
Could use the capspace and cheat the system like Tampa/Vegas to upgrade.
HolyCrap
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Leafs wouldn’t be allowed to do this. Bettman would step in. I’m being sarcastic but also sorta serious as it wouldn’t at all surprise me. lol.
AuraSphere
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- Jun 27, 2012
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TheBeastCoast
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Probably because if he has a back surgery he might not actually be ready for the playoffs.
Stephen
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TheDoldrums
Registered User
This is an injury season, just like 2022-2023. When he's healthy he's top 5 in the regular season, but seems like that's only every second year now. Not great.
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
People were upset about it not being a 8 year term....the shorter term will likely be good for the team in the end.
DarkKnight
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- Jan 17, 2017
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Sounds like something that doesn’t improve or worsen based on play, which screams a back issue.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
Do the whole Kawhi Leonard load management thing. Sit him out some games then. He is fighting through it. Why does he need to fight through it every game?
Stephen
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hamzarocks
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He just isnt worth paying 13.25M.
At his best he hasnt shown to be a top 5 player very consistently and playoffs he struggles like everyone else on the leafs
His injury issues, lack of playoff production and short term contract length should really make us hesitant on giving another LT extension to him.
At his best he hasnt shown to be a top 5 player very consistently and playoffs he struggles like everyone else on the leafs
His injury issues, lack of playoff production and short term contract length should really make us hesitant on giving another LT extension to him.
DarkKnight
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Back pain is a mystery sometimes, inactivity can make it worse. It has to be something like that, chronic and hoping it gets better. It isn't a wrist or an ankle, he's stiff "back" there at times to me. Looked pretty free tonight.
Folignos Helmet
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- Sep 4, 2020
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