Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

I mean, Mack and Kucherov just had their best year while they were 2 and 4 years older than Matthews so it's possible we havn't seen the best of Matthews
How come we havent seen it from Matthews? From the time he entered the league until to right now he hasn’t shown anything to indicate he’s a winner. He’s paid like it, he is sure as heck is marketed like he is, but on the ice it’s a different story.
 
How come we havent seen it from Matthews? From the time he entered the league until to right now he hasn’t shown anything to indicate he’s a winner. He’s paid like it, he is sure as heck is marketed like he is, but on the ice it’s a different story.
We have seen it. On numerous occasions. We just don't see it on a consistent basis like we need to.
 
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The former skipper should have a nice note in mind this week if current captain Auston Matthews eclipses him for a most significant stat, second place in franchise goals. That could come as early as Wednesday here against the Minnesota Wild, with Sittler at 389, Matthews one behind.
And before the end of the regular season, Mitch Marner should close the 29-assist gap between he and Sittler for third place. As Matthews, Marner and William Nylander get close to 10 years’ Leaf service, they’ve moved into the top five or 10 in many offensive categories.
“I follow their numbers a little bit and if I see a stat on TV that they’ve passed me, I send a text,” Sittler said Monday in a phone interview. “Lots of those are happening now. I see Mitch just became the fastest Leaf to 700 points, to beat my record (Marner needed 622 games to Sittler’s 666).
 
I don’t see much of a possibility where Matthews goes up against Mackinnon and McDavid and comes out on top in a matchup with either of them.

Come playoffs the guys who have eaten him up alive have been Dubois, Danault, Cirelli.
Let's be honest, the Leafiest thing possible is for:
  • Matthews to absolutely dominate 4 Nations and be top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.
  • Then he'll go to the Olympics and win gold, top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.
 
Let's be honest, the Leafiest thing possible is for:
  • Matthews to absolutely dominate 4 Nations and be top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.
  • Then he'll go to the Olympics and win gold, top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.

If he pulled a Sundin and represented his country with heart and dominated and led them someone, I would respect that on its own as proof he could hang in high pressure moments and succeed.
 
If he pulled a Sundin and represented his country with heart and dominated and led them someone, I would respect that on its own as proof he could hang in high pressure moments and succeed.
Unless he came back and did the same for the Leafs I would take it as he cares more about that then the Leafs and they were just a pay cheque
 
Let's be honest, the Leafiest thing possible is for:
  • Matthews to absolutely dominate 4 Nations and be top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.
  • Then he'll go to the Olympics and win gold, top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.
I’d be comfy betting on this exact scenario and I don’t gamble. But that’s too tempting as it feels almost inevitable.
 
The four nations thing should be a bit of fun but it's also kinda awkward. Partly because its made up and partly because its a select four teams.

Oddly they may have been better off doing a seven game series summit type of thing between USA and Canada. Might have been able to generate some real stakes behind that.
Wow, that’s a great way of growing the game!….

It’s like this “Summit series” you guys had vs the Soviets back in the day - nobody cared about it except Canadians
 
Let's be honest, the Leafiest thing possible is for:
  • Matthews to absolutely dominate 4 Nations and be top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.
  • Then he'll go to the Olympics and win gold, top scorer and MVP only to disappear in the spring and for the Leafs to go out first round.

Around here we call that the “Sundin”
 
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The crowd bothers him. He wants them to cheer him while he skates around gingerly waving his fairy wand around.
 

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