Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

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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.
 
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.
 
Knies this year has a 2.39 p/60 with Matthews. With Tavares he has 1.12 p/60 and with Nylander he has 1.6 p/60. Matthews driving Knies asking price up.
 
We have seen it. On numerous occasions. We just don't see it on a consistent basis like we need to.

But that's part of being a winner, showing it when you need to.

If not iron-clad consistently (like a Tom Brady or Michael Jordan which is impossible for just about everybody but those two), at least once when it mattered. He's had how many series/elimination games in his career where he could've just taken over as he's capable and failed? All of them?
 
Around here we call that the “Sundin”

Mogilny with a busted hip, older Roberts and god knows who else were the best we did for him as wingers.

Guy scored clutch goals in overtimes etc

Those Leaf teams had good depth, workman like effort and elite goaltending but the blueline was thin and lacked elite talent for Sundin on the wings.

Sundin is still the far superior performer in high stake moments compared to Matthews. Sundin also has a gold medal in the Olympics, I don't think Matthews has been on a team that has won a single thing at any notable level.
 
I don’t think he really gets the role or understand he needs to really grow into it.
I don't know if it is as specific as that. I think it is just his personality. He is a really laid back, chill person. Lots of people like that have been captains, but they have had other leaders who are vocal, emotional and irrational (at times) to fill that gap. He has no one around him to bring that kind of additional leadership; this whole core is laid back and chill. JT faced the same issue.

Part of the problem we have is that our past successful teams have had a mix of leaders in the room. So when we look at Sundin, somewhat laid back, he had others around that filled that emotional leader role. Dougie and Wendel did that themselves and so on.

Until the core is changed, it will continue to be a tough job. Or, he finds a way to fill that gap himself and evolves with the situation.
 
As far as a top tier franchise player goes Matty leaves you wanting, but as a 1C in that category there's not much you can do about it short of swapping for a McDavid, which I think is a real possibility.
 
Well, this is lining up as the perfect troll job.


Go win gold as the captain of USA... out in the first round with his club team lol

That being said, great honour! I was not expecting that to be honest. I thought they had some really good options.
 
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