Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Nineteen67]

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.

 

[Jojalu]

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.

 

[ACC1224]

Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler ready to step aside as Auston Matthews is set to pass him in scoring

After years at or near the top of Toronto's points plateau, the ex-captain is soon to be usurped on the goal list by Auston Matthews.

torontosun.com

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).

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

 

[ToneDog]

Here's hoping McDavid and MacKinnon can take his McDonald's lunch money.

 

[Stephen]

Here's hoping McDavid and MacKinnon can take his McDonald's lunch money.

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.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

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.

 

[Stephen]

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.

 

[Racer88]

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

 

[HolyCrap]

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.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Knies Matthews Domi
Patches Tavares Mcmann
Robertson Nylander Marner

No word of a lie - I've wanted this since the beginning of the year. It's never gonna happen, but I think it's the only way to success.

 

[Hallonbroder]

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

 

[BraveCanadian]

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”

 

[Stephen]

Not living up to the captaincy or the highest paid player in the game tag, and on many nights it doesn’t look like that bothers him one bit.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

The crowd bothers him. He wants them to cheer him while he skates around gingerly waving his fairy wand around.

 

[wingman75]

Not living up to the captaincy or the highest paid player in the game tag, and on many nights it doesn’t look like that bothers him one bit.

It has not gotten off to a great start. He's made some odd comments... I think we get to see why JT spoke the way he did lol

 

[Antropovsky]

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.

 

[kevsh]

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?

 

[WTFMAN99]

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.