Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Meh, Sundin always left me wanting as a Leaf. Their best run was when he was hurt and Roberts and McCauley of all people went beast mode. He sure looked good for Sweden though.

So far Matthews is even worse. Underachieving compared to his talent by a massive degree.

Sundin gets underrated imo. Yes he missed most of ‘02 but he was there for the ‘99 run. It was only one game shorter than ‘02 and Sundin outdueled Jagr in round 2, no small feat.

Arguably Sundin’s best performance was ‘01. He was really on one that postseason and was scoring like mad against New Jersey in round 2 after they swept Ottawa. 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points in 7 games against the reigning Cup Champs is great. Unfortunately the Leafs lack of depth and talent cost them against a much deeper Devils team. Not to mention Tie’s stupid elbowing of Niedermayer that galvanized New Jersey. If they could’ve got past them who knows what heights Mats would’ve reached.

If he had the talent up front like Matthews does who knows what could’ve been. The closest Sundin got to having as many elite offensive players as Auston was ‘04 when we had Mogilny, Nieuwendyk, Nolan, and Roberts, who were all old and injury prone by then.

 

[rumman]

 

[Nineteen67]

He's the face of US hockey.

The TV networks tried marketing him over the years but I’ve noticed they’ve tempered some in the past couple since he hasn’t met expectations. He’s still a prominent figure but the brothers Hughes and Tkachuk, McAvoy and Eichel are right there.

Im surprised Eichel didn’t get the C after I saw this roster announcement marketing flyer.

 

[Hallonbroder]

Around here we call that the “Sundin”

You guys did not deserve him

The TV networks tried marketing him over the years but I’ve noticed they’ve tempered some in the past couple since he hasn’t met expectations. He’s still a prominent figure but the brothers Hughes and Tkachuk, McAvoy and Eichel are right there.

Im surprised Eichel didn’t get the C after I saw this roster announcement marketing flyer.

View attachment 969644

Eichel’s a trumper, maybe that’s too hard to sell. Who am I kidding, it’s hockey, of course it isn’t

 

[Nineteen67]

You guys did not deserve him


Eichel’s a trumper, maybe that’s too hard to sell. Who am I kidding, it’s hockey, of course it isn’t

That’s a good thing, now.

 

[Stephen]

He may be the least likeable star in the league, and the least likeably Leaf's captain in my memory.

Nothing there to really hate, he is a great player, But nothing really draws me (and apparently a lot of other fans) to him other than his pure stats and numbers.

I just find him extremely frustrating to watch as a player because you want to see him up there with the top five players in the game year after year and take those steps to be a championship winning franchise player… But he’s not keeping up on any category other than goal scoring and seems to bring such a complacent culture… and right now we have a point a game player making the most money in the game without a care in the world.

 

[leafan11]

He has never elevated his game in the playoffs , that Athletic survey they did for Leaf players pretty much confirms him being named Captain was a marketing play.

 

[Stephen]

Sundin gets underrated imo. Yes he missed most of ‘02 but he was there for the ‘99 run. It was only one game shorter than ‘02 and Sundin outdueled Jagr in round 2, no small feat.

Arguably Sundin’s best performance was ‘01. He was really on one that postseason and was scoring like mad against New Jersey in round 2 after they swept Ottawa. 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points in 7 games against the reigning Cup Champs is great. Unfortunately the Leafs lack of depth and talent cost them against a much deeper Devils team. Not to mention Tie’s stupid elbowing of Niedermayer that galvanized New Jersey. If they could’ve got past them who knows what heights Mats would’ve reached.

If he had the talent up front like Matthews does who knows what could’ve been. The closest Sundin got to having as many elite offensive players as Auston was ‘04 when we had Mogilny, Nieuwendyk, Nolan, and Roberts, who were all old and injury prone by then.

Sundin and the Leafs of that era also didn’t start out with the potential to be best in era, loaded core group all together to start their career either.

 

[Rare Jewel]

You guys did not deserve him

Make no mistake: at least 90% of Leafs fans love Mats, and many believe him to be among the best Leafs ever.

 

[Skullz]

What is more interesting is that Nylander got an A for Sweden.

Well deserved. Has been lights out internationally.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Well deserved. Has been lights out internationally.

Oh yeah, I just find it odd someone who doesn't wear one for his club team gets one in a tournament like this.

 

[BallardEra]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/a-new-auston-matthews-maple-leafs-bobblehead-has-just-dropped

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Hopefully that tournament fires him up. He’s an absolute monster when he is dialed in.

 

[Apex Predator]

Hopefully that tournament fires him up. He’s an absolute monster when he is dialed in.

Oh yeah for that 20 game stretch during the season and one playoff game.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Oh yeah, I just find it odd someone who doesn't wear one for his club team gets one in a tournament like this.

True, but some people think he's more deserving of one here than some.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Nice to see Matthews get the captaincy. Excited to see him in the tournament.

I didn't say there aren't some fans that don't love him. I'm saying on this message board, there are a LOT of fans who like him a lot less than what you would think someone with his production would get.

Most fans out there in the world love him. This board just gets really toxic.

 

[MSZ]

They made it to the final 4 twice with Quinn, he scored that big goal to force overtime, unfortunately didn't take it.

Also kept kicking Ottawa's ass...routinely won a round which was nice...the Matthews era's Cup is that round 1 win vs Tampa, only to get stomped by Florida.

Sundin was pretty damn good in the 99 run, and he was really the only forward who provided any offense against Buffalo.

 

[Nineteen67]

Hopefully that tournament fires him up. He’s an absolute monster when he is dialed in.

He doesn’t stay dialed in long enough. He was flying around for a few shifts going for 70 and we’ve seen spurts in few games in the playoffs over the years, but for a large portions ( playoffs) he’s just there.

I hope he gets a second or third place ribbon in the 4Nations.

 

[rumman]

I just find him extremely frustrating to watch as a player because you want to see him up there with the top five players in the game year after year and take those steps to be a championship winning franchise player… But he’s not keeping up on any category other than goal scoring and seems to bring such a complacent culture… and right now we have a point a game player making the most money in the game without a care in the world.

I think Austin’s happy collecting his 14 mil annually and not being the best player in the league, although I think he has the talent to be right up there with McJesus, McKinnon and company………