Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[thewave]

Matthews played really well. So did Marner

 

[rumman]

Are you for real? He was beasting the second half of the game and if not for an insane save wins it in OT. Please stfu, absolute garbage comment.

He definitely had his chances, but still didn’t get it done when the pressure was on. He’s a great talent, but he ain’t no McJesus, not even close……..

 

[DarkKnight]

He definitely had his chances, but still didn’t get it done when the pressure was on. He’s a great talent, but he ain’t no McJesus, not even close……..

Sorry, where did I say he was? Also, who is? And, Connor was off until that goal.

 

[rumman]

He honestly was playing a dominate game....made one mistake and the game is over lol

Everyone has to admit that it was a spectacular mistake, missing your defensive assignment on the best player in the world in OT for your country in a game you said you’d never miss playing…….

 

[The Podium]

Everyone has to admit that it was a spectacular mistake, missing your defensive assignment on the best player in the world in OT for your country in a game you said you’d never miss playing…….

He’s arguably the only reason it made it to OT.

It was a breakdown for both Fox and Matthews. Marner was left wide open, he peeled off to pressure him expecting the late D to cover the slot but Fox followed Matthews to the corner as well.

Bad decision, but it wasn’t his alone. Also best player in the world McDavid backed up high in the slot to create the lane. Good on him for recognizing Matthews committing to the corner and buying himself space even if Fox covered the slot like he should have.

 

[rumman]

Sorry, where did I say he was? Also, who is? And, Connor was off until that goal.

That’s the point, in the end he came through, something that 34 hasn’t been able to do when it matters………

 

[DarkKnight]

That’s the point, in the end he came through, something that 34 hasn’t been able to do when it matters………

Binnington stoned him a few plays earlier. They were double shifting him too. I agree, he blew his assignment on McDavid, but he showed up so it's encouraging. Look, today one thread was going to be full of complaints, on full of praise. That's a fact, so why play the game? Hockey is a strange game, I'll take that Matthews aquitted himself well, in a big game. Of our three there, Nylander was a no show for me.

 

[Ports]

Matthews shot is not what it used to be. His first few years in the league he scores on those open looks. He’s a highly skilled player who’s learned to score in different ways but he’s not nearly as dangerous a shooter as he used to be. And unfortunately he’s never really been able to score in the biggest games. IMO Nylander is a better shooter now and scores on one of those chances.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

That’s the point, in the end he came through, something that 34 hasn’t been able to do when it matters………

but he had his chances sir.

That's what the legendary John Tavares tells us every year, but strangely he gets tarred and feathered for it. Just another case of Matthews getting special treatment. Just look at the Marner thread the entire tournament if you don't believe me.

 

[kevsh]

he’s not nearly as dangerous a shooter as he used to be

When you say "used to be" you mean last season when he had 69 right?
But no doubt his inability to score in big games continues to haunt him.

Last night though he and Brady were by far America's best forwards and Matthews easily had the most high-danger chances. I'll take a guy that at least puts himself in a position to score any day over the guys who were invisible all night.

To me, Matthews and Marner both looked great at times in this tournament and they were two of the best players in the biggest game. The skeptic in me says I don't think it'll matter come this post-season for many reasons, but it's never a bad thing to see our stars play well on a big stage.

 

[rumman]

When you say "used to be" you mean last season when he had 69 right?
But no doubt his inability to score in big games continues to haunt him.

Last night though he and Brady were by far America's best forwards and Matthews easily had the most high-danger chances. I'll take a guy that at least puts himself in a position to score any day over the guys who were invisible all night.

To me, Matthews and Marner both looked great at times in this tournament and they were two of the best players in the biggest game. The skeptic in me says I don't think it'll matter come this post-season for many reasons, but it's never a bad thing to see our stars play well on a big stage.

I’d rather have the two Tchuk brothers…….

 

[The Podium]

I’d rather have the two Tchuk brothers…….

Proven winner and playoff beast Brady Tkachuk

 

[therealkoho]

The big boy finally showed a little life, and maybe that's all you'll ever get for the 13.25. The two assists funny enough came from the puck rolling off of his stick and landing on a team mates stick ending up in the back of the net. But that's the rule I guess, as long as it doesn't picked up by the opposition it becomes an assist.

He gets paid to score not pile up worthless assists like you know who

Sorry, where did I say he was? Also, who is? And, Connor was off until that goal.

There were a lot of folks around here that were calling him the best player in the league, for some reason

 

[therealkoho]

Matthews had a great game

I think Hughes was terrible the entire tournament. Just disappeared

He got bounced around pretty bad I thought.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Mcdavid goal: Matthews cheats and leaves his man (Connor Mcdavid) for a wide open shot to win the game.

Will be thrown under the rug as always and dismissed.

He covered for Adam Fox who messed up. Watch it again.

 

[GoonieFace]

Matthews may go down as the richest guy in hockey history to never win a damn thing.
He's emulating his boy Jumbo Joe.

To be fair, he created a turnover behind Canada’s net in overtime, and if not for Binnington making a couple of beauty saves, he would have been partly the hero.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Proven winner and playoff beast Brady Tkachuk

Just seems like he'd be more effective

 

[The Podium]

He covered for Adam Fox who messed up. Watch it again.

Mcdavid says it himself, Matthews leaves his assignment to cover a defensive breakdown and Fox never really recovered. That’s not to absolve Matthews of blame, he could have made the safe play and stick to his man in the slot.

 

[Bravid Nonahan]

At the end of the day, people can complain about Matthews, but the fact of the matter is that every single team in the NHL would take him in a heart beat, and they would rightly believe that by adding him their chances at winning a cup would be greater by doing so. Unless you really think if, given the opportunity, an NHL GM would say "nah, I'll pass on Matthews, he can't score in a big game". Many incredible players had won very little at Matthews' age. Both Ovechkin and Yzerman didn't win anything until they were well into their 30s. Until then they were both considered playoff underperformers. The leafs are incredibly lucky to have a player of Matthews' calibre, and the fact that they have him at all is one of the reasons why the Leafs are even considered a challenger for the cup at all. Do I wish that Matthews would have had more success in "big games" thus far? Sure. But give him time and he will.

 

[ACC1224]

Proven winner and playoff beast Brady Tkachuk

I can see Knies evolving into a Tkachuk type.
He's already has more raw skill, just needs to add the asshole edge.

 

[The Podium]

I can see Knies evolving into a Tkachuk type.
He's already has more raw skill, just needs to add the asshole edge.

Fun fact Knies and Brady both have 21G on the year and are producing nearly the same offensively.

They’re essentially the same player, Knies just is more disciplined… for now.

 

[therealkoho]

At the end of the day, people can complain about Matthews, but the fact of the matter is that every single team in the NHL would take him in a heart beat, and they would rightly believe that by adding him their chances at winning a cup would be greater by doing so. Unless you really think if, given the opportunity, an NHL GM would say "nah, I'll pass on Matthews, he can't score in a big game". Many incredible players had won very little at Matthews' age. Both Ovechkin and Yzerman didn't win anything until they were well into their 30s. Until then they were both considered playoff underperformers. The leafs are incredibly lucky to have a player of Matthews' calibre, and the fact that they have him at all is one of the reasons why the Leafs are even considered a challenger for the cup at all. Do I wish that Matthews would have had more success in "big games" thus far? Sure. But give him time and he will.

+1

You could insert Marners name and it works just as well.

 

[rumman]

Proven winner and playoff beast Brady Tkachuk

Brandy’s won as many Cups as 34, and 16, and he did it on a worse team, checkmate Podium…….

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

He gets paid to score not pile up worthless assists like you know who

Goals are worth more. Except for this exact moment for some reason. Now it's okay to have assists and to have your chances and not convert, and to leave the best player on Earth unchecked in the slot.

 

[The Podium]

Brandy’s won as many Cups as 34, and 16, and he did it on a worse team, checkmate Podium…….

Less 4Nations trophy than Marner