Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Racer88]

It's disappointment in wanting to see him compete in that Draisaitl, Kucherov, Mackinnon level of players, armed with the biggest contract in the game and the Leafs captaincy foisted upon him, cheering for the guy to just step it up, hit a brand new level like never before... and he's tied with Brandon Hagel with a 1.13 PPG, while playing significantly fewer games, while trailing Hagel +29 to +4 on the meaningless plus minus while getting so much hype for defensive work.

He is a major disappointment and one more of the reasons this team goes nowhere in the playoffs.
We have seen nothing, zero, nada evidence that he will be any different this post season and in fact we have seen serious regression

 

[Stephen]

This resonates, unfortunately. You can see the tension in his face, hands, body language. I can read this in him, when the going gets tough. For him, it's not just the big game 7s - it's any moment the game gets rough, gets dire, requires a tie goal or winning goal, OTs even.. all of it.
He needs the Sports Psychology department to toughen him up a bit, since he doesn't come by it organically.

Yeah I think you’re right. There’s an emotional component there that doesn’t quite work (even in good seasons).

The Toronto Maple Leafs have always felt most like Matthews team when he scores a big goal and he’s visibly excited, teammates pumped up. Home crowd going nuts. Why he doesn’t carry this exuberance is beyond me.

Where he’s not getting the most mileage is with his “silent assassin” thing where he’s got the poker face up, no sweat reaction to a goal. It’s too bottled up and in the biggest moments it doesn’t serve him or the team or the fanbase that well. Too bottled up and not playing free.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

This guy pumped his fist like he tied a winnable game, when it was actually the first goal for the team in a 5-0 rout against Vegas.

Mike Johnson tried to explain it away as him being invested in "getting his groove back" or whatever - but not a good look again for me.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

He is a major disappointment and one more of the reasons this team goes nowhere in the playoffs.
We have seen nothing, zero, nada evidence that he will be any different this post season and in fact we have seen serious regression

Let's start a discussion...

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Let's start a discussion...

View attachment 987808

He had his chances!!!

 

[keonsbitterness]

He had his chances!!!

I'm surprised you don't appreciate his consistency. After all, you're 0 for your last 700 posts posting something different from your usual tone.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

I'm surprised you don't appreciate his consistency. After all, you're 0 for your last 700 posts posting something different from your usual tone.

??? I thought him having his chances was a good thing.

Stop being so negative and be happy with the team spinning it's tires for 8 years.

 

[NVious]

Personally I'm at the point where I truly don't care about any of the core, they are all flawed players in their own way, I still have sympathy left for Rielly for not trying to get every last dollar and his compete, but the rest of them IDGAF about at all.

It's sad but Matthews is probably more of a Marleau/Thornton type player than he is a Crosby/McDavid type guy

 

[The Shadow]

His quote from last night. Disgusting for a captain to say at this stage in his career.

Something like ‘I think we were expecting an easier night’. Seriously. Against Las Vegas?

This guy is just not a winner.

 

[Action Jackson]

Matthews was the best forward for the US in the 4 Nations final, along with Brady Tkachuk. I reject the notion outright. He’s also known to be injured.

I don't think he's injured bruh, only leaf fans are saying such.

 

[Sypher04]

I don't think he's injured bruh, only leaf fans are saying such.

He is. It’s not a matter of debate

 

[Action Jackson]

He is. It’s not a matter of debate

Lol, keep thinking that with zero confirmation from anybody actually in the NHL

Hard to accept it, but he's not a perennial 60 goal guy. Last season was alot of lucky goals, that are turning out to be posts this year

 

[Sypher04]

Lol, keep thinking that with zero confirmation from anybody actually in the NHL

Hard to accept it, but he's not a perennial 60 goal guy. Last season was alot of lucky goals, that are turning out to be posts this year

Him being injured has been acknowledged multiple times.

Also you dont luck you way to 60 goals twice. No one ever suggested hes perennially a 60 scorer. And being hurt certainly doesn’t help that.

 

[Action Jackson]

Him being injured has been acknowledged multiple times.

Also you dont luck you way to 60 goals twice. No one ever suggested hes perennially a 60 scorer. And being hurt certainly doesn’t help that.

At the beginning of the season. Bringing him back before healing would be peak stupidity for asset management, especially an asset as valuable as Matthews.

He is healthy. Hitting a ton of posts and getting a ton of looks he can't finish. Just looks rusty

 

[Sypher04]

At the beginning of the season. Bringing him back before healing would be peak stupidity for asset management, especially an asset as valuable as Matthews.

He is healthy. Hitting a ton of posts and getting a ton of looks he can't finish. Just looks rusty

There are several valid reasons as to why he’d play hurt that teams do all the time.

And no, he isn’t. It’s abundantly clear and the last time we got confirmation of his status of being injured was as recently as the 4 nations.

 

[Action Jackson]

There are several valid reasons as to why he’d play hurt that teams do all the time.

And no, he isn’t. It’s abundantly clear and the last time we got confirmation of his status of being injured was as recently as the 4 nations.

During 4 nations he had some "upper body soreness" and it was confirmed it had nothing to do with his previous injury earlier in the year.

It doesn't help the guy is built like Anthony Davis. If he's going to be perpetually playing injured with some mystery ailment that is never confirmed, eventually will need to accept this is his baseline if he is dealing with chronic issues.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

If we get bounced in the first round, the right people to be held accountable are people like Auston Matthews.

I get that he’s not at 100%, it’s not a Hart caliber season, expectations have been dropping steadily, but there are things in his control and his flat energy levels, low emotional investment can also improve.

9th year in the league, a track record that’s basically the no name Minnesota Wild. That’s his track record as much as it is Shanny’s. Shanny has put his faith into this group and this captain. Get going!

The red flags were there when he was drafted. Never a leader at any level. Went to Switzerland for no contact Euro-hockey. Yet here we are 9 years later. No Cups, and not even close to a Cup. We have the most talented group of mercenaries in professional hockey.

And yet some Still Believe™.

Main thing I hate is the lack of emotion and intensity from Matthews. You are wearing the C now bud. He's looked disinterested all season. Maybe Marner told him this is his last year here and Matthews is thinking of asking out

Both of them gone wouldn't hurt my feelings at all. Get sore losers. Players that wanna win at all costs.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

It’s a combination of him being injured and him going through the motions till playoff time.

He probably is wishing he can fast forward to the playoffs.

More benefit of the doubt given without being earned.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

At the beginning of the season. Bringing him back before healing would be peak stupidity for asset management, especially an asset as valuable as Matthews.

He is healthy. Hitting a ton of posts and getting a ton of looks he can't finish. Just looks rusty

No chance he's healthy, he doesn't skate like himself and he definitely doesn't shoot like himself

 

[NVious]

I got bored and decided to compare Matthews playoff stats to everyone in his range, as it stands now Matthews needs 9 more goals in his next 24 games to become the sixth fastest NHL player to hit 400 goals.

Let's compare that to his playoff stats of 55 games played and 23 goals to other all time greats and just good players:

Obvious ones:
Mark Messier (35 in 54, 5 stretches of equal/better than 23 in 55 done by using consecutive playoff seasons)
Wayne Gretzky (42 in 52, 11 stretches)
Jari Kurri (41 in 55, 9 stretches)
Mario Lemieux (40 in 49, 10 stretches)
Kevin Stevens (30 in 45)
Paul Coffey (27 in 52)
Jagr (34 in 50 6 stretches)
Brett Hull (40 in 51, 9 stretches)
Bobby Hull (34 in 50, 6 stretches)
Mike Bossy (51 in 56, 10 stretches)
Phil Esposito (34 in 46, 4 stretches)
Joe Sakic (33 in 51, 6 stretches)
Maurice Richard (31 in 34, 7 stretches)
Jean Beliveau (35 in 51, 5 stretches)
Esa Tikkanen (25 in 40)
Bryan Trottier (23 in 39)
Gordie Howe (29 in 55)
Evgeni Malkin (24 in 46)
Sidney Crosby (24 in 43)
Connor McDavid (26 in 53, 3 stretches)
Leon Draisaitl (30 in 49, 4 stretches)
Nathan MacKinnon (30 in 45, 5 stretches)
Guy Lafleur (32 in 48, 4 stretches)
Bernie Geoffrion (36 in 53, 6 stretches)
Cam Neely (39 in 54, 4 stretches)
Johnny Bucyk (27 in 46)
Pavel Bure (27 in 47, 3 stretches)
Alex Ovechkin (30 in 51, 4 stretches)


Patrick Marleau (25 in 46)
Brad Marchand (28 in 54)
Mats Sundin (equaled)
Rick MacLeish (24 in 34)
Bill Barber (30 in 51)
Joe Nieuwendyk (27 in 52)
Yvan Cournoyer (32 in 49)
Brian Bellows (23 in 47)
Joe Mullen (30 in 54)
Jacques Lemaire (23 in 45)
Brayden Point (28 in 46)
Denis Savard (29 in 48)
Peter Bondra (23 in 45)
Dale Hawerchuk (23 in 52)
Roenick (26 in 44)
Lanny McDonald (23 in 49)
Glenn Anderson (32 in 49)
Joe Pavelski (25 in 48)
Theo Fleury (24 in 37)
Rod Brind'Amour (23 in 51)
Rick Middleton (25 in 52)
Jeff Carter (24 in 54)
Rick Vaive (26 in 48)
Rick Tocchet (25 in 41)
Martin St. Louis (25 in 44)
Jake Guentzel (23 in 37)
Chris Kreider (24 in 43)
Zach Hyman (30 in 53)
Claude Lemieux (26 in 52)
Trevor Linden (equaled)
Kirk Muller (23 in 43)
Dino Ciccarelli (25 in 48)
Peter Forsberg (23 in 49)
Brian Propp (30 in 51)
Steve Yzerman (equaled)
Luc Robitaille (29 in 52)
Henrik Zetterberg (25 in 45)
Daniel Briere (27 in 46)
Stephane Richer (29 in 51)
Brian Leetch (equaled)
Steve Shutt (24 in 43)
Reggie Leach (31 in 43)
Tim Kerr (36 in 54)
Michel Goulet (24 in 51)
Jarome Iginla (27 in 52)
Craig Simpson (31 in 51)
Steve Payne (31 in 47)
Rod Gilbert (equaled)
Ken Hodge (equaled)
Phil Kessel (23 in 46)
Gregg Sheppard (26 in 50)
Brian Gionta (equaled)
Ron Duguay (24 in 54)
Darryl Sittler (equaled)
Bobby Schmautz (23 in 54)
Carter Verhaeghe (24 in 55)
Darryl Sutter (23 in 46)
Eric Lindros (23 in 48)


Some guys that have a better gpg playing more than 30+ playoff games:
Barry Pederson (22 in 34)
Rene Robert (22 in 47)
Mark Scheifele (21 in 42)
Mike Cammalleri (17 in 32)
Steve Christoff (16 in 35)
Mark Johnson (16 in 35)
Fernando Pisani (15 in 30)
R.J. Umberger (14 in 30)

Roughly 102 players total, 94 if you discount the guys who didn't play as many games as him. To say there is a dropoff would be the understatement of the century. There isn't even any excuse because the team has never been bad nor has it had major injuries for many playoff runs, he has always had AT LEAST two other powerplay threats that would make getting open relatively easy considering you can't leave guys like Kadri/Tavares/Nylander and Marner (to a lesser extent) completely open).

 

[notDatsyuk]

He is. It’s not a matter of debate

I think it's more a matter of Leafs fans hoping he is injured, which means he should get better.

 

[arso40]

Get him away from marner play him with Willy and knies

 

[BraveCanadian]

Get him away from marner play him with Willy and knies

To be frank about how bad Matthew$ has been this year, it is more like get Marner away from him.

 

[Metroid]

Had a dream Matthews entered the players assistance program a week before playoffs.

Last time I had a hockey dream it was in November the season of the Kadri draft and had a dream leafs drafted Kadri....

 

[The Shadow]

I’d love to see him drop his gloves just once and show some grit. Hell even Gretzky dropped his gloves once.

Matthews is a loser and he reminds me of when the Sedin twin stood there taking punches in his face and did nothing.

I will never understand how a captain can tell a reporter ‘I guess we expected an easier night’ after a blow out loss to Vegas. He’s not a winner in any way and he’s our captain?