Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Sypher04]

Well, it's his opinion. You saying he is a good leader holds as much weight.

I do think it's telling that almost right after Canada beat the US last month, there was a thread saying he has a very poor record in elimination games.

I'm unsure if that's directly part of leadership, but it's not the most flattering association.

To be clear, I’m not saying he is a good leader. I’m saying none of us are in a position to really be able to assess.

 

[Stephen]

How would you know anything about Tavares' qualities as a captain?

Consistent motivation, energy levels, playing organized, confident and effectively in big moments and empowered, confident role players would be outward signs of leadership for me. Everything we lack, basically. We don’t have leadership.

 

[Stephen]

To be clear, I’m not saying he is a good leader. I’m saying none of us are in a position to really be able to assess.

You can only assess externally by how the group behaves and it doesn’t look like we have any kind of leadership.

The team often looks unprepared to start a game. They go brain dead during a game. Energy levels are up and down. They don’t seem organized. They don’t seem consistently motivated. Role players and depth players don’t feel empowered to grab a situation by the scruff of the neck and be massive contributors (see how buzz worthy Domi’s Florida game was). The quality control of our leadership players is all over the map.

 

[34]

He should’ve been placed on injured reserve at the trade deadline, and the leafs should have tried to pick up some better help other than the garbage that they did add

 

[thewave]

He’s no captain. That’s all that needs to be said.

He really is the worst Captain I have ever seen and previously that title was held by mumbles.

 

[The Shadow]

Great game by him. But still is a good alternate captain but not captain of the Toronto maple leafs. It doesn’t have to be a star player. It has to be someone the team listens to when he talks and leads by example

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Great game by him. But still is a good alternate captain but not captain of the Toronto maple leafs. It doesn’t have to be a star player. It has to be someone the team listens to when he talks and leads by example

Not possible, since he is injured.

 

[IPS]

Still just an incredible thing to wrap your head around the fact that he's battling this horrible injury that's got him playing at 50% of his potential yet he just got completely greenlighted to go play in the 4 nations (which he actually played great in!)

 

[IPS]

He should’ve been placed on injured reserve at the trade deadline, and the leafs should have tried to pick up some better help other than the garbage that they did add

Nope he's not injured enough for that.

It's extremely important that you understand that he's far too injured to be playing anywhere near a $13.5M level yet not injured enough to be LTIR'd for deadline help or to play in a completely optional tournament.

 

[colchar]

Consistent motivation, energy levels, playing organized, confident and effectively in big moments and empowered, confident role players would be outward signs of leadership for me. Everything we lack, basically. We don’t have leadership.

None of that says anything about what Tavares is like as a leader. You can lead a horse to water...............

 

[colchar]

Actually most people here do. Some of the guys here played high level hockey or sports, worked in high level exec enviornment.

Irrelevant. None of that tells anyone anything about what goes on inside the Leafs' room.

Not to mention we have watched great captains like Sundin, Gilmour and others
Not to mention we also watch other teams and their captains

Just because you watch something does not mean you understand what goes on behind closed doors.

Sure we are outside looking in, but it doesn't take much to figure out who gives a damn about their team and who doesn't.

You don't have the slightest idea who does or does not care about anything.

 

[colchar]

Well, it's his opinion.

By the very definition of the term, opinions are worthless.

 

[leafsfan5]

Since January 1st Matthews is 5th in points per game and tied for 11th in assists. Given his injury, it seems like he has decided to become an elite playmaker instead

It worked last night, but we might have to re-work the lines in the future and move off of playing Matthews/Marner together. They're both playing like top 10 passers in the league so the finishing on the line isn't what it once was

Matthews - Nylander could be really interesting

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Irrelevant. None of that tells anyone anything about what goes on inside the Leafs' room.




Just because you watch something does not mean you understand what goes on behind closed doors.





You don't have the slightest idea who does or does not care about anything.

We know the important part. Which is what happens on the ice. Some of us don't want to troll and pretend we don't see it.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

This team going from above average to elite hinges primarily on Matthews scoring.
This time last year he had 29 more goals than he has this year, that would put us first in league in scoring, up our goal different, and probably put us points wise in Washington/Winnipeg territory.

 

[34]

Toronto needs the 3 TIME Rocket winner and 69 goal scorer back NOW.

 

[The Shadow]

If these were regular jerseys/set up they’d be some of the nicest in the league. They are perfect

 

[MK78]

That was one game where he looked a lot better. Lets see if he can keep it up.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Since January 1st Matthews is 5th in points per game and tied for 11th in assists. Given his injury, it seems like he has decided to become an elite playmaker instead

It worked last night, but we might have to re-work the lines in the future and move off of playing Matthews/Marner together. They're both playing like top 10 passers in the league so the finishing on the line isn't what it once was

Matthews - Nylander could be really interesting

problem with Matthews-Nylander is and always has been nylander becomes a playmaker when he and matthews play together.

In a vaccum, JT-Marner and Matthews-Nylander should be amazing, ~40G C with top 3 playmaking winger and a high end playmaking C with a 45G winger. Gives us a playdriving playmaker and good goalscorer down the middle which really changes the complexion of how teams will have to play either line.

In reality, Nylander defers way too much to matthews and it just ends up not working, the line could work if A) Matthews is the one looking for Nylander and B) Nylander is fine looking off Matthews if he has a better chance.

I'd still be interested in the team trying though..