Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[saffronleaf]

Solid start to the playoffs

 

[Antropovsky]

He’s been doing this for years now, tons of takeaways, few giveaways, even hits lots in the playoffs and has the reputation of a soft player who doesn’t care.

100% I've been saying it all year as well. Matthews doesn't get alot of heat by fans and media for playoffs like certain other because he really is incredible defensively, he's physical, he's winning faceoffs, he's in the corners and he's around the net. There's is a reason why he won the Ted Lindsay (voted by players) a couple years ago and last year was in the top 3, despite not being in the top 3 for Hart. Other players know how good he is.

 

[leafs in five]

he is a beast, always has been

 

[meefer]

Time for another 4 goal game in Ottawa.

 

[Sypher04]

100% I've been saying it all year as well. Matthews doesn't get alot of heat by fans and media for playoffs like certain other because he really is incredible defensively, he's physical, he's winning faceoffs, he's in the corners and he's around the net. There's is a reason why he won the Ted Lindsay (voted by players) a couple years ago and last year was in the top 3, despite not being in the top 3 for Hart. Other players know how good he is.

He’s actually been top 3 for Ted Lindsay 3 times.

 

[ToneDog]

Our $13.25m Danault playing the shutdown role with $11m Marner 5 on 5. Luckily, Ullmark has been a sieve. Even so, Matthews and Marner with 1 goal between them while Danault has two.

 

[Tak7]

Our $13.25m Danault playing the shutdown role with $11m Marner 5 on 5. Luckily, Ullmark has been a sieve. Even so, Matthews and Marner with 1 goal between them while Danault has two.

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In Matthews/Marner's defense, they're actually playing against a professional hockey team.

These numbers are completely different if they're going up against Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, and wet napkin Skinner too.

 

[kevsh]

I have no issues with his game so far this series, he's looked good overall. No concern either that after only 2 games he hasn't put one in himself.

I think this team can get by Ottawa without Matthews scoring a bunch (that's an easy prediction, they're already up 2-0 without him potting one) but if/when they get to round two he's going to have to be scoring regularly - especially in the 2nd half of the series where he & Marner usually disappear offensively - or else it'll be another long Summer in Toronto Land.

 

[tuckerintensity]

Our $13.25m Danault playing the shutdown role with $11m Marner 5 on 5. Luckily, Ullmark has been a sieve. Even so, Matthews and Marner with 1 goal between them while Danault has two.

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I love a good cherry picked stat. Show the full graphic and check out who else is on 3 points... Ovechkin, Draisaitl, (Matthew) Tkachuk. Both only a single point behind Nathan MacKinnon's who is down 2-1 in his series right now.

But ya, we should trade Matthews for Danault.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

In Matthews/Marner's defense, they're actually playing against a professional hockey team.

These numbers are completely different if they're going up against Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, and wet napkin Skinner too.

I think people really sleep on how weak the Oilers are defensively with Ekholm out

 

[ToneDog]

I love a good cherry picked stat. Show the full graphic and check out who else is on 3 points... Ovechkin, Draisaitl, (Matthew) Tkachuk. Both only a single point behind Nathan MacKinnon's who is down 2-1 in his series right now.

But ya, we should trade Matthews for Danault.

I'd trade Matthews but not for a shutdown guy I can pay a fraction of the money for.

 

[ToneDog]

In Matthews/Marner's defense, they're actually playing against a professional hockey team.

These numbers are completely different if they're going up against Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, and wet napkin Skinner too.

Sens also suck defensively and the Kings have the two of the best players in the world to shutdown. We have to use our unicorn goal scorer and super elite, expected selke winner to shutdown who?

 

[Antropovsky]

He’s actually been top 3 for Ted Lindsay 3 times.

Players are well aware just how incredible Matthews is. That's why it's a joke how much heat Matthews has taken in previous Matthews threads.

 

[1specter]

He is playing unselfish right now and is focused on doing all the ancillary things to win, which I can appreciate. That being said, if they have any serious desire to go deep, he will have to lead the way and actually earn his $13M by taking over a series like MacK, McDrai, Kucherov, etc have done. He is not getting paid 13M to be diet Barkov.

 

[1specter]

Sens also suck defensively and the Kings have the two of the best players in the world to shutdown. We have to use our unicorn goal scorer and super elite, expected selke winner to shutdown who?

Can only play who is in front of you and he is making Stutzle his bitch.

 

[ToneDog]

Can only play who is in front of you and he is making Stutzle his bitch.

Won't beat the winner of Tampa/Florida if Matthews and Marner are cancelled out. I get wanting to shutdown the opposition but other than Willie, nobody on our bottom 3 lines is going do scare anybody or do much damage offensively. Will be interesting to see what Berube does in round #2.

 

[29Potvin]

Won't beat the winner of Tampa/Florida if Matthews and Marner are cancelled out. I get wanting to shutdown the opposition but other than Willie, nobody on our bottom 3 lines is going do scare anybody or do much damage offensively. Will be interesting to see what Berube does in round #2.

The Leafs have managed the all the players TOI and the will be key for them playing Tampa/Florida.
Tampa isn't scary but the Panthers are the only team in the playoffs that I would bot bet against in any series including the finals.
They managed the health of the team down the stretch and that was needed considering how many games they have played the last two seasons.

 

[Tak7]

Sens also suck defensively and the Kings have the two of the best players in the world to shutdown. We have to use our unicorn goal scorer and super elite, expected selke winner to shutdown who?

Ottawa's top offensive producers.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Our $13.25m Danault playing the shutdown role with $11m Marner 5 on 5. Luckily, Ullmark has been a sieve. Even so, Matthews and Marner with 1 goal between them while Danault has two.

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Matthews is playing great. Matthews two-way play is a big reason we are a) division champs and b) up 2-0 in this series.

I honestly don't think people really watch him out there just hone in on the stats and then say something about how they don't feel it is good enough for 13 million or whatever the hell that means. Centre responsibilities under Berube clearly aren't about just goals. Fans like goals, so they only really look at goals.

 

[Tak7]

Matthews is playing great. Matthews two-way play is a big reason we are a) division champs and b) up 2-0 in this series.

I honestly don't think people really watch him out there just hone in on the stats and then say something about how they don't feel it is good enough for 13 million or whatever the hell that means. Centre responsibilities under Berube clearly aren't about just goals. Fans like goals, so they only really look at goals.

The Leafs centers under Berube have also seen the biggest adjustment to their game under Berube's system.

 

[HellasLEAF]

He is playing unselfish right now and is focused on doing all the ancillary things to win, which I can appreciate. That being said, if they have any serious desire to go deep, he will have to lead the way and actually earn his $13M by taking over a series like MacK, McDrai, Kucherov, etc have done. He is not getting paid 13M to be diet Barkov.

He has 3 assists in the 2 games he has played. 9 shots, 57.9 FO%, 6 blocks, 6 hits. And more importantly, captain of 2 wins. I'm sure the NHL's top goal per game player (all time) will find the back of the net for you and "justify" his 13 million for you.

 

[1specter]

He has 3 assists in the 2 games he has played. 9 shots, 57.9 FO%, 6 blocks, 6 hits. And more importantly, captain of 2 wins. I'm sure the NHL's top goal per game player (all time) will find the back of the net for you and "justify" his 13 million for you.

A very strange reply and overly sensitive. I am not complaining about how he's played so far and have been overall satisfied as the team is spreading the wealth at the moment, and he's not killing himself trying to beat Ottawa. My point was just that he'll need to pick it up more against teams like Florida/Tampa or other serious contenders. His goals previously dried up against good teams, this is not an unreasonable take.

Yeesh, some of you guys act like any sort of critique is insulting your Messiah. It's not a crime to set the bar high especially with multiple playoff failures now.

 

[ahmedou]