Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[TMLBlueandWhite]

They should shop him while his value is still high and he has term left. If this is the new norm, his value will drop and they won't be resigning him when his contract runs out.

Trade Matthews for the right package, dump Rielly and then sign Marner and we might be able to keep the window open longer. Marner does not walk for nothing and you do not run them back.

Too bold a move for this franchise, unfortunately.

Take a downgrade at 1C to a Hischier or Larkin level player while adding a stud 1RHD like Hamilton or Seider in the process and that would be a better balanced team if you ask me.

 

[Jojalu]

Driasaitl is nowhere remotely close to as good defensively as either Matthews or Marner.

This is true.

But it doesn't change that Drai has improved greatly in the past couple of years.

He also has a higher PPG since 2018 with McDavid out of the lineup then he does when McDavid is in.

Turned out to be a pretgy good player.

 

[Sypher04]

This is true.

But it doesn't change that Drai has improved greatly in the past couple of years.

He also has a higher PPG since 2018 with McDavid out of the lineup then he does when McDavid is in.

Turned out to be a pretgy good player.

No argument there.

 

[Stephen]

I have no problem with his effort, he’s been really good tactically. Just need a little more moxy finishing and drive to the net.

What I want to see from a benchmark POV is Matthews comes on the ice and there’s a bit of an “oh shit” realization from Ottawa and any opponent. That is their defensive coverage turns into a double coverage fire drill, and you can see AM34 tilting the ice for the Leafs. And he’s just undeniable, putting shots on net, scoring and setting up. Maybe that’s not fair. He doesn’t seem to have that gear anymore.

 

[fahad203]

What I want to see from a benchmark POV is Matthews comes on the ice and there’s a bit of an “oh shit” realization from Ottawa and any opponent. That is their defensive coverage turns into a double coverage fire drill, and you can see AM34 tilting the ice for the Leafs. And he’s just undeniable, putting shots on net, scoring and setting up. Maybe that’s not fair. He doesn’t seem to have that gear anymore.

Remind me when he had that gear in playoffs

That's all people are really asking for. That extra jump, where he's the danger, the threat

 

[Stephen]

Remind me when he had that gear in playoffs

That's all people are really asking for. That extra jump, where he's the danger, the threat

He used to have this in the regular season but this year it’s mostly gone. And he’s had that in the playoffs a handful of times in 9 years. Like literally you can count with 2 hands all the times he’s looked like a playoff superstar, but you wouldn’t need all your fingers.

And by take control of the game I don’t mean he goes into high traffic area beyond all good judgment but it’s Brady Tkachuk or Matthew Knies doing the heavy lift in front of the net and he gets an assist.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Man’s gotta use his size to deliver some big devastating hits on Pinto.

He should be absolutely BULLYING Pinto on a nightly basis.

 

[DarkKnight]

What I want to see from a benchmark POV is Matthews comes on the ice and there’s a bit of an “oh shit” realization from Ottawa and any opponent. That is their defensive coverage turns into a double coverage fire drill, and you can see AM34 tilting the ice for the Leafs. And he’s just undeniable, putting shots on net, scoring and setting up. Maybe that’s not fair. He doesn’t seem to have that gear anymore.

I guess him missing practice today might be somewhat instructive as well.

 

[Stephen]

I guess him missing practice today might be somewhat instructive as well.

There’s always something wrong with him. Full body replacement in the offseason…

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Stephen is putting it well. He doesn't look like a recent Hart trophy winner, he looks like a good #1C and its way below his potential. Even last year vs Boston he won a game that series on his own or it certainly felt like it

 

[Stephen]

Stephen is putting it well. He doesn't look like a recent Hart trophy winner, he looks like a good #1C and its way below his potential. Even last year vs Boston he won a game that series on his own or it certainly felt like it

We’ll all know it when we see it, what it’s supposed to look like. Tomorrow night will be a perfect time to show it off.

 

[horner]

There’s always something wrong with him. Full body replacement in the offseason…

Head replacement

 

[sunstersun]

As I said in the other thread.

4 years might turn out to be a blessing for the Leafs.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

As I said in the other thread.

4 years might turn out to be a blessing for the Leafs.

Auston may regret being such a greedy pig.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I am getting sick of him being treated like a primadonna, he wasn't even available to the media on Saturday after the game. How is it that the captain is not available? And the secrecy around his ailment. I am sick of it. Never seen anything like it.

 

[fahad203]

Score 4 goals tonight and I'll forgive everything

Reality is, Matthews, Marner and company constantly gets opportunity to establish themselves as legends. Here's another opportunity to become something.

I just can't wait every year for him to break out and doesn't. Every year it's something
It was because he's too young, covid, injury, hot goalie


At some point, you gotta find a way to score. Gotta find a way to breakthrough

Let's go Auston, still cheering for ya. Make me eat my crow, make me look stupid

 

[Stephen]

I am getting sick of him being treated like a primadonna, he wasn't even available to the media on Saturday after the game. How is it that the captain is not available? And the secrecy around his ailment. I am sick of it. Never seen anything like it.

As captain I think he’s gotta stand in there thick and thin and just be a calm voice of leadership. Missing in action after a high profile OT miss isn’t really the way to do it.

 

[The Shadow]

It’s time for Matthews to claim his crown and be the legend he was born to be

 

[Stephen]

It’s time for Matthews to claim his crown and be the legend he was born to be

Yes it is! Any day now. Whenever you’re ready. You have the floor. Please proceed.

 

[authentic]

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.

To be fair he’s been better than Barkov in the playoffs, but I agree with your overall point.

 

[authentic]

Remind me when he had that gear in playoffs

That's all people are really asking for. That extra jump, where he's the danger, the threat

I think people have forgotten his actual play and just fell back on lazy narratives from all the frustration of not advancing in the playoffs. He was lights out against Tampa as a two-way player (more points than any Tampa player in each series), he scored 5 goals in 7 games against Boston often matched against Bergeron, had 4 goals in 6 games against Holtby and the presidents trophy winning Capitals as a rookie. He wasn’t merely doing this by floating around and capitalizing on his chances either. The player people have painted Matthews as “every time the playoffs roll around” has become a myth.

 

[authentic]

Auston may regret being such a greedy pig.

 

[1specter]

I am getting sick of him being treated like a primadonna, he wasn't even available to the media on Saturday after the game. How is it that the captain is not available? And the secrecy around his ailment. I am sick of it. Never seen anything like it.

Honestly JT is still the captain in my mind lol. He's been playing like it too.

 

[Stephen]

I think people have forgotten his actual play and just fell back on lazy narratives from all the frustration of not advancing in the playoffs. He was lights out against Tampa as a two-way player (more points than any Tampa player in each series), he scored 5 goals in 7 games against Boston often matched against Bergeron, had 4 goals in 6 games against Holtby and the presidents trophy winning Capitals as a rookie. He wasn’t merely doing this by floating around and capitalizing on his chances either. The player people have painted Matthews as “every time the playoffs roll around” has become a myth.

He wasn’t that lights out in that Tampa series in 2023. Had a slow start to the first 3 games and I think exploded in the second half of Game 3 on the road in a comeback win and was great in Game 6. But the compare and contrast is what McDrai are doing in Edmonton on a nightly basis. This week of playoff hockey for Draisaitl and McDavid would be like the best week of playoffs Matthews has ever had in his whole career.

 

[Stephen]

Honestly JT is still the captain in my mind lol. He's been playing like it too.

Well JT seems to be playing more free these days and just sticking with it, finding greasy ways to score goals in right. That’s kind of what you want right.