Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Stephen]

I think he blew his wrist up ripping too many pucks top titty. That amount of torque over the years takes its toll.

It's not like he was ever effective in the post-season when he was younger and healthier and at his peak goal scoring. In fact last year was probably his most disappointing playoffs complete with total disappearing act in the third period of Game 4, all of Game 5 and 6.

 

[BertCorbeau]

It's not like he was ever effective in the post-season when he was younger and healthier and at his peak goal scoring. In fact last year was probably his most disappointing playoffs complete with total disappearing act in the third period of Game 4, all of Game 5 and 6.

He has 2 goals in his last 10 playoff games

 

[leafsfan5]

yeah we're never winning a thing with this guy as captain

Even if they win versus Ottawa, Barkov is gonna dog walk him in 4 games

 

[Stephen]

He has 2 goals in his last 10 playoff games

He's probably incapable of receiving hard coaching and that's why the organization treats him like the CEO but man it rubs me the wrong way that he's the only guy who got a day off yesterday and proceeded to take tonight off too. Like this organization has to find new ways to give him privileges and no one calls him on out on his quality control?

 

[BertCorbeau]

He's probably incapable of receiving hard coaching and that's why the organization treats him like the CEO but man it rubs me the wrong way that he's the only guy who got a day off yesterday and proceeded to take tonight off too. Like this organization has to find new ways to give him privileges and no one calls him on out on his quality control?

If he wants days off you tell him to clinch the series tonight so that you can get some extra days ahead of round 2

 

[kevsh]

He has 2 goals in his last 10 playoff games

It's worse than that, 2 in his last 15 - Remember, he didn't score in round 2 vs. the Panthers after scoring in game 7 vs. the Bolts (yes, he really did score in a game 7)

 

[ashs]

Injury or not glad u signed a short term deal. Get your max money somewhere else. Go choke for them.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Flubbed a 2 on 1, screened the goalie shortly after on the first goal, hit the post on a sitter from 8 feet out, threw a pizza up the ice on the first EN goal, probably more I'm missing; just an all round hideous night.

 

[Stephen]

If he wants days off you tell him to clinch the series tonight so that you can get some extra days ahead of round 2

Love it.

Plus how does the captain get the day off but no one else gets the option. What kind of culture is that?

 

[ACC1224]

Pretty disappointing. They need the goal scorers to be the goal scorers

 

[Stephen]

Flubbed a 2 on 1, screened the goalie shortly after on the first goal, hit the post on a sitter from 8 feet out, threw a pizza up the ice on the first EN goal, probably more I'm missing; just an all round hideous night.

Yeah and getting flowers for being Phil Danault against Tim Stutzle. Like congrats, you failed at even the low value grunt work.

 

[Moonman]

And one of the goals the goalie had no idea where the puck was (Ullmark the other night). Easy goal.

The other goal I don't remember...

 

[wingman75]

Pretty disappointing. They need the goal scorers to be the goal scorers

I was really disappointed with him tonight.
Did have a couple opportunities to score, missed the net.
Had a couple other opportunities to pick up the puck to generate a chance to score, fumbled with it.
Made a really soft telepathed pass for the SHG against.
And did basically nothing outside that. Very much to the outside.
If he is not going to be a difference make at this time of the season, not sure what the point of having him is.

 

[alliuk12]

The guy is the opposite of a captain and leader. The fact that this city and team has given him everything on a platter and received nothing in return, not even commitment, is embarrassing.

i have always said it this team always plays better without him in the line up get rid of him he's not the player you build a team around

 

[BraveCanadian]

Yeah I think where you watch Knies, you’re just reminded how little heart and courage Matthews has. I’d build around Knies and forget the rest.

Knies and Tavares are the only guys in the top 6 that hustle and battle on the boards and go to the net.

I'm not expecting the finesse guys to suddenly become Wendel Clark but you gotta be willing to pay the price to make the plays.. and our top guys just peel away again and again. A guy of Matthews size has to be willing to at least use his body to keep possession and make plays.. but they just peel away.

 

[saffronleaf]

Phaneuf was a better captain.

 

[saffronleaf]

He's basically a glorified version of Kampf now.

He's the very definition of a loser.

In game 7 fans should boo him every time he touches the puck. Fortunately for him he rarely even touches the puck these days.

Such an ugly player in every respect. Heartless. Soulless. A ghoul

 

[Stephen]

Knies and Tavares are the only guys in the top 6 that hustle and battle on the boards and go to the net.

I'm not expecting the finesse guys to suddenly become Wendel Clark but you gotta be willing to pay the price to make the plays.. and our top guys just peel away again and again. A guy of Matthews size has to be willing to at least use his body to keep possession and make plays.. but they just peel away.

On the first shift of this game, Matthews had a guy on the wall at center ice with the puck. He skated down hard towards him and instead of just finishing the hit, he tried to fish, poke check from the attack side, which gave the other guy an exit up towards the Leads end.

I knew his night was not going to go well from that moment onwards. He didn’t commit to closing the body. Didn’t pay the price to initiate an honest puck battle. Went for the lazy stick play and put himself in a weak defensive position.

When he plays a dishonest game, you can see it will not lead to success.

 

[wingman75]

Knies and Tavares are the only guys in the top 6 that hustle and battle on the boards and go to the net.

I'm not expecting the finesse guys to suddenly become Wendel Clark but you gotta be willing to pay the price to make the plays.. and our top guys just peel away again and again. A guy of Matthews size has to be willing to at least use his body to keep possession and make plays.. but they just peel away.

True. Tavares wasn't overy effective tonight, but he was engaged and doing what he could. He showed some great speed on that pseudo breakaway...

Knies is also limited on what he can do alone at this stage of his career.

I felt the coach made a bad read there when he swapped Knies and Nylander for a later period (or post PP) shift. Knies was doing more positively than any of the others. Maybe it was to get him with Tavares.

I was infuriated with Matthews play tonight... hated his game.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

It's worse than that, 2 in his last 15 - Remember, he didn't score in round 2 vs. the Panthers after scoring in game 7 vs. the Bolts (yes, he really did score in a game 7)

That was game 6, not 7. He has never scored in a game 7.

 

[Mr_Fun]

True. Tavares wasn't overy effective tonight, but he was engaged and doing what he could. He showed some great speed on that pseudo breakaway...

Knies is also limited on what he can do alone at this stage of his career.

I felt the coach made a bad read there when he swapped Knies and Nylander for a later period (or post PP) shift. Knies was doing more positively than any of the others. Maybe it was to get him with Tavares.

I was infuriated with Matthews play tonight... hated his game.

I honestly don't remember a worse game by him.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

Yeah and getting flowers for being Phil Danault against Tim Stutzle. Like congrats, you failed at even the low value grunt work.

Tim Stutzle also has more goals than him in this series. Lmao

 

[kevsh]

That was game 6, not 7. He has never scored in a game 7.

That's right, thanks for correcting.

It was at least a series clinching game, so he deserves a tiny bit of credit for that. But since then, he's a ghost.

 

[Stephen]

Tim Stutzle also has more goals than him in this series. Lmao

He’s tied with Ridly Greig in goal scoring. The guy’s an abject failure.

 

[BraveCanadian]

True. Tavares wasn't overy effective tonight, but he was engaged and doing what he could. He showed some great speed on that pseudo breakaway...

Knies is also limited on what he can do alone at this stage of his career.

I felt the coach made a bad read there when he swapped Knies and Nylander for a later period (or post PP) shift. Knies was doing more positively than any of the others. Maybe it was to get him with Tavares.

I was infuriated with Matthews play tonight... hated his game.

Despite a couple of nice assists, for the most part Nylander hasn't even checked in for the series. Guy is floating out there constantly and replacing Knies with him really is a head scratcher. Matthews is the same.. he's been good defensively and also has a couple of nice assists but absolutely 0 ambition. The guy is like a black hole that sucks intensity out of the whole team.

Then again this is the same coach who is sitting Robertson while the team can't score but playing the ghost of Patches.. and Domi who has been useless lately except at giving the other team powerplays and glorious chances by getting walked defensively.