Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[wingman75]

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

There were... a lot of plays... where I was commenting to my TV how garbage he was.

The biggest were the missed shot on the two on one, the lost faceoff on the first goal and the soft turnover on the shorty.

Inexcuasble for a player of his calibre. Two of those three stink of lack of effort or bearing down.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

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

Morgan Rielly has twice as many goals.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Matthews biggest effort tonight was him snappping his stick on the bench. He is toxic to watch.

 

[Aashir]

Matthews biggest effort tonight was him snappping his stick on the bench. He is toxic to watch.

I wonder if he got a splinter from that act? Maybe he can sit out game 6

Or maybe he tweaked something whilst uselessly snapping the stick, in which case he can sit out game 6

I don’t think he’s making a difference by playing it not, he might be a negative impact for us

 

[wingman75]

Matthews biggest effort tonight was him snappping his stick on the bench. He is toxic to watch.

When did he do that? At the end of the game? Or after the soft fluffy turnover on the PP? I didn't see it. Probably could see through all my hate lol

 

[Stephen]

I wonder if he got a splinter from that act? Maybe he can sit out game 6

Or maybe he tweaked something whilst uselessly snapping the stick, in which case he can sit out game 6

I don’t think he’s making a difference by playing it not, he might be a negative impact for us

Leafs didn’t miss a beat last year when Matthews was hurt in the Boston series. When he plays his bozo hockey he’s effing useless.

 

[GlitchMarner]

You have to wonder how much Matthews really loves hockey.

I mean, he grew up playing the sport in a non-traditional market. Wasn't he a baseball player as well? He seems like a guy who is a natural athlete and naturally talented but soft (physically and mentally). I'm sure he likes hockey more than a guy like Daigle, but it seems he doesn't have a burning desire to win or to be the best he can be.

Not saying he likes losing, but how much does he hate it?

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Morgan Rielly has twice as many goals.

Evander Kane missed all season with a real injury and has twice as many goals.

 

[M21]

It’s obvious the problem with the core 4 is Matthews. He never shows up when it matters. And his lack of production affects all around him. Convince him to waive his no trade, reluctantly let Tavares go because of age, resign Knies to reasonable contract. Buy out Domi and let Marner leave this dumpster fire and use the cap money to Florida Panther this team. The Shanaplan needs to be put to rest.

 

[Leafshater67]

It’s obvious the problem with the core 4 is Matthews. He never shows up when it matters. And his lack of production affects all around him. Convince him to waive his no trade, reluctantly let Tavares go because of age, resign Knies to reasonable contract. Buy out Domi and let Marner leave this dumpster fire and use the cap money to Florida Panther this team. The Shanaplan needs to be put to rest.

Domi is a fine third liner and if JT can be had for 5-6m, I’d keep him too. But I do agree with you.

People rag on Marner and yeah, I do too but he’s still an elite defensive winger when he’s not scoring. All Matthews does when he’s not scoring is skate around making pouty faces. It’s ridiculous.

Also, why is Holmberg on line 2? He doesn’t have a point in the series and is an offensive black hole.

 

[DarkKnight]

His facial expressions last night, this guy just isn't a leader of men. He's a gifted athlete, but he isn't a Captain. I know why Tre gave him the C, because he wanted to see him step up, to me it was almost an acknowledgment that he needed more, not a promotion.

Stop sighing and eye rolling. The boys are watching you Captain, make it happen.

 

[mapleleaf979]

-4 tonight. Arrogance and detachment post game. Matthews isnt worth 10 million with that type of gutless effort, wears the C and doesnt care about winning.

 

[Mentat]

13,25M AAV and our Captain.
After all these years, he´s still MIA when it matters the most.
Wish i was shocked by this.

 

[leafs in five]

I don't hate or judge him as harshly as most but I was stung by my own reaction to seeing him with the puck on that 2-on-1 early, when I realized that I didn't expect him to score or even hit the net. and then he's on the tablet looking to see where the shot went, like he doesn't even know where he's trying to shoot it anymore

 

[centipede2233]

Toronto needs to not pay players high caphits, not worth it. Let both marner and matthews walk once there contracts are done. Columbus didn’t have matthews and marner, they won in 2020. Montreal didn’t have matthews and marner, Montreal won. You don’t need matthews and marner as they will never bring you a cup with wanting every dollar. But MLSE continues to employ morons like shanahan who in turn employed a moron like dubas to ruin everything with his start of we can and we will to a skill skill skill. Holy hell

 

[ruaware41]

Honestly this experiment has failed and I wish we could trade this guy. Great player but never achieved his potential largely because of lingering injuries and probably why he falls back when the games get tight as some kinda subconscious self preservation.

It doesn't seem like the Leafs or Matthews are interested in taking time off to really fix his lingering seemingly perpetual injuries so he will likely get worse and harder to trade. He's also no better than a defensively sound 3rd liner in the playoffs if you put him with average wingers. That's not $13 million, that's David Kampf.

Have you noticed that? Even in the regular season he always has one of Marner or Nylander stapled to his wings. When has Matthews ever looked good in the regular season without having one of these two elite playmakers by his side? Nylander has looked good playing with nobodies. Marner can at least play with Tavares. The Leafs need to get rid of him before the secret is out. He's still a decent player but nowhere near a MacKinnon or McDavid who elevate the play of others. If Marner leaves this season Matthews offensive production will be exposed when Nylander is not on his wing

 

[TMLAM34]

Honestly this experiment has failed and I wish we could trade this guy. Great player but never achieved his potential largely because of lingering injuries and probably why he falls back when the games get tight as some kinda subconscious self preservation.

It doesn't seem like the Leafs or Matthews are interested in taking time off to really fix his lingering seemingly perpetual injuries so he will likely get worse and harder to trade. He's also no better than a defensively sound 3rd liner in the playoffs if you put him with average wingers. That's not $13 million, that's David Kampf.

Have you noticed that? Even in the regular season he always has one of Marner or Nylander stapled to his wings. When has Matthews ever looked good in the regular season without having one of these two elite playmakers by his side? Nylander has looked good playing with nobodies. Marner can at least play with Tavares. The Leafs need to get rid of him before the secret is out. He's still a decent player but nowhere near a MacKinnon or McDavid who elevate the play of others. If Marner leaves this season Matthews offensive production will be exposed when Nylander is not on his wing

I’m not defending Matthews right now but he did play some of his best hockey playing with Bertuzzi and Domi.

I’m not sure why every coach, aside of Babcock, has Matthews and Marner glued to each others hip even when their play together is terrible. SPLIT THEM UP.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Can’t score, can’t lead and decides to turn the puck over for a shorty.

This “captain” is killing us and is an alpha omega giga teraLOSER

 

[MSZ]

Send him to Germany please. The Leafs won a couple of playoff games without him last year, it can be done this year too if they really want to. Not going to happen though.

 

[Nineteen67]

Coco just said on First Up that maybe AM doesn’t have the clutch gene. He’s just noticing that now.

 

[thusk]

I think everytime Matthews touched the puck in PP resulting in a forced play unstead of just moving with the puck and make move the d boxes anf shoot it when a real shooting lane or passing lane is open...

Just working, still skating and attack the net unstead of waiting something happen and forcing play

And honestly if Matthews still playing with probably the worst level of intensity he could bring again next game, Berube would maybe had no choice to sit him and play player who really want to win... It was not just lack of production, with was a lack of work and i don't know how it could still be possible.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

This southwest US dude is a perennial loser and choke artist who can't handle da pressure of TO .. 8 years of this garbage effort when everybody else cares but him needs to come to an end .. lets get 4 great pieces form him and move on .. he never was captain material .. he is not fast enough to play playoff hockey .. he has no warrior mentality .. and he can't even use his size to help us out physically at least .. bottom line he just can't do it when it counts .. even if Stolly wins us game 6 and we move on it will just continue to occur in next series .. it is time to move on folks

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

He needs to make a clutch play. What are we doing here if this is the best he can do?

 

[Larcos_Unal]

I'm so terribly disappointed in Auston, wow man. Since the first chance he got, he's milked this team for every penny, never signing long term in order to get back to the table as soon as possible. Every other star in the league signed for the max 8 year extension. We've conceded to his every whim, even gave him the C when by the eye test he is not a leader.

His performance in the 4 Nations was not a fluke, it's what we see every spring...it's now his legacy. As I've said before, I'll be happy to eat crow when he shows up and delivers a signature, series defining moment. Almost a decade in and he's never delivered. What a letdown.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I'm so terribly disappointed in Auston, wow man. Since the first chance he got, he's milked this team for every penny, never signing long term in order to get back to the table as soon as possible. Every other star in the league signed for the max 8 year extension. We've conceded to his every whim, even gave him the C when by the eye test he is not a leader.

His performance in the 4 Nations was not a fluke, it's what we see every spring...it's now his legacy. As I've said before, I'll be happy to eat crow when he shows up and delivers a signature, series defining moment. Almost a decade in and he's never delivered. What a letdown.

The fact he wouldn't commit to 8 years might turn into a blessing for the team. I mean it will still work out good for him money wise...which seemingly is the most important thing for all of them but still lol