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Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

Jojalu said:
Winning faceoffs, blocking shots, breaking up plays in the defensive zones are all high compete level things to do. Getting open for shots is a high compete level. The only thing he is not doing is converting. How that turns into a compete level thing is beyond me
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Those are low hanging fruit tasks required of any centerman in the NHL. Take a look at the level of impact of Auston Matthews beside Matthew Knies and I’ll let you come up with a reason why one plays with force and the other is more passive.
 
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Jojalu said:
Winning faceoffs, blocking shots, breaking up plays in the defensive zones are all high compete level things to do. Getting open for shots is a high compete level. The only thing he is not doing is converting. How that turns into a compete level thing is beyond me
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We talking about Kerfoot or Hart/Rocket winner.
 
Jojalu said:
Winning faceoffs, blocking shots, breaking up plays in the defensive zones are all high compete level things to do. Getting open for shots is a high compete level. The only thing he is not doing is converting. How that turns into a compete level thing is beyond me
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The problem with Matthews is that a big portion of his salary is related to offense and goal scoring.

You can find many players in the NHL that can back-check and win FO and block shots to fill those roles on a team without needing to pay $13.25 mil.

Its wonderful that Matthews is playing a 2-way game as the best players do but a players salary is based off their offensive stats for most part.

Matthews has produced 3 goals in his last 17 playoff games over 3 playoff seasons. Youngster Matty Knies has scored 4 goals this playoff year alone and some have been game breakers.
 
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sunstersun said:
:eek3: o_O :eek3:
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Here is evidence to support that. This is the goal production of the 2nd highest paid player in the game.

1746555444333.png

&
1746555531362.png

&

1746555606946.png


Any Leaf fan that is not disappointed not be the effort but the output has to be in denial. :)
 
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Mess said:
The problem with Matthews is that a big portion of his salary is related to offense and goal scoring.

You can find many players in the NHL that can back-check and win FO and block shots to fill those roles on a team without needing to pay $13.25 mil.

Its wonderful that Matthews is playing a 2-way game as the best players do but a players salary is based off their offensive stats for most part.

Matthews has produced 3 goals in his last 17 playoff games over 3 playoff seasons. Youngster Matty Knies has scored 4 goals this playoff year alone and some have been game breakers.
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Morgan Rielly has as many goals in the past 15 days as AM34’s record going back to the end of the Tampa series in 2023. He’s a pea shooter defenseman this author has been pretty unhappy with too.

William Nylander has scored more goals in the past 2 games compared to Matthews going back to 2023.
 
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Here are the 4 highest paid players in the game.

Draisiatl ..............@ $14 mil AAV
Matthews ..........@ $13.25 mil
MacKinnon .......@ $12.6 mil
McDavid ............@ $12.5 mil

Here are the top goal scores and point scorers in the NHL the past 5 years.

1746557583896.png


One of these things in not like the others when compared to the highest paid players in the game today.

PS. Zach Hyman making $5 mil AAV since leaving the Matthews -- Marner line in TO has scored +20 more goals 19 more points than Matthews.
 
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Stephen said:
Those are low hanging fruit tasks required of any centerman in the NHL. Take a look at the level of impact of Auston Matthews beside Matthew Knies and I’ll let you come up with a reason why one plays with force and the other is more passive.
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I would never argue that Matthews plays with more of an edge than Knies.

But they are different players. Knies doesn't have the same responsibilities as Matthews.

I too have always thought he would benefit from using his size more, but the fact is he got to the NHL, found success in the NHL without ever doing it. Knies who doesn't have the same skill set had to play the way he does to have success.

Taking the outlier like Crosby and saying another player doesn't play like him doesn't mean Matthews doesn't compete. He just will never be considered the greatest.
 
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Stephen said:
Morgan Rielly has as many goals in the past 15 days as AM34’s record going back to the end of the Tampa series in 2023. He’s a pea shooter defenseman this author has been pretty unhappy with too.

William Nylander has scored more goals in the past 2 games compared to Matthews going back to 2023.
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Mo Riells with 14 goals also has more goals than Mitch Marner 12 goals playoff career.

Matthew Knies has more goals this year alone (4) than Auston does over the course of last 17 games and 3 seasons with 3.

The playoff struggles of Matthews and Marner put them well below expectations and certainly their Salary remuneration.
 
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Mess said:
The problem with Matthews is that a big portion of his salary is related to offense and goal scoring.

You can find many players in the NHL that can back-check and win FO and block shots to fill those roles on a team without needing to pay $13.25 mil.

Its wonderful that Matthews is playing a 2-way game as the best players do but a players salary is based off their offensive stats for most part.

Matthews has produced 3 goals in his last 17 playoff games over 3 playoff seasons. Youngster Matty Knies has scored 4 goals this playoff year alone and some have been game breakers.
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Obviously Matthews injured himself last year and has never recovered.

Ideally Matthews has his shot and pucks are going in.

But there is nothing he can do, or we can do if the injury is hampering him.

Then he just has to find ways to help the team win without relying on his shot.

If this is a long term injury and Matthews can't regain his shot, the Leafs are going to be on the hook overpaying him for the next three years.

But saying Matthews isn't doing anything is flat out wrong. Fortunately Knies has taken a big step and helps mitigate Matthews inability to shoot.
 
Mess said:
The problem with Matthews is that a big portion of his salary is related to offense and goal scoring.

You can find many players in the NHL that can back-check and win FO and block shots to fill those roles on a team without needing to pay $13.25 mil.

Its wonderful that Matthews is playing a 2-way game as the best players do but a players salary is based off their offensive stats for most part.

Matthews has produced 3 goals in his last 17 playoff games over 3 playoff seasons. Youngster Matty Knies has scored 4 goals this playoff year alone and some have been game breakers.
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That is a 15+ goal pace which is what we get from Marner.
 
sunstersun said:
We talking about Kerfoot or Hart/Rocket winner.
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We all watched this year no?

He scores at his worst pace ever. It wasn't going to magically heal come playoffs. For 100+ gamea now something has been off. So he has to find ways to help the team win.

Would it be better if he was scoring a goal a game, but allowing the other team to score by not doing anything else?

He is winning his mins almost every night. And it shows as the Leafs are now 5-2. If he can't score, he has to shut down Florida's top line and allow them nothing. Which he did last night
 
Mess said:
Mo Riells with 14 goals also has more goals than Mitch Marner 12 goals playoff career.

Matthew Knies has more goals this year alone (4) than Auston does over the course of last 17 games and 3 seasons with 3.

The playoff struggles of Matthews and Marner put them well below expectations and certainly their Salary remuneration.
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What's the point of all this nitpicking when the team is winning?
 
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We all know he isnt quite at his peak form shooting wise but he's doing everything else so well at the moment and the team is winning so its easy to overlook.

5v5, the Leafs are outscoring opponents 7-1 with him on the ice and he's 60% on the dot overall.
 
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Stephen said:
Those are low hanging fruit tasks required of any centerman in the NHL. Take a look at the level of impact of Auston Matthews beside Matthew Knies and I’ll let you come up with a reason why one plays with force and the other is more passive.
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The unintentionally hilarious part is that anyone who isn't pushing this silly narrative wouldn't know which one you are talking about because both are competing like mad on every shift.
 
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Stephen said:
Looks like a mentality problem to me. He can’t access the highest gears and compete level on a regular basis and requires external linemates to help access different aspects of his game.
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I think he gets too dependent on Marner to create his offense. When Marner was out and he was playing with Domi and Bert...he was a totally different player because he was helping to create by himself. Now he almost plays like he is a better version of Laine...just waiting for MM to pass to him so he can be the trigger guy.
 
Stephen said:
I see what you’re seeing to degree but I think he doesn’t get the best out of his immense skillset because he doesn’t have the fire and courage to use them to their maximum effect. You don’t have to be Mackinnon level skating to barrel down the ice. You don’t need your shot to be 100% to have the resilience to just spam it like you said. He can use his body to shield the puck more. That’s a skill but it’s also not the highest end or skills to pop your hip and stick out a forearm to fend someone off. I don’t think he lacks tools, he just doesn’t have the proportionate level of fight in him.
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Even in the US vs CAN game, it felt like he was playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.

He, along with Marner, are both mental midgets. Whenever it's an elimination or high-stakes game, the 2 of them shrink and need to ride the coattails of someone else.

If Matthews/Marner play horribly once again this series, I think that's the end of the road for them.
Trade Matthews for a replacement 1C who can elevate his game in the playoffs.
 
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