Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[keonsbitterness]

I still think we should just have a hockey day parade and a Leafs float with the whole team and the cup with them and do it every year.

I pretend that happens during every Santa Claus Parade. Plus I get to push little kids out of the way

 

[Jojalu]

And you probably won't.

If they get by Florida it's probably not that much of a stretch. But 1 game at a time. Great start

 

[ToneDog]

Already got my spot reserved.

There is virtually no way they win the Cup with Matthews scoring only 3 more goals in the playoffs but I disagree that it would be a dilemma if it happened. It would take some big onions and heart and if they did it, and they would win back the fan base they lost due to their greed and unlikability.

 

[keonsbitterness]

There is virtually no way they win the Cup with Matthews scoring only 3 more goals in the playoffs but I disagree that it would be a dilemma if it happened. It would take some big onions and heart and if they did it, and they would win back the fan base they lost due to their greed and unlikability.

Wouldn't be a dilemma for me. Mess on the other hand......

 

[thewave]

There is virtually no way they win the Cup with Matthews scoring only 3 more goals in the playoffs but I disagree that it would be a dilemma if it happened. It would take some big onions and heart and if they did it, and they would win back the fan base they lost due to their greed and unlikability.

He is playing well. He needs to score. I mean the shot moves not bad but he isn't sinking anything

 

[Jojalu]

There is virtually no way they win the Cup with Matthews scoring only 3 more goals in the playoffs but I disagree that it would be a dilemma if it happened. It would take some big onions and heart and if they did it, and they would win back the fan base they lost due to their greed and unlikability.

It would be considerably more difficult. He has to continue to be PPG, even if he is only picking up primary assists. Especially on the PP. If he can hammer shots that Knies or JT can put a rebound in, or set up Willy it can work.

Eichel only had 6 goals when Vegas won. Mack had 13, but his assists were way down.

5 would be brutal. I think 7-10 in 22-25 games would be enough for the Leafs to win.

Regular season 18 in 25 would be preferred

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

What's the point of all this nitpicking when the team is winning?

If they want to keep winning Mathews need to be at his best.

 

[ACC1224]

If they want to keep winning Mathews need to be at his best.

Yes the best players need to play well.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Yes the best players need to play well.

Hell of a concept.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Nobody can convince me he doesn't have a serious injury to his wrist. Something he can play through but if it doesn't ever get to 100% he will not be that same deadly sniper. 40 Goals a year is still great, especially with his defense and stick work; but I just see a different shot from him.

Last night for instance, the old Matthews scores a minimum of two goals from those looks. I'm not taking anything away from Bob but the Matthews of a year or two ago buries those looks with his deceptive sniper of a shot.

As long as the Leafs win and he is out there competing, so often dominating and winning, he will be the leader this team needs in the crunch. You hear many players talk about how hard he works and he constantly wants to improve. His defense has only improved which allows his line to compete against even the best defensive lineups 5v5.

That said, in his very first game in the NHL, when he did the insane and scored 4 goals, all of them were in close. So, instinctively, he has always used a good stick and scored in tight.

Perhaps last year he went overboard in his pursuit of 70 and injured his wrist or something I don't know.

 

[Mess]

Obviously Matthews injured himself last year and has never recovered.

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

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.

Matthews can thank his GM Treliving for bringing in Domi GWG in OT, Simon Benoit GWG in OT and Max Patch for scoring late Leafs now playing in the 2nd round.

Its the team that is carrying Matthews ( & Marner) while they continue to struggle despite their lofty salaries.

If the Leafs want to have any hope of winning the Cup then Auston and Mitch better get out of the passenger's seat and behind the wheel and start steering this thing or the end of season autopsy is going to be like all the past and fans asking Where's AM and MM ?