Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Stephen]

Is that 2 goals in his last 18 now?

Don't care what he's going through he did actually manage to score 30+ in the regular season. Time to step up Papi.

He's not really putting himself in any position to score out there. He's just kind of floating around waiting for Knies to do all the work or Mitch to feed him. So far Knies is outmuscling everything but the Marner connection has been cut and he's just a passenger.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

 

[ULF_55]

Matthews is absolutely cooked.

For those still in denial, watch an Oilers game ...

 

[wingman75]

His skating looks good so it's unlikely to be his back...
But he just can't get anything on his shot so if it's not his hand/wrist, what is it?

You think? I find he looks slow as fck and has no quickness to his game at all.

 

[wingman75]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

** but he's so good defensively and had two points **

/s

 

[Stephen]

For those still in denial, watch an Oilers game ...

Matthews isn't even a John Tavares level center these days. There's no need to watch the Oilers.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

The headlines and milk cartons should make an appearance tomorrow.

 

[Stephen]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

It's actually crazy he's above PPG in the playoffs this year while Knies is the one you notice doing literally everything on that line.

 

[The Shadow]

If we don’t advance to round 3 you can look at this guy first for his zero offensive output.

 

[Stephen]

If we don’t advance to round 3 you can look at this guy first for his zero offensive output.

If he continues like this the rest of the series and the Leafs don't advance, there may come a time this summer when he actually has to say what's wrong with him... the injury shield is the injury shield, but it's wearing thin and I don't think it can give you total immunity from criticism when the franchise is playing it's most consequential games in decades.

 

[6ix]

I’m done thinking he’s going to score and have accepted he’s a $13 mil Philip Dannault

 

[1specter]

Do something, anything

 

[GQS]

What's up with Matthews and his shot? Is he injured or something because it rarely looks dangerous these days assuming he even shoots the puck. Also it doesn't help that his relative lack of speed makes it much easier for the other team to shut him down when he can't create for himself as much. He needs to learn to play more like Tavares when you're not a fast skater and find other ways to score because right now he hasn't found the answer in the playoffs most of the time.

 

[htpwn]

It looks to me like he's got a hand or wrist injury. His play without the puck is fantastic (want evidence? Maurice moved Barkov-Reinhart away from him and Marner this game) but he seems to be struggling to puck handle, pass, and shoot. Even clearing the zone, there's been a few too many giveaways from him these past two games.

 

[aingefan]

It’s gotta be the wrist I think. You can see him still hammer the puck when he can wind up, but he can’t snap it off right now like he does.
Just my unqualified opinion.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

Literal riots? Are you insane?

 

[sxvnert]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

Classic.

 

[ruaware41]

I’m done thinking he’s going to score and have accepted he’s a $13 mil Philip Dannault

The problem is if the Panthers have started accepting that too and are happy to bring out more secondary lines in the d zone against Matthews instead of "wasting" Barkov thus saving them more for different situations. They did that today by matching the Lundell line against Matthews instead and I'm not sure if intentional but even their 4th line started in the d zone against them and then lit up Woll going the other way.

The Danault/Jordan Staal stuff works much better if there is respect for the offensive skill and the other team plays your game which is much easier to force at home with last change. It doesn't work if they keep disrespecting you until you light them up and make them pay - which I'm not sure if it will happen.

Yea Knies has been okay 5v5 but most of his production has come off the rush on broken plays I would think.

 

[Bomber0104]

Third best player on his line, which is pretty much chopping us at the knies right now.

 

[Bomber0104]

Matthews is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER in the league this year.

Why is it that we just accept that he'll be a pedestrian in the playoffs?

He's NEVER carried the team to a playoff series win. Ever. He's just sort of "there", on the sidelines.

THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

I don't understand why there aren't literal riots on the streets in Toronto. Is he just (lol) "injured" literally ever playoff series ever? I'm sick of that excuse. SICK of it. I"m SICK of that excuse.

That’s my boy.

He’s back.

 

[Goose]

Matthews play is the low point of the playoffs for me.

Don’t understand why he’s captain with his lack of intensity.

Don’t understand where his shot has gone, which he barely seems to get off.

Don’t understand why he looks so slow out there compared to how he did a couple of years ago.

Glad for his defensive play, but I’ve gone from thinking he’s in the 1B group with Drai/MacK/Kuch to … I don’t even know what?

 

[Shooter2x]

Top 2 lines had the game won in the first 10 minutes and goalie threw it away. The goal for both teams were to capture the start of this game and Leafs smoked them in this regard. Not sure why forwards are under scrutiny following this loss. Goalie let them down

 

[GlitchMarner]

Matthews play is the low point of the playoffs for me.

Don’t understand why he’s captain with his lack of intensity.

Don’t understand where his shot has gone, which he barely seems to get off.

Don’t understand why he looks so slow out there compared to how he did a couple of years ago.

Glad for his defensive play, but I’ve gone from thinking he’s in the 1B group with Drai/MacK/Kuch to … I don’t even know what?

All those guys perform in the playoffs (although Kucherov has struggled to score goals there himself lately).

He's basically his generation's Joe Thornton/Steven Stamkos. Both of those guys were huge regular season producers whose productivity significantly declined in the playoffs.

Stylistically, he's kind of in the middle as of those two, so maybe it makes sense. He's a shooter//goal scorer like Stamkos, but he's not the fastest or most explosive skater and is big guy who can shield the puck and use his size to his advantage (but he's not close to the playmaker Joe was).

 

[Mentat]

For those still in denial, watch an Oilers game ...

It´s more the Amazon River right now.
Silly puns aside, it´s hard not to be very frustrated with his lack of offensive production these playoffs. He´s been good defensively, but for a guy making 13,25M USD per season, he needs to be doing a helluva lot more.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

I have never seen a Toronto athlete get more of a free pass than Matthews. Shits his pants spring after spring and nobody says a word.

This year is different however. It might be the fact that he's got the C, but media is asking for more and the chatter is building. Overdrive has had entire segments on him and his performance all week.

He cannot elevate his play when it's needed most.