Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[leafs in five]

Lots of people say words about it

 

[DarkKnight]

I don't understand how an injured guy can bang and skate, get plenty of shots, look normal everywhere. Most of this is between the ears imo, he just isn't sniping, he's content to hit the goalie, that's what I see.

 

[Tak7]

Leads the playoffs in missed shots.

I know everyone wants to make excuses for him, but even if he's injured, he's playing in these games, and that opens him up to criticism.

He couldn't even use the Barkov excuse last night - he's struggling to make any sort of impact against guys like Shane Pinto, Michael Amadio, Lousterainan, and Lundell.

Its time we all stopped thinking this guy has another level/gear. This is peak Matthews for this season - he's not a goal away from going on a heater.

And you're not going on a run without your best goal scorer scoring actual goals.

 

[Nineteen67]

I don't understand how an injured guy can bang and skate, get plenty of shots, look normal everywhere. Most of this is between the ears imo, he just isn't sniping, he's content to hit the goalie, that's what I see.

He doesn’t seem to have any torque on his shot and he can’t change the angle on his release like he used to do. I only saw the OT last night and he had a couple instances where he would have created a great scoring opportunity, but was physically unable.

 

[centipede2233]

Matthew’s only shows intensity when he scores a goal. Sorry bud we need the intensity leading up to the goal to!

It’s a joke he’s the highest paid player in the league this year. He just isn’t worth the caphit. He really isn’t.

 

[Nineteen67]

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?

Effort isn’t the problem, intensity isn’t the problem, it’s extremely likely the guy is injured. Maybe after the series the Leafs will reveal all the injuries like most teams do and we’ll know.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

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 its true .. dude has HUGE issues with pain in his back .. dude has been taking shots for many many years to keep playing .. Leafs drafted him and they knew what his back issues were when they made him da #1 pick .. da real issue is Leafs have not explained da issue to any of us .. so folks don't understand it .. he requires rest to heal .. in playoffs he takes shots .. da big issue is has also hurt his hand too .. so he is dealing his major injury issues .. don't expect anything from him this playoffs outside what you see now .. you likely don't like my comment but what da h*ll is he gonna do about it .. Leafs need to come clean this summer .. to me I would be trying to trade him .. no doc can figure it out .. he has seen da worlds best back docs

 

[weems]

He had zero goals in 5 games the last time we played Florida and now zero through 3 games.

We're going to need him to step up and score some big goals against these elite opponents or we won't win a cup.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

When we went into OT my buddy and I were putting wagers on who'd score for us. Neither of us considered Matthews

 

[Anthrax442]

He must be leading the league in the prettiest misses. How can a guy who scored 70 completely be missing the net or hitting the iron every friggin time.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

But its true .. dude has HUGE issues with pain in his back .. dude has been taking shots for many many years to keep playing .. Leafs drafted him and they knew what his back issues were when they made him da #1 pick .. da real issue is Leafs have not explained da issue to any of us .. so folks don't understand it .. he requires rest to heal .. in playoffs he takes shots .. da big issue is has also hurt his hand too .. so he is dealing his major injury issues .. don't expect anything from him this playoffs outside what you see now .. you likely don't like my comment but what da h*ll is he gonna do about it .. Leafs need to come clean this summer .. to me I would be trying to trade him .. no doc can figure it out .. he has seen da worlds best back docs

So Maple Leaf management decided to make him the highest paid player in the league when they fully understood he has a chronic injury that will make him more of a B tier star? Or was he hiding this injury from them?

 

[MSZ]

Effort isn’t the problem, intensity isn’t the problem, it’s extremely likely the guy is injured. Maybe after the series the Leafs will reveal all the injuries like most teams do and we’ll know.

Last year they never revealed what issues Matthews had after he missed half of the Boston series.

 

[Evilhomer]

Last year they never revealed what issues Matthews had after he missed half of the Boston series.

Yeah, the Leafs aren't going to reveal anything, especially about Matthews. I'm sure he will quietly have surgery in the off-season and we will never hear anything about it.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

So Maple Leaf management decided to make him the highest paid player in the league when they fully understood he has a chronic injury that will make him more of a B tier star? Or was he hiding this injury from them?

Everyone is world world knows he has had back issues for a very very long time ,, what folks don't know is what is causing his lifelong issues .. i would assume da leafs have a decent idear what da real back issue is otherwise they wouldn't have signed him .. you have to assume it is something they think is fixable .. but why is it no one has been able to fix it? .. he has seen da worlds best backs docs for pain management .. yet it continues to occur .. i have some back pain too and I have had ultrasounds and scans on a couple occasions over my life when pain got to 6/10 level that ultimately go away with rest/steriods .. all they showed was inflammation in my lower back which cleared up after rest/steriods .. like i said to me i would be looking to move him this summer .. he doesn't know when da pain is gonna hit him .. it just shows up

 

[Nineteen67]

Last year they never revealed what issues Matthews had after he missed half of the Boston series.

He’s been so mediocre that I feel like they’ll tell us what the problem(s) are.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

He’s been so mediocre that I feel like they’ll tell us what the problem(s) are.

It probably would be a good time to have full transparency. Good PR move to disclose whatever is holding him back and save Matthews from having to answer the questions or have Steve Simmons uncover it via his stout detective work.

Auston Matthews has scored 3 goals in his last 15 playoff games.

 

[Tak7]

He had zero goals in 5 games the last time we played Florida and now zero through 3 games.

We're going to need him to step up and score some big goals against these elite opponents or we won't win a cup.

Morgan Rielly has more playoff goals in the last 18 days than Auston Matthews since the Tampa series in 2023.

I just dont think he's capable of "stepping up" this season. This version of Matthews we are watching currently, is the same version we've seen all year.

 

[Nineteen67]

It probably would be a good time to have full transparency. Good PR move to disclose whatever is holding him back and save Matthews from having to answer the questions or have Steve Simmons uncover it via his stout detective work.

Auston Matthews has scored 3 goals in his last 15 playoff games.

That’s my thoughts as well. There are media in the room so they’d have to witness something. If he’s not hurt then they’re in a heap of trouble.

 

[shaner82]

He doesn’t seem to have any torque on his shot and he can’t change the angle on his release like he used to do. I only saw the OT last night and he had a couple instances where he would have created a great scoring opportunity, but was physically unable.

99.9% of players in the league can't shoot like peak Matthews can, so they find other ways to score. Matthews simply needs to be better if the Leafs are going to win this thing. There's no way they're going to win it if he's not producing.

I've been one of his biggest defenders all these years, but enough is enough. He gets paid to produce. If he can't do that come playoffs, then the Leafs need to find a way to get rid of him.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

If this is true, why didn’t he just have the surgery last off-season and get it over with, so he’s healthy come the playoffs

And why did he play in the 4 Nations cup when he could have used the 2 weeks to heal up a bit for the playoffs. It's stuff like that, when it all shakes out, that makes you wonder- What if?

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Effort isn’t the problem, intensity isn’t the problem, it’s extremely likely the guy is injured. Maybe after the series the Leafs will reveal all the injuries like most teams do and we’ll know.

Seems to be injured an awful lot though eh? Seems to be almost every playoff don't ya feel? Where he magically drops from a 69 goal scorer to being tied with Domi for goals? Seems weird...

Yes, I'm sure once the seasons over Berube will announce Matthews played through a broken nose, toe, leg, fibula, tongue and his dog got kicked out of his little doggy hotel. So we will feel some sort of relief.

I think the hard truth is that Matthews is not a big game player. Honestly. He was invisible during the 4 nations being Captain of the USA. Where as Marner found another gear and finished with 100+ points and honestly has looked great in the playoffs.

Matthews Seems to be the rare superstar that peaks in the regular season and doesn't have another gear in the playoffs when every inch needs to be battled for, he shys away from every extracurriculars.

I think he might even be an anxious dude. He might have to deal with what's between the ears before he can succeed. The post season you need to battle for every inch and not shy away from conflict, Matthews has shied away from conflict or confrontation of any type his entire career.

 

[DarkKnight]

Everyone is world world knows he has had back issues for a very very long time ,, what folks don't know is what is causing his lifelong issues .. i would assume da leafs have a decent idear what da real back issue is otherwise they wouldn't have signed him .. you have to assume it is something they think is fixable .. but why is it no one has been able to fix it? .. he has seen da worlds best backs docs for pain management .. yet it continues to occur .. i have some back pain too and I have had ultrasounds and scans on a couple occasions over my life when pain got to 6/10 level that ultimately go away with rest/steriods .. all they showed was inflammation in my lower back which cleared up after rest/steriods .. like i said to me i would be looking to move him this summer .. he doesn't know when da pain is gonna hit him .. it just shows up

With the back issue, he's physically engaged, he's throwing the body. This makes the excuse of his shot all the more curious to me, a back issue manifests with his finish and not skating or clobbering guys? Makes no sense to me. It's always something with this guy when we need him.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I don't understand how an injured guy can bang and skate, get plenty of shots, look normal everywhere. Most of this is between the ears imo, he just isn't sniping, he's content to hit the goalie, that's what I see.

Hitting the goalie would imply a shot on net...that would be an improvement on his high and wide shots.

 

[centipede2233]

So Maple Leaf management decided to make him the highest paid player in the league when they fully understood he has a chronic injury that will make him more of a B tier star? Or was he hiding this injury from them?

I could definitely see him hiding it leading up

Seems to be injured an awful lot though eh? Seems to be almost every playoff don't ya feel? Where he magically drops from a 69 goal scorer to being tied with Domi for goals? Seems weird...

Yes, I'm sure once the seasons over Berube will announce Matthews played through a broken nose, toe, leg, fibula, tongue and his dog got kicked out of his little doggy hotel. So we will feel some sort of relief.

I think the hard truth is that Matthews is not a big game player. Honestly. He was invisible during the 4 nations being Captain of the USA. Where as Marner found another gear and finished with 100+ points and honestly has looked great in the playoffs.

Matthews Seems to be the rare superstar that peaks in the regular season and doesn't have another gear in the playoffs when every inch needs to be battled for, he shys away from every extracurriculars.

I think he might even be an anxious dude. He might have to deal with what's between the ears before he can succeed. The post season you need to battle for every inch and not shy away from conflict, Matthews has shied away from conflict or confrontation of any type his entire career.

Imagine paying $25 million in your cap in two guys you just described and wonder why this team has been underwhelming come playoff time.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Matthews isnt hitting the net mainly because his shot techinique is completely different this year compared to last year. He will not return to form in the playoffs, he has a wrist/forearm injury. He doesnt even attempt to load his stick and release like before, he is sweeping his wristers and taking wild one timers because they dont impact his injury. The way it looks its like he went from his usual whippy 70 flex to a 125 flex stick. I think his injury is similar to a carpal tunnel.