Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[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.

Put up or shut up time big boy...pressure is on:

Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Messier share something rather incredible that seems so very far away from Auston Matthews.

All three have scored more goals per Stanley Cup playoff game than they have ever scored in their National Hockey League regular season careers.

Rarely do players, stars in particular, equal regular season numbers with playoff numbers — especially those with high end stats. But to surpass the goal numbers is simply remarkable.

In the case of Matthews, the Maple Leafs captain who has yet to find his way as a playoff goal scorer, his playoff numbers aren’t anywhere close to that of his goal-scoring statistics from regular seasons.

And even in a down season for him scoring wise such as this one, his playoff numbers have still dropped considerably this time around.

Matthews has two goals in nine playoff games this Stanley Cup season, this coming after scoring just one last year against Boston and no goals the year before that in the second round against the Florida Panthers.

In his last 19 playoff games, Matthews has three goals. Seven of those games went to overtime, and the Leafs won two of them. Over an 82-game stretch, three goals in 19 games is equivalent to a 13-goal season. In Matthews’ career, his seasonal scoring average is 52 goals.

Career-wise, Matthews has scored at a 32-goal pace at playoff time, down 20 goals from his usual scoring. The drop is even larger this year.

The biggest shock in this group of excellence might be the MacKinnon numbers. Never a giant goal-scorer like Matthews or Draisaitl, MacKinnon has averaged 34 goals over the course of his career, but has scored at a 47-goal pace in the post-season.

The Maple Leafs surely need a shot from their captain, especially now in this series with Florida. Sunday night — and every night after that this playoff season — will represent the biggest game of Matthews’ career. Can he cash in? Odds say no.

 

[Stephen]

i just don't like the guy, never have.

his media interviews are just brutal, like he doesn't give a f* about anything. Just simple teenage-level talk, it's unbelievable. Almost seems like he's running at an 18-year old's mentality sometimes. He honestly talks like a teenage kid, and he's is supposed to be the captain of a professional original 6 NHL team? lol

Leafs could get a lot in a trade for the guy.

Ship him out and let some other team deal with him

Well honestly Matthews is one of my favourite players from this era but I feel extreme frustration at the way the 2024 playoffs ended and this year has just been crap. The lowered expectations really grinds my gears because I expect more.

 

[Mess]

Well honestly Matthews is one of my favourite players from this era but I feel extreme frustration at the way the 2024 playoffs ended and this year has just been crap. The lowered expectations really grinds my gears because I expect more.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off of a tough 5-4 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of their second round series.

While the team has looked strong overall, one key player has yet to fully find his goal scoring rhythm -- team captain Auston Matthews.

Known as one of the league's most prolific goal scorers, Matthews has gone unusually quiet in these playoffs. His struggles are highlighted by a surprising, and troubling statistic, as noted by Luke Fox on X:​

"Auston Matthews leads the playoffs in shots missing the net (19)."​

 

[Apex Predator]

I think it’s fair to ask more from him. They paid him to be an elite goal scorer and that’s missing. There’s still time but if the leafs are going to win the cup they need more out of Matthews.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

i just don't like the guy, never have.

his media interviews are just brutal, like he doesn't give a f* about anything. Just simple teenage-level talk, it's unbelievable. Almost seems like he's running at an 18-year old's mentality sometimes. He honestly talks like a teenage kid, and he's is supposed to be the captain of a professional original 6 NHL team? lol

Leafs could get a lot in a trade for the guy.

Ship him out and let some other team deal with him

He was humble in his rookie season, but that left quickly.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Put up or shut up time big boy...pressure is on:

Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Messier share something rather incredible that seems so very far away from Auston Matthews.

All three have scored more goals per Stanley Cup playoff game than they have ever scored in their National Hockey League regular season careers.

Rarely do players, stars in particular, equal regular season numbers with playoff numbers — especially those with high end stats. But to surpass the goal numbers is simply remarkable.

In the case of Matthews, the Maple Leafs captain who has yet to find his way as a playoff goal scorer, his playoff numbers aren’t anywhere close to that of his goal-scoring statistics from regular seasons.

And even in a down season for him scoring wise such as this one, his playoff numbers have still dropped considerably this time around.

Matthews has two goals in nine playoff games this Stanley Cup season, this coming after scoring just one last year against Boston and no goals the year before that in the second round against the Florida Panthers.

In his last 19 playoff games, Matthews has three goals. Seven of those games went to overtime, and the Leafs won two of them. Over an 82-game stretch, three goals in 19 games is equivalent to a 13-goal season. In Matthews’ career, his seasonal scoring average is 52 goals.

Career-wise, Matthews has scored at a 32-goal pace at playoff time, down 20 goals from his usual scoring. The drop is even larger this year.

The biggest shock in this group of excellence might be the MacKinnon numbers. Never a giant goal-scorer like Matthews or Draisaitl, MacKinnon has averaged 34 goals over the course of his career, but has scored at a 47-goal pace in the post-season.

The Maple Leafs surely need a shot from their captain, especially now in this series with Florida. Sunday night — and every night after that this playoff season — will represent the biggest game of Matthews’ career. Can he cash in? Odds say no.

View attachment 1033730

Very interesting. Thanks.

I don't think it would come as a surprise to most of us to learn the current Leaf in that category is Nylander. A career average of .38 gpg in the regular season and a career average of .42 gpg in the playoffs.

Over the last two he's on a 57 goal pace.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Dup

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

As disappointed as we all are about this season and the playoffs when it comes to AM...people who say that if your able to suit up, you should be able to play pretty close to what you usually do... need to look at the other side of the equation. If AM pulled himself out of the playoffs because he wasn't 100%...people would be screaming that he could at least still play defense etc.

It is what it is with AM...I am just glad we let him be greedy and take a 4yr deal instead of 8yrs. That would have been a problem if he can't come back to his usual exploits with the puck going in the net.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

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?

Before you sign a big contract players go through physicals. He wouldn't be able to hide an injury.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

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.

Cortisone injections are a hell of a drug.

 

[al secord]

He hasn’t yet earned fan optimism when it comes to stepping up when it matters.

Leon was playing on one leg and put up great playoff numbers in the past.

 

[Mike4Leafs4ever]

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.

As others have said, I think the answer is that his eyesight has deteriorated. Thats why he looks physically fine but cant hit the broadside of a barn.

Someone check his vision and correct it if needed. Even a slight deterioration would ruin his goal scoring ability.

 

[BraveCanadian]

In his last 19 playoff games, Matthews has three goals. Seven of those games went to overtime, and the Leafs won two of them. Over an 82-game stretch, three goals in 19 games is equivalent to a 13-goal season. In Matthews’ career, his seasonal scoring average is 52 goals.

Yikes...

 

[al secord]

As others have said, I think the answer is that his eyesight has deteriorated. Thats why he looks physically fine but cant hit the broadside of a barn.

Someone check his vision and correct it if needed. Even a slight deterioration would ruin his goal scoring ability.

The wife and I were trying for years. Once I got my eyes checked and got prescribed glasses, we ended up with 3 kids. You might be on to something.

 

[DarkKnight]

Cortisone injections are a hell of a drug.

That has nothing to do with his shot.

 

[DarkKnight]

Put up or shut up time big boy...pressure is on:

Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Messier share something rather incredible that seems so very far away from Auston Matthews.

All three have scored more goals per Stanley Cup playoff game than they have ever scored in their National Hockey League regular season careers.

Rarely do players, stars in particular, equal regular season numbers with playoff numbers — especially those with high end stats. But to surpass the goal numbers is simply remarkable.

In the case of Matthews, the Maple Leafs captain who has yet to find his way as a playoff goal scorer, his playoff numbers aren’t anywhere close to that of his goal-scoring statistics from regular seasons.

And even in a down season for him scoring wise such as this one, his playoff numbers have still dropped considerably this time around.

Matthews has two goals in nine playoff games this Stanley Cup season, this coming after scoring just one last year against Boston and no goals the year before that in the second round against the Florida Panthers.

In his last 19 playoff games, Matthews has three goals. Seven of those games went to overtime, and the Leafs won two of them. Over an 82-game stretch, three goals in 19 games is equivalent to a 13-goal season. In Matthews’ career, his seasonal scoring average is 52 goals.

Career-wise, Matthews has scored at a 32-goal pace at playoff time, down 20 goals from his usual scoring. The drop is even larger this year.

The biggest shock in this group of excellence might be the MacKinnon numbers. Never a giant goal-scorer like Matthews or Draisaitl, MacKinnon has averaged 34 goals over the course of his career, but has scored at a 47-goal pace in the post-season.

The Maple Leafs surely need a shot from their captain, especially now in this series with Florida. Sunday night — and every night after that this playoff season — will represent the biggest game of Matthews’ career. Can he cash in? Odds say no.

View attachment 1033730

Guess he's just hurt all the time. It's why I don't buy the injury and his shot, it's a consistent trend come playoffs.

 

[arso40]

Guess he's just hurt all the time. It's why I don't buy the injury and his shot, it's a consistent trend come playoffs.

LOL

 

[Stephen]

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.

Well the guy’s offense in the playoffs dried up in 2023 after the Tampa series. And he put in a 69 goal season after that. And then he got hurt somewhere and hasn’t been the same. So how much of it is just decline, health, historically poor playoffs and the yips all mixed into one? Scoring for an elite player can’t be that hard when Morgan Rielly has double the goals this playoffs. Like come on, the bar is so low and excuses so plentiful.

 

[DarkKnight]

Well the guy’s offense in the playoffs dried up in 2023 after the Tampa series. And he put in a 69 goal season after that. And then he got hurt somewhere and hasn’t been the same. So how much of it is just decline, health, historically poor playoffs and the yips all mixed into one? Scoring for an elite player can’t be that hard when Morgan Rielly has double the goals this playoffs. Like come on, the bar is so low and excuses so plentiful.

He shot 5 percent last year.

 

[Ho Lee Mackinaw]

I'm glad to see the media finally pointing this out.

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun writes:

"Matthews has two goals in nine playoff games this Stanley Cup season, this coming after scoring just one last year against Boston and no goals the year before that in the second round against the Florida Panthers.

In his last 19 playoff games, Matthews has three goals. Seven of those games went to overtime, and the Leafs won two of them. Over an 82-game stretch, three goals in 19 games is equivalent to a 13-goal season." (Bold mine)

SIMMONS SAYS: Matthews' playoff stats tiny next to regular season output

In his last 19 playoff games, Matthews has three goals. Over an 82-game stretch, three goals in 19 games is equivalent to a 13-goal season.

torontosun.com

 

[Menzinger]

Matthews didn't go see that specialist in Germany midway through the season for fun. I find it hard to dismiss the health idea out of hand.

But even that Simmons article is still fair to point out his historical under production in the postseason. He doesn't get a pass this year even if he is dealing with something

 

[Tedd]

Matthews’ Defensive Excellence vs. Fan Complaints
Matthews in 2024–25:

• Defensive Prowess: Matthews has emerged as one of the NHL’s best defensive centers, per The Athletic. His 52% defensive zone start percentage (DZS%, up from 45.8% in 2023–24) shows Berube trusts him against top lines (e.g., McDavid, MacKinnon). He ranks top-10 among centers in 5-on-5 expected goals against/60 (xGA/60, ~1.8), per Evolving-Hockey, and his 61.2% faceoff win rate (7th in NHL) anchors Toronto’s PK. Fans praise his Selke-caliber play, with 48 takeaways (top-20) and a +11 rating.
• Goal Dip: Matthews has 33 goals in 67 games (0.493 GPG), down from 69 in 81 games (0.852 GPG) in 2023–24, when he led the NHL. His 8.9% 5-on-5 shooting percentage (vs. 18% last year) and 261 projected shots (vs. 368) reflect fewer chances, partly due to Berube’s system and his wrist injury (post-2021 surgery). Fans
  lament his “disappointing” 40-goal pace, expecting 50–60 after last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy.
• Fan Frustration: Leafs Nation loves Matthews’ 200-foot game but misses his sniping. His 0.95 5-on-5 goals/60 (vs. 1.84) and reduced PP one-timers (1.2 shots/game vs. 1.8) fuel complaints, as Berube’s net-front PP role and defensive starts (52% DZS%) limit high-danger looks. It’s a classic trade-off: elite defense for fewer goals.
• Wrist Factor: The wrist injury (post-2021 surgery, possible 2022 procedure) lowers his shot pop (8.7% slap-shot conversion vs. 32%). His missed nets (25.8% vs. 20%)
• Scotty Bowman asked Steve Yzerman to take on a more defensive role and his stats suffered but he won multiple cups as a result.
• In the mid-1990s, Scotty Bowman transformed Steve Yzerman from a 100-point scorer (65 goals in 1988–89) to a two-way leader, emphasizing checking, faceoffs, and PK. Yzerman’s DZS% rose to ~50% by 1996–97, and his goals dropped (24 in 1998–99 vs. 62 in 1989–90). Fans initially griped, per Detroit Free Press archives, as his points fell from 137 to 85, but his 1998 Selke Trophy and +3 rating in the 1997 playoffs silenced doubters.
• Cup Payoff: Yzerman’s sacrifice fueled Detroit’s 1997, 1998, and 2002 Stanley Cups. His 1.45 xGA/60 and 56% faceoff wins in 1997–98 locked down opponents, like Eric Lindros in the Finals. He still scored clutch goals (6 in 1997 playoffs), earning the 1998 Conn Smythe. Red Wings fans cherish how “Stevie Y” traded personal stats for team glory.

 

[Dave92]

Anybody acting like this playoff numbers are down because of a commitment to defense vs his career numbers, what have you been watching the past 8 years. This is exactly what he's always been, he can't even hit empty nets how is that affected by D-zone starts.

 

[Apex Predator]

Matthews has a cap hit of 13.25. He’s one of the highest paid players in the league. It’s fair to expect more out of him offensively. They didn’t pay him 13.25 to be a defensive specialist.

 

[ToneDog]

Matthews has a cap hit of 13.25. He’s the highest paid player in the league. It’s fair to expect more out of him offensively. They didn’t pay him 13.25 to be a defensive specialist.

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