Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Apex Predator]

FIFY

Thanks for correcting that I wasn’t sure. Is next season Draisaitls contract start
paying him more?

 

[Apex Predator]

Wrong thread

 

[Anthrax442]

Come on.. do something

 

[Stephen]

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

He did go to 4 Nations for fun though.

 

[ORRFForever]

Come on.. do something

^^ THIS !!!!! ^^

 

[GlitchMarner]

He had a good chance in the first. I think 69 goal Matthews might have buried the puck on that opportunity. He made a decent enough shot. I don't think not being able to take his A-shot was the problem there.

 

[centipede2233]

the good news if the leafs lose the series, that’ll be the end to shanahn and Marner

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Matthews get his talent sucked into a puck by the Moonstars in the off season or something?

 

[authentic]

He had a good chance in the first. I think 69 goal Matthews might have buried the puck on that opportunity. He made a decent enough shot. I don't think not being able to take his A-shot was the problem there.

Well the problem is he can’t hit the damn net half the time. I just turned into the game now so forgive me if that’s not what happened here.

 

[The Shadow]

Imagine Michael Jordan not producing in the playoffs ? He’d be remembered as a loser he’d be just another star that failed to elevate in the playoffs

Matthews is that failure at this point. Nothing more than a regular season player and many years from now he will be a distant bad memory

 

[shaner8989]

Time to be a healthy scratch. Absolute f***ing trash. This is way too long to be dog shit. Zero factor.

 

[ruaware41]

I have been literally half asleep watching this game but I would guess once again, this is another example of how "I'm like an elite defensive 3rd line center" stuff does not work on the road if the other side does not respect your ability to put the puck in the net.

At home we can get away with it by forcing Matthews line to match up against the Barkov line.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It just flat out isn't good enough from him.

 

[mjd1001]

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.

As of this moment, his shooting percentage in this years playoffs is 5.7%. His career in the playoffs is only 9.3.

This coming from a guy who for his career shoots 15.8% in the regular season, and has had numerous whole seasons over 18%.

At this point I am beyond thinking its a game of low numbers (small sample size). There is something mentally that is/has been impacting his game in the playoffs.

 

[IPS]

Not injured enough for that completely optional 4 nations tourney though!

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

$13.25 to be sassy in interviews and go out for a fun skate with his BFF.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

Love the narrative that Sportsnet / CBC was trying to sell all day, that it was Matthews time to show up in Game 4. Lmao. f*** outta here. Anyone actually fall for that BS?

 

[leafsfan5]

Pretty tired of this guy

Hear a lot about how he's injured like that justifies this. He makes 13.25, you are paid to produce no matter what

 

[6ix]

Berube is an idiot for not breaking up Marner and Matthews. It doesn’t work in the playoffs. It never has.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

 

[mjd1001]

Berube is an idiot for not breaking up Marner and Matthews. It doesn’t work in the playoffs. It never has.

Actually, it has in recent years, over the last 3 seasons in the playoffs:

When playing together, the team scores a goal every 16.1 minutes when they are on the ice together and are a +10 even strength.

When they play with anyone other than each other:
Matthews (without Maner): they score 1 goal every 34 minutes
Marner (without Matthews): they score 1 goal every 27.3 minutes

It may not feel like it, but they are much more productive (as are their linemates and d-men) when they are on the ice together rather than splitting them up.

Line Stats - Natural Stat Trick

 

[KaN19]

I'm so over this bum and pretending he's some sort of franchise player on the level of MacKinnon and McDavid. Guy isn't even as good as Wyatt Johnson or RNH in the playoffs.

Every year it's the same injury excuse: "BUT HIS BACK, BUT HIS GROIN, BUT HIS WRIST!"

Sadly stuck with him for three more years.

 

[KPower]

Too slow, doesn’t have that extra gear like the other superstars.

 

[mjd1001]

Too slow, doesn’t have that extra gear like the other superstars.

Agreed about the extra gear.

I don't know if he doesn't have it, or he simply doesn't want to push himself too hard.

When you watch the playoffs, its like other stars dig deep, really really deep and push themselves to the point of being out of breath, leaving everything on the ice. Not Matthews. Its like he gives his 90-95%, and thinks that should be good enough. He's not going to push himself to the point of sucking wind, what he gives better be good enough.

 

[Stephen]

He had a good chance in the first. I think 69 goal Matthews might have buried the puck on that opportunity. He made a decent enough shot. I don't think not being able to take his A-shot was the problem there.

He might not have another 69 goals left in his career the way things are going. I've seen better playoff hockey out of a 39 year old Jason Spezza.