Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[hamzarocks]

I don't care how good Florida is, can you imagine Sid disappearing one playoff, let alone every playoff?

Matthews simply does not have that extra gear. If he ever loses his wrist shot, assuming he hasn't lost it already, Toronto will rue the day they did not trade him.

Crosby is an top 7 player all time so different level of talent and abilities

But he has disappeared in the playoffs before.

2014 ECSF vs CBJ
2019 ECQF vs NYI
2021 ECQF vs NYI

For him though he was the best playoff performer of anyone from 2000 to 2015 era and has a lot more dominant playoff series than failures

Matthews and the other core members have mostly fails and flops and a few good playoffs (2022 R1, 2022 R1 and 2025 R1 for Matthews)

 

[Stephen]

Exactly.
He's a commodity to MLSE. A very, very valuable one.

As fans we see only the failure and suggest he be moved so the team can start over, MLSE sees a huge profit margin with him and that saying about "you don't trade away talent" would be more accurately described as "you don't trade away highly profitable assets."

So no GM or President of Hockey Ops for this organization would even suggest exploring the idea of trading him because they know they'd probably be fired. MLSE will clean house, literally everywhere, before trading away their human ATM machine.

And sadly, he and the rest of the core are now damaged goods because of it. MLSE knows it, but they'll keep sending these completely mentally broken "assets" out there until they have no value anymore (when they retire or LTIR). It's cruel to the point I *almost* feel bad for the Core guys (they signed the contracts & extensions to stay here, right?)

In any case, I do think this will be his last contract as I don't see any realistic scenario where he asks for a trade or would be granted it even if he did. He's $$$$$$$$$$.

He's an MLSE business partner and has been a good one for a long time. But I think his popularity takes a hit and never recovers after this nightmare season. Didn't get right to compete for the Maple Leafs, didn't step up when we needed him to, awful captain and with all those mystery injuries entering his 28 year old season, this looks like it's going to go downhill in a hurry.

 

[ORRFForever]

And ruin a millionaire summer?

Now THAT made me laugh.

 

[Funk21]

It’s amazing to me that the highest paid player in the NHL didn’t take any accountability in the defeat against the Panthers. It’s starts with him. He has largely been awful when it matters most. Not just this series but his entire time he has been here.

MM screaming at the rest of the team to wake the F@&# Up is comical when he doesn’t have a drop of sweat on him and has been largely invisible too when it matters most. Nylander generally been Nylander but stepped up more than most and JT while I believe wants this more than anything he is a support guy not a leader.

I personally don’t think AM is the guy to lead this team.

Two trade options I would look to explore would be

LA
Byfield
Brandt Clarke

I’d like a pick as well but don’t think value is far off. This gives us cap flexibility and potentially a true number one RHD. Byfield gets to play in his backyard and can grow into that 1C.

Kings get a bankable name to sell merch and AM goes to a relaxing lifestyle and gets to play with the stars.

Or

Seattle

Berniers
Wright
2027 1st

Wright after a bit of time developing has been slowly progressing. He may only be a 2C or elite 3C but we need that. Berniers has fallen off a little but I believe on a better coached team and by putting some decent players around him I think he would bounce back.

Both trades give us cap flexibility to add depth scoring. Lots of other moves need to be executed to reshape this team.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Remember when Matthews turned into a mini prick and also produced a lot of points with Domi and Bertuzzi?

Try that again.

Evander Kane Matthews Domi

 

[Stephen]

Remember when Matthews turned into a mini prick and also produced a lot of points with Domi and Bertuzzi?

Try that again.

Evander Kane Matthews Domi

Clear as day he doesn't want to play like that.

 

[romba]

I was rooting for you guys to beat the Panthers.

Matthews second biggest problem is he withers in the playoffs (much like Rangers fans criticism of Panarin). Saw him compared to Nash earlier in this thread which is also spot on.

His biggest problem though is his hairline.

 

[colchar]

I've never been a big fan of Matthews and hated the decision to give him the 'C' because he has never been the captain at any level he has played at.

But after his post-game comments last night I am coming to despise the guy. No decent captain throws his teammates under the bus like that. No decent captain lacks the self-awareness to understand that with his lack of production he, and his little buddy Mitchy, are the biggest passengers on the team. His comments also point to a division within the room, with prima donas like him and Mitch likely setting themselves apart from everyone else.

Yes, he has a NMC (after Kyle Dubious I think even Carlton the Bear has a NMC) but they need to move on from him. He is Casper the Playoff Ghost and is likely toxic in the room. He has to go. Hell, I am completely soured on Marner now too but would almost want to keep him over Captain America.

Come on Tre, break the internet this summer by trading Man-Purse Matthews.

 

[ULF_55]

I've never been a big fan of Matthews and hated the decision to give him the 'C' because he has never been the captain at any level he has played at.

But after his post-game comments last night I am coming to despise the guy. No decent captain throws his teammates under the bus like that. No decent captain lacks the self-awareness to understand that with his lack of production he, and his little buddy Mitchy, are the biggest passengers on the team. His comments also point to a division within the room, with prima donas like him and Mitch likely setting themselves apart from everyone else.

Yes, he has a NMC (after Kyle Dubious I think even Carlton the Bear has a NMC) but they need to move on from him. He is Casper the Playoff Ghost and is likely toxic in the room. He has to go. Hell, I am completely soured on Marner now too but would almost want to keep him over Captain America.

Come on Tre, break the internet this summer by trading Man-Purse Matthews.

That is really harsh ... and I have said in other posts ... I'd be hard pressed to decide which one to keep.

I think the biggest mistake was not putting marner at center when he was brought into the NHL.

"He's not a center."

Nope, but he could have been, had the team been willing to invest in the future of the team. It is frequently the path of least resistance. In my dream, he became the next Keon ... then I woke up 8 years later and ...

When do we hear about all the injuries?
Matthews - back
Nylander - hand
Tavares - age
marner -

 

[RayzorIsDull]

It’s amazing to me that the highest paid player in the NHL didn’t take any accountability in the defeat against the Panthers. It’s starts with him. He has largely been awful when it matters most. Not just this series but his entire time he has been here.

MM screaming at the rest of the team to wake the F@&# Up is comical when he doesn’t have a drop of sweat on him and has been largely invisible too when it matters most. Nylander generally been Nylander but stepped up more than most and JT while I believe wants this more than anything he is a support guy not a leader.

I personally don’t think AM is the guy to lead this team.

Two trade options I would look to explore would be

LA
Byfield
Brandt

I’d like a pick as well but don’t think value is far off. This gives us cap flexibility and potentially a true number one RHD. Byfield gets to play in his backyard and can grow into that 1C.

Kings get a bankable name to sell merch and AM goes to a relaxing lifestyle and gets to play with the stars.

Or

Seattle

Berniers
Wright
2027 1st

Wright after a bit of time has been slowly progressing. He may only be a 2C or elite 3C but we need that. Berniers has falls. Off a little bit I believe on a better coached team and by putting some decent players around him I think he would bounce back.

Both trades give us cap flexibility to add depth scoring. Lots of other moves need to be executed to reshape this team.

The Red Sox really won that Mookie Betts trade.

 

[GoonieFace]

He needs to go. Throwing your teammates under the bus, while he sucked nutz is such a clown move.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

This is the piece of shit crying about passengers.

 

[Daisy Jane]

I've never been a big fan of Matthews and hated the decision to give him the 'C' because he has never been the captain at any level he has played at.

But after his post-game comments last night I am coming to despise the guy. No decent captain throws his teammates under the bus like that. No decent captain lacks the self-awareness to understand that with his lack of production he, and his little buddy Mitchy, are the biggest passengers on the team. His comments also point to a division within the room, with prima donas like him and Mitch likely setting themselves apart from everyone else.

Yes, he has a NMC (after Kyle Dubious I think even Carlton the Bear has a NMC) but they need to move on from him. He is Casper the Playoff Ghost and is likely toxic in the room. He has to go. Hell, I am completely soured on Marner now too but would almost want to keep him over Captain America.

Come on Tre, break the internet this summer by trading Man-Purse Matthews.

I said it before, and I'll say it again.
Phaneuf bothered me at times when he was here. When Phaneuf had his worst game in his career against the St Louis Blues and went ninja dust and the entire world went after him, I gained a lot of respect for him throwin a press conference and basically taking full accountability for his actions

When that stupid toxic year and they did Salute-gate and basically it was Players vs. Media vs. Fans and everything even afterwards Phaneuf was like yah maybe not the best course of action there. when they lost in Boston (it was 4-1). Phaneuf was there taking ownership.

I remember Sundin who got it bad a lot of times but he always owned his crap.

I was watching Cheryl Pounder on TSN and she was like "I really want to know who he was talking about 'the passengers" and why his finger wasn't pointed directly at himself, because that's leadership.")

I keep saying this, it's so lucky i'm not in managment or in the locker room because it would be so ugly, so fast. and quite honestly, the fact that not one person including Matthews had the audicity to step up to the mic and go "It's not the team per se. It's not the media. It's not the fans, It's me. I get paid this much, I didn't show up, i'm not using injuries or anything like that. i need to be better."

so over him.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Fans: hey two of the best players in the league, could you keep that play going in the off season? And captain, could you lead by example. And could we ask you to perform the job you got more money than anyone else ever to do? We will reward you by literally making statues of you in the city.

Everyone else: omg the pressure, the cruelty of the fans, its all their fault.

I never realized I had so much power that my emotions could dictate how millionaires do their jobs. I wish I realized this sooner, I could have been unstoppable.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Fans: hey two of the best players in the league, could you keep that play going in the off season? And captain, could you lead by example. And could we ask you to perform the job you got more money than anyone else ever to do? We will reward you by literally making statues of you in the city.

Everyone else: omg the pressure, the cruelty of the fans, its all their fault.

I never realized I had so much power that my emotions could dictate how millionaires do their jobs. I wish I realized this sooner, I could have been unstoppable.

The pressure is a bullshit excuse like it's always been. They failed in front of those giant COVID crowds just like they did in full barns.

They are just cowards with zero accountability.

 

[GoonieFace]

Neither the pigman or stick boy Mitch have scored a goal in a Game 7. Two complete losers. Hopefully both are gone, addition by subtraction. Take Biebs with you.

 

[thewave]

Matthews is the best C we have had on ages. He just isn't a fighter but when he is healthy he is a very competent C at both ends. He is not a captain though. He is not that.

 

[TheGreatOne11]

This is the piece of shit crying about passengers.

Bruv. He does this all the time. I forget who it was against but I was furious he was just laughing when someone tried to get into him.

This dudes right, he's a coward, tries to play it "cool" 24/7 but the league has known for a long time he's scared. Can't take over a game. Can't stand up for himself or his team.

This man absolutely does not deserve the C.

We have a coward as a Captain. How pathetic we are. The league knows not to take us serious.

Worst Captain in the entire league.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I've never been a big fan of Matthews and hated the decision to give him the 'C' because he has never been the captain at any level he has played at.

But after his post-game comments last night I am coming to despise the guy. No decent captain throws his teammates under the bus like that. No decent captain lacks the self-awareness to understand that with his lack of production he, and his little buddy Mitchy, are the biggest passengers on the team. His comments also point to a division within the room, with prima donas like him and Mitch likely setting themselves apart from everyone else.

Yes, he has a NMC (after Kyle Dubious I think even Carlton the Bear has a NMC) but they need to move on from him. He is Casper the Playoff Ghost and is likely toxic in the room. He has to go. Hell, I am completely soured on Marner now too but would almost want to keep him over Captain America.

Come on Tre, break the internet this summer by trading Man-Purse Matthews.

We agree on this. Last night was the final straw. He has to leave.

 

[thewave]

We agree on this. Last night was the final straw. He has to leave.

If you want injured 69 goal scorer Matthews to leave you need to talk to someone lol

Turning on Matthews because Marner dragged him down (and he did) is foolish

Anyone blaming Matthews, report to the closest pond or lake or ocean and take a swim

 

[PanniniClaus]

If you want injured 69 goal scorer Matthews to leave you need to talk to someone lol

No I'm good. Watched it close up and we will never win with this guy.. We won't and everyone in the building knows it.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

We agree on this. Last night was the final straw. He has to leave.

Once Mitch walks that *might* motivate Matthews to leave? I mean, Mitch at least has the hometown kid angle, who older than Gen Alpha actually likes Auston Matthews anymore after all this?

Otherwise we are stuck with him until his contract expires. Obviously he doesn't get re-signed for any amount of money if it comes to that.

 

[thewave]

No I'm good. Watched it close up and we will never win with this guy.. We won't and everyone in the building knows it.

We will win with him. Knies AM WN alone will be a far better line. Heck he plays better with Domi.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Fans: hey two of the best players in the league, could you keep that play going in the off season? And captain, could you lead by example. And could we ask you to perform the job you got more money than anyone else ever to do? We will reward you by literally making statues of you in the city.

Everyone else: omg the pressure, the cruelty of the fans, its all their fault.

I never realized I had so much power that my emotions could dictate how millionaires do their jobs. I wish I realized this sooner, I could have been unstoppable.

right?

like the fact that no one is going.
so exactly what do you want the fans to do? beause you yell at them when they are quiet, you yell at them when they cheer and it's too much noise? like is there like a barometer that it's Goldilocks 'Just right'?

 

[PanniniClaus]

Once Mitch walks that *might* motivate Matthews to leave? I mean, Mitch at least has the hometown kid angle, who older than Gen Alpha actually likes Auston Matthews anymore after all this?

Otherwise we are stuck with him until his contract expires. Obviously he doesn't get re-signed for any amount of money if it comes to that.

I think he would be staying if he didn't say what he said post game. I think that will anger everyone that matters, and all avenues will be explored.