Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[ULF_55]

Last 2 years of playoffs.

Is this an ongoing health issue?

 

[ITM]

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(Accidental quote)

Last 2 years of playoffs.

Is this an ongoing health issue?

View attachment 1039219

Maybe mental health?

 

[mapleleaf979]

If 34 is healthy, with that drop off in production, I give him 1 more year and see if u can get 2 or 3 teams bidding for Matthews in a trade.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I mean it was right after the loss in Game 7, these are humans at the end of the day, maybe it came out wrong, emotions were running high, but I forget these people cannot make mistakes right?

You say you don't take what he says to the media seriously, I think it's a pretty big deal. If it "came out wrong" then OK, but he needs to fix this, and fix it fast.

I mean on one hand sure, emotions etc. On the other hand, you never throw your teammates under the bus, that's just basic stuff and when you're the captain, it's a pretty big deal when you do something that dumb.

 

[Cleetus]

You say you don't take what he says to the media seriously, I think it's a pretty big deal. If it "came out wrong" then OK, but he needs to fix this, and fix it fast.

I mean on one hand sure, emotions etc. On the other hand, you never throw your teammates under the bus, that's just basic stuff and when you're the captain, it's a pretty big deal when you do something that dumb.

I dont take it seriously, I also believe emotions running that high mistakes can be made, I am not going to judge him based off 1 response to a question, right after being eliminated, he is an elite center and happy he is here

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

quick how many goals did Draisatl have in 7 games against florida?

Are you really comparing Matthews to a guy who's top 5 all time in playoff points per game?

I'd take a guy who helps his team get to the finals but then underperforms over a guy who underperforms off the bat.

 

[WillNy29]

Are you really comparing Matthews to a guy who's top 5 all time in playoff points per game?

I'd take a guy who helps his team get to the finals but then underperforms over a guy who underperforms off the bat.

ah so you'd love it being the tallest midget again!

but if that's what you took from my comment about Barkov then so be it

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

ah so you'd love it being the tallest midget again!

but if that's what you took from my comment about Barkov then so be it

Yeah, we can keep waiting until Matthews' production doesn't fall off a cliff in the playoffs

 

[ashs]

Trade Mathews, get mcdavid next year. Reunite marner and Mcdavid.

 

[MajorLeaf]

 

[TonsofPuppies]

Just leaving this here, no particular reason behind it. No wonder Team USA lost.

 

[647Hockey]

Last 2 years of playoffs.

Is this an ongoing health issue?

View attachment 1039219

It looks even worse if those stats (including other years too) were spliced into games 1-4 and 5-7.

Core 4 frontload their goals and pts in the first half of a series doing fine. That's why the series is probably 2-2 after 4 games. But they spiral into the toilet games 5-7, lose the series and do almost nothing those final 3 games.

As crazy as it shows, Domi got 3 pts last 4 games (1G + 2A). That's more than core 4 COMBINED (1G + 1A).

It's so bad it doesnt even seem mathematically possible, but it's true almost every year.

 

[Farsailor]

I take it Matthews doesnt wanna remain a leaf with best buddy Marner gone. The "passenger" comments were clearly synced between them as Mitch knew right away how to respond. Why say such thing if your intention is to be a long term captain of this team...

 

[DarkKnight]

quick how many goals did Draisatl have in 7 games against florida?

Weak.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I dont take it seriously, I also believe emotions running that high mistakes can be made, I am not going to judge him based off 1 response to a question, right after being eliminated, he is an elite center and happy he is here

I doubt his teammates will be as happy to shrug it off as nothing the way you're doing.

Can you show me one instance in the last 50 years of NA pro sports where the captain throws his team under the bus when talking to the media? If you can, I'd be interested to see it and if you can't, well then maybe you should give some thought as to why that is.

 

[theTTC]

I mean it was right after the loss in Game 7, these are humans at the end of the day, maybe it came out wrong, emotions were running high, but I forget these people cannot make mistakes right?

Matty is a frat boy. Doesn't know how to do the "captain" stuff, or lead in any meaningful way during playoffs. Square peg in a round hole. Not his fault, he is what he is - it's just more Leafy embarrassment MLSE has heaped on us.

Don't forget, as rabid Canadian hockey fans we have "captain" signposts that we compare Matty to, and it's legit to do so: Gilmour, Sundin, Crosby, Lemieux, Mackinnon, McDavid...

 

[WillNy29]

Weak.

what was the answer again? how many did he score playing against Barkov?

 

[Tak7]

Matty is a frat boy. Doesn't know how to do the "captain" stuff, or lead in any meaningful way during playoffs. Square peg in a round hole. Not his fault, he is what he is - it's just more Leafy embarrassment MLSE has heaped on us.

Don't forget, as rabid Canadian hockey fans we have "captain" signposts that we compare Matty to, and it's legit to do so: Gilmour, Sundin, Crosby, Lemieux, Mackinnon, McDavid...

Key difference with all those guys (other than MacKinnon) - they were given the C because they were natural leaders who earned respect in the room.

Matthews? He wasn't given the C due to him being a leader, but in an attempt to have him elevate his game to a place they needed him to get to. A tactical ploy to see if they could push him into a category of performance that has eluded him / them so far.

 

[IPS]

Key difference with all those guys (other than MacKinnon) - they were given the C because they were natural leaders who earned respect in the room.

Matthews? He wasn't given the C due to him being a leader, but in an attempt to have him elevate his game to a place they needed him to get to.

So why did they name him C of the Team America at the 4 nations?

 

[Metroid]

Matty is a frat boy. Doesn't know how to do the "captain" stuff, or lead in any meaningful way during playoffs. Square peg in a round hole. Not his fault, he is what he is - it's just more Leafy embarrassment MLSE has heaped on us.

Don't forget, as rabid Canadian hockey fans we have "captain" signposts that we compare Matty to, and it's legit to do so: Gilmour, Sundin, Crosby, Lemieux, Mackinnon, McDavid...

Read somewhere he was also a baseball star growing up. Should have picked baseball... Could have gotten paid more money and depending on what position he would be, would have to work half as much as a top center and captain of a hockey team.

 

[Tak7]

So why did they name him C of the Team America at the 4 nations?

Popular in the room. Sexy marketing appeal. One of the more recognizable stars on the team / most skilled.
Spends a lot of time with a number of players on that team in the off-season.
Possibly even a similar reason to the Leafs - slap a C on his jersey and hope he can elevate.

 

[dangomon]

So why did they name him C of the Team America at the 4 nations?

Of all of the BS pitty-party stuff coming from Florida players, the one that stood out to me was Tkachuk talking about Matthew's leadership. Seemed pretty genuine that Auston can command a room and take charge.

Auston's playoff issues are on-ice, not off-ice.

 

[IPS]

Popular in the room. Sexy marketing appeal. One of the more recognizable stars on the team / most skilled.
Spends a lot of time with a number of players on that team in the off-season.
Possibly even a similar reason to the Leafs - slap a C on his jersey and hope he can elevate.

I'm not gonna give Matthews any defence he doesn't deserve but regarding leadership, it's pretty clear that several coaches/GM's now have agreed that he very clearly has leadership capabilities.

 

[Tak7]

Of all of the BS pitty-party stuff coming from Florida players, the one that stood out to me was Tkachuk talking about Matthew's leadership. Seemed pretty genuine that Auston can command a room and take charge.

Auston's playoff issues are on-ice, not off-ice.

The good thing about being a captain and calling out your teammates for being "passengers", despite finishing the series with the same number of goals as Nick Robertson, is that your on-ice issues have now become off-ice issues as well.

Nothing says you 'command the room' more than torching your teammates at the end of the season, despite you only being captain for 10 months.

I expect him to heavily walk back those comments later today. It'll be PR, and it'll be prepared, but it'll be predictable.

 

[Tak7]

I'm not gonna give Matthews any defence he doesn't deserve but regarding leadership, it's pretty clear that several coaches/GM's now have agreed that he very clearly has leadership capabilities.

We can only go by what we see and know.

He's not a natural leader in the way a McDavid or MacKinnon is, who is going to just put the team on his back and carry them, driving them forward. Even Brady Tkachuk fits that mold.

He's not a quiet, lead-by-example guy the way Sasha Barkov is, where he's going to establish the standard on the ice with his play, and off-the-ice with his culture and behavior, where guys just fall in line behind him.