Tribute Auston Matthews Discussion "the Beauty" Edition

[Mickey Marner]

What blows my mind is he's the youngest player on our team , what a stud

I had to look this up to be sure. I wonder what the record is for consecutive seasons being the youngest regular on an NHL team, because Matthews is up to 4.

 

[LeafsNation75]

What's nice is this feels like a massive response to the Matthews vs Eichel discussion prior to our last meeting with the Sabres. Leafs have taken off like a rocket along with Matthews production and the Sabres are free falling.

Even when Eichel was on his point streak and some people said he was better, I never believed it because Matthews was already the better player in my opinion.

Also here is something interesting when you look at his stats. In his rookie season he didn't score his 20th goal until the Centennial Classic on January 1, 2017 and he ended up with 40 goals in 82 games.

This season as of December 31, 2019 Matthews has 27 goals through 41 games and is on pace for at least 50 goals.

 

[Puckstuff]

Matthews is back to career point per game.

Only 3 players drafted 2009 or later are at career point per game.

1) McDavid
2) Kucherov
3) Matthews

Marner is also very close, so is Elias Pettersson. Those two can do it this year. Amazing we have 2/5.

Mackinnon, Draisital and Eichel can also get there but not this year.

I do see league scoring is slightly up, none the less impressive

 

[Apotheosis]

Another two points. He's on f***ing fire right now.

 

[Stephen]

Even when Eichel was on his point streak and some people said he was better, I never believed it because Matthews was already the better player in my opinion.

Also here is something interesting when you look at his stats. In his rookie season he didn't score his 20th goal until the Centennial Classic on January 1, 2017 and he ended up with 40 goals in 82 games.

This season as of December 31, 2019 Matthews has 27 goals through 41 games and is on pace for at least 50 goals.

Matthews has been leading that Eichel race since the moment he stepped onto NHL since three and a half years ago.

Eichel deserves credit for taking his game to the next level and earlier on there were certainly things that Matthews needed to iron out in his game, but he basically just took all the criticism that was pointed out in this thread and more than answered. That's a great sign.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Matthews has been leading that Eichel race since the moment he stepped onto NHL since three and a half years ago.

Eichel deserves credit for taking his game to the next level and earlier on there were certainly things that Matthews needed to iron out in his game, but he basically just took all the criticism that was pointed out in this thread and more than answered. That's a great sign.

Honestly I think deep down it bothered Eichel how much more McDavid was hyped during their draft year, which wasn't wrong to be doing. However once Matthews got drafted by Toronto and their history with team USA, I remember Eichel being sick of getting asked about Matthews each time Toronto played Buffalo.

 

[Stephen]

Honestly I think deep down it bothered Eichel how much more McDavid was hyped during their draft year, which wasn't wrong to be doing. However once Matthews got drafted by Toronto and their history with team USA, I remember Eichel being sick of getting asked about Matthews each time Toronto played Buffalo.

Definitely.

And I like how Matthews responded by turning it all the way up when asked about Jack Eichel.

 

[danron1376]

Honestly I think deep down it bothered Eichel how much more McDavid was hyped during their draft year, which wasn't wrong to be doing. However once Matthews got drafted by Toronto and their history with team USA, I remember Eichel being sick of getting asked about Matthews each time Toronto played Buffalo.

i remember buffalo management apologizing to their fans for not winning the lottery and getting mcdavid. it's not like eichel is a terrible consolation prize lol what a slap in the face to him.

 

[Gabriel426]

Between Eichel and Matthews, AM is the better player literally since his debut in Toronto at the WC with NA youth.
His injuries and his drop off here and there was our concern esp he even seemed disinterested in the Dzone. Now he is getting back to the 200ft beast we all thought he could become.

 

[LeafsNation75]

i remember buffalo management apologizing to their fans for not winning the lottery and getting mcdavid. it's not like eichel is a terrible consolation prize lol what a slap in the face to him.

That's very true and yet why don't we ever hear about Eichel wanting out of Buffalo the first chance he gets, because the non Leafs fans like to bring up Matthews bolting for Arizona when his contract is finished. I guess it's why the Sabres owner basically caved to Eichel when they originally fired Bylsma and Murray one day after it was reported Eichel wanted that to happen.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Definitely.

And I like how Matthews responded by turning it all the way up when asked about Jack Eichel.

Matthews is also doing it in the #1 market for Hockey media, along with being a previous 1st overall pick.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

I honestly still can't believe Babcock never put his best passer with his best shooter for an extended period of time.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Matthews has been leading that Eichel race since the moment he stepped onto NHL since three and a half years ago.

Eichel deserves credit for taking his game to the next level and earlier on there were certainly things that Matthews needed to iron out in his game, but he basically just took all the criticism that was pointed out in this thread and more than answered. That's a great sign.

Earlier on Matthews had a strange malaise caused by Babcockitis. It saps your energy to the point it makes you ndifferent. Thank goodness there was a cure for it and it was administered by Dr Keefe.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I honestly still can't believe Babcock never put his best passer with his best shooter for an extended period of time.

In Babcock's mind he did that for at least 1 game last season, however when they failed to register any points he decided not to do that anymore.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I honestly still can't believe Babcock never put his best passer with his best shooter for an extended period of time.

That was just one of many unbelievable things that Babcock did. Putting on his fourth line virtually every time after we were scored on or starting an overtime with Komarov were a few of his head shakers.

 

[LeafsNation75]

That was just one of many unbelievable things that Babcock did. Putting on his fourth line virtually every time after we were scored on or starting an overtime with Komarov were a few of his head shakers.

Seeing Babcock start overtime with Komarov was especially frustrating when he did that on home ice. I remember hearing Jeff O'Neil once say what's the point of doing that, especially if they were playing a Western Conference team. I bring that up because Babcock once did that against the Blues during a game in Toronto and they lost before Matthews, Marner or Nylander could get on the ice for the 3v3.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Seeing Babcock start overtime with Komarov was especially frustrating when he did that on home ice. I remember hearing Jeff O'Neil once say what's the point of doing that, especially if they were playing a Western Conference team. I bring that up because Babcock once did that against the Blues during a game in Toronto and they lost before Matthews, Marner or Nylander could get on the ice for the 3v3.

I was at that game and I was livid when we were scored on. Playing for the shootout when we were terrible at it. I believe he started the overtime with Kadri and Komarov. Unbelievable.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I was at that game and I was livid when we were scored on. Playing for the shootout when we were terrible at it. I believe he started the overtime with Kadri and Komarov. Unbelievable.

I remember screaming at my TV and saying what the hell is Babcock thinking?

 

[IPS]

I was at that game and I was livid when we were scored on. Playing for the shootout when we were terrible at it. I believe he started the overtime with Kadri and Komarov. Unbelievable.

He really was just a complete doorknob.

Literally no other coach bothered to chase matchups in 3 on 3 because it's entirely pointless - you put your best guys on and hope they get the first possession, pretty simple. But Babcock's obviously smarter than everyone else. You really do have to wonder how he had any supporters when he did mind-blowingly stupid shit like that on a game-by-game basis.

 

[Spargon]

Even when Eichel was on his point streak and some people said he was better, I never believed it because Matthews was already the better player in my opinion.

Also here is something interesting when you look at his stats. In his rookie season he didn't score his 20th goal until the Centennial Classic on January 1, 2017 and he ended up with 40 goals in 82 games.

This season as of December 31, 2019 Matthews has 27 goals through 41 games and is on pace for at least 50 goals.

Back when Matthews was first drafted there was a tweet quoting the coach from the US development program who coached them both(Tony Granato maybe?) and he said Eichel can't carry Matthews jock.

There was also a video I saw (that I can't find again for the life of me) where I believe the same coach was talking about the differences in their styles and Eichel when hes going at the net he's thinking how to attack the forwards at the line then the d-man then the goalie. Matthews only sees the net and he's thinking how to score everything else is just in his way.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Back when Matthews was first drafted there was a tweet quoting the coach from the US development program who coached them both(Tony Granato maybe?) and he said Eichel can't carry Matthews jock.

There was also a video I saw (that I can't find again for the life of me) where I believe the same coach was talking about the differences in their styles and Eichel when hes going at the net he's thinking how to attack the forwards at the line then the d-man then the goalie. Matthews only sees the net and he's thinking how to score everything else is just in his way.

I do remember reading or hearing something how Matthews broke Eichel's scoring records for the US National Development team and doing that while being younger than him.

 

[Martin Skoula]

In Babcock's mind he did that for at least 1 game last season, however when they failed to register any points he decided not to do that anymore.

I'm 90% sure they scored in the 3 shifts they had together.

More likely he broke the line up because they didn't block any shots or ice any pucks.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I'm 90% sure they scored in the 3 shifts they had together.

More likely he broke the line up because they didn't block any shots or ice any pucks.

Either way it's still true that Babcock basically refused to play Matthews with Marner at 5v5 and when that happened he didn't keep them together for very long, unlike what Keefe happens to be doing.

 

[Brown Dog]

I honestly still can't believe Babcock never put his best passer with his best shooter for an extended period of time.

I really think Babcock saw putting Matthews and Marner together as too obvious, too easy. Anybody could do that. So he insisted on doing something different to prove how smart he is and that he is in charge. So glad he's gone!

 

[Joey Hoser]

Even when Eichel was on his point streak and some people said he was better, I never believed it because Matthews was already the better player in my opinion.

I find it amazing how "with the breeze" people can go. If you ever thought Eichel was in the same league as Matthews, you have no idea what you are looking at.

Just like anyone who thought this team "just isn't that good" a month ago, you have no idea what you are looking at.