Auston Matthews Discussion Thread

[ACC1224]

The damn smile on his face while getting tossed around by Montreal in the playoffs last year gave me little hope that he would push back when being bullied. Last night kind of re-affirmed that.

It bothered me when Daniel sedin let Marchand use him as a punching bag without doing anything about it and it bothers me watching a 6’3” 220lb guy like Matthews allow himself to get beat up without fighting back.

Problem is, with his history of shoulder and wrist injuries, is it really worth risking an injury in a fight?

Yeah I get that but you don't even necessarily have to fight. I stick in the mouth could be just as effective, show a little crazy.
Maybe it's happened but I've never seen McDavid for example just take it and giggle.

 

[Box Score Watcher]

Yeah I get that but you don't even necessarily have to fight. I stick in the mouth could be just as effective, show a little crazy.
Maybe it's happened but I've never seen McDavid for example just take it and giggle.

McDavid has thrown dirty elbows, and Ben suspended. And just last night, got roughed up a bit going up the ice, and then proceeded to run the guy from behind. Personally, I like that emotion and aggression from the top players. Shows they won’t be bullied, at least

 

[Stephen]

There must be some GIFs floating around of Matthews bulldozing Shea Weber. It’s not so much we need him to be a physical menace but just be nasty enough to deter nonsense from happening to himself and to carve out more space for himself.

 

[ACC1224]

McDavid has thrown dirty elbows, and Ben suspended. And just last night, got roughed up a bit going up the ice, and then proceeded to run the guy from behind. Personally, I like that emotion and aggression from the top players. Shows they won’t be bullied, at least

To me it's astonishing that people who follow and discuss hockey all day, every day don't get this.

 

[Dayjobdave]

Matthews got his stick up on Perry last year. It was great seeing the shocked look on Perry's face.

What Dubois did last night to Matthews, from behind, was ridiculous, but the ref calling that corresponding roughing penalties is the lesson Matthews needs. Dude, you're not getting the call, so take your shot.

Dubois turtling behind the linesman who was suddenly quick to jump in when Ritchie was going after him, then spending the rest of the night on the bench, shows the power of push back.

Of course if a leaf had jumped in when Dubois was on Matthews' back, it would suddenly be 3rd man in, but take the penalty and buy the space.

 

[cannucky]

Matthews got his stick up on Perry last year. It was great seeing the shocked look on Perry's face.

What Dubois did last night to Matthews, from behind, was ridiculous, but the ref calling that corresponding roughing penalties is the lesson Matthews needs. Dude, you're not getting the call, so take your shot.

Dubois turtling behind the linesman who was suddenly quick to jump in when Ritchie was going after him, then spending the rest of the night on the bench, shows the power of push back.

Of course if a leaf had jumped in when Dubois was on Matthews' back, it would suddenly be 3rd man in, but take the penalty and buy the space.

There hasn't been a third man in penalty on the books for 20 + years bud , Mathews wants to act like he's playing more physical but turtles at the first sign of pushback from opponents , somebody is going to either really hurt him or turn him out on the corner if he doesn't grow a pair . It's not just McJesus play that crap with Crosby or Mackinnon or Ovi and see what happens to ya .

 

[leafsfan5]

McDavid has thrown dirty elbows, and Ben suspended. And just last night, got roughed up a bit going up the ice, and then proceeded to run the guy from behind. Personally, I like that emotion and aggression from the top players. Shows they won’t be bullied, at least

It's not just McDavid either, Crosby has done it on multiple occasions including in the playoffs. Ovechkin plays that style in general. So does Mackinnon

You don't have to be a rough, fighting kind of player like Ovechkin. Matthews isn't, and that's okay. But, you have to be willing to dish it out on occasion. I've only seen Matthews do that like once (against MTL in 2019 against Weber).

 

[Dragao6]

Arizona’s rebuild thread has most fans convinced matthews is part of their organization when his contract is up lol

 

[ShaneFalco]

Arizona’s rebuild thread has most fans convinced matthews is part of their organization when his contract is up lol

Yeah what an amazing destination

 

[Aashir]

Arizona’s rebuild thread has most fans convinced matthews is part of their organization when his contract is up lol

They’ll have to still have a team by then…..

 

[Confucius]

72 goals in last 83 home games.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Matthews for Richard.

And I would don that avatar if made.

 

[leafsfan5]

Arizona’s rebuild thread has most fans convinced matthews is part of their organization when his contract is up lol

They couldn’t pay OEL’s 4 million bonus on time. Good luck with Matthews’ 15+ Lmao

no shot he goes there

 

[Confucius]

They couldn’t pay OEL’s 4 million bonus on time. Good luck with Matthews’ 15+ Lmao

no shot he goes there

He wouldn't go to a doormat team even if it was home.

 

[saffronleaf]

on pace for 56g in 79 games (max playable)

 

[stickty111]

We don't appreciate enough that we have a top 3 player on the team who on any night can be the best player in the league.

 

[zeke]

an article filled with numbers and videos that shows pretty clearly how badly Matthews' gets screwed in the drawing penalties part of the game.

Why doesn't Auston Matthews draw more penalties? A brief investigation

 

[meefer]

an article filled with numbers and videos that shows pretty clearly how badly Matthews' gets screwed in the drawing penalties part of the game.

Why doesn't Auston Matthews draw more penalties? A brief investigation

It would take a list of history's greatest orators to explain this (taken from the article above)

"Matthews drew 30 5-on-5 penalties during those three seasons, which placed him just outside the top 100 (Over the three seasons previous to this one, the NHL leaderboard in penalties drawn 5-on-5 was filled up mostly by the kind of elite players Keefe was referring to). Nylander and Marner drew 26 apiece — one less than both Alex Kerfoot and Wayne Simmonds and tied for 167th overall. Tavares topped the group with 41 calls, tied for 39th most in the league.This season, Tavares and Marner have each drawn five penalties 5-on-5. Nylander has picked up four calls. Matthews is one of the only Leafs not to draw even one. Even Alex Steeves is on the board. So is Joey Anderson."

I'm curious, why is this so? Hmmmmmmm.

 

[saffronleaf]

I posted it last night that Matthews was going to “go off” on a goal scoring frenzy.

He is about to go freak mode.

you hit the nail on the head

 

[saffronleaf]

hope he can get 20g this season but not looking too hot

so he hit 20

 

[zeke]

so he hit 20

 

[Apotheosis]

Up to 5th in league scoring now.

 

[Confucius]

Mathews leading for Captain of the Atlantic in the All Star game, get out and vote.

 

[Mess]

Arizona’s rebuild thread has most fans convinced matthews is part of their organization when his contract is up lol

Its images like this that give them hope.

but mostly this

Arizona is hoping he pulls a John Tavares and returns home and saves his favourite boyhood team.

Because our franchise player was not locked away for 8 years, it does give some Leaf fans pause for concern that he might leave after this contract ends.

 

[zeke]

Its images like this that give them hope.

but mostly this

Arizona is hoping he pulls a John Tavares and returns home and saves his favourite boyhood team.

Gives YOU hope, you mean.