Player Discussion Auston Matthews Discussion

[notDatsyuk]

It'd be nice to have a better C than Kampf to take draws on PK1.

I want Matthews on PK1, not PK2 because he is our best PKer, not specifically to take the draw, but it is a nice bonus.

Our PK has struggled at crucial times and our best PKer has been on the bench.

Any particular reason you think Matthews is our best PKer?

 

[notDatsyuk]

Best on ice xGA/60.
2nd best shot against/60.
Best high danger shot against/60.
Best rel xGF% by 23%.
Best G%.

He might be the best at anticipating a play (maybe Marner), he is the best shot blocker, and he has the best stick.

He has the skill set of an elite PKer, I'd just like to see him out there more because in his limited time, he was the best.

Are those specifically PK stats, or overall?

 

[notbias]

Are those specifically PK stats, or overall?

Specifically PK (only 4v5, doubt he has any 3v5 or 3v4 TOI)

He also looked like our best PKer to me.

I understand wanting to use him in an offensive role after the PK is done, I just liked him a lot on the PK.

 

[arso40]

Honestly, splitting them would be better for both of their games. A Rocket Richard is great and all but it shouldn't come at the expense of debilitating the team's primary attack option. Whether it's even strength or on the man advantage, Marner, Rielly, and the rest of the Leafs players would default the puck to Matthews as opposed to playing hockey.

Not willy

 

[Sypher04]

Honestly, splitting them would be better for both of their games. A Rocket Richard is great and all but it shouldn't come at the expense of debilitating the team's primary attack option. Whether it's even strength or on the man advantage, Marner, Rielly, and the rest of the Leafs players would default the puck to Matthews as opposed to playing hockey.

Yeah, end of the day I prefer them apart, and Matthews doesn’t need Marner on his line to win the rocket. He’s proven he can score with a variety of different guys on the roster

 

[fahad203]

Evan Bouchard 51 games - 58 points
Auston Matthews 55 games - 48 points

 

[Erndog]

Evan Bouchard 51 games - 58 points
Auston Matthews 55 games - 48 points

Matthew Tkachuk (Stanley Cup Champion)

69 games - 61 points

 

[notbias]

Evan Bouchard 51 games - 58 points
Auston Matthews 55 games - 48 points

Both players here have 0 cups, that is what counts.

Bouchard is a good offensive player, but why do we leave out context when discussing someone like him? He makes breakout passes and is great on the PP, that is where most of his points come from.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Evan Bouchard 51 games - 58 points
Auston Matthews 55 games - 48 points

Bouchard is the best player in the world!!!! Omg

 

[Aashir Mallik]

according to Zach Laing (so take this with a grain of salt as I don’t really know who that is)

Draisaitl played through a broken rib and broken finger from game 1 of second round on

Mcdavid played through an abdominal injury requiring surgery

If this is true, then damn they have guys playing through broken bones and surgery-required injuries and still producing.

Meanwhile we get Matthews missing games and if he doesn’t miss games. He ends up playing limp offensively, and the wrist excuses are brought out

Both players here have 0 cups, that is what counts.

View attachment 887121
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Bouchard is a good offensive player, but why do we leave out context when discussing someone like him? He makes breakout passes and is great on the PP, that is where most of his points come from.

why the hell are you pointing out goals from a forward vs defencemen, where btw Matthews is only ahead by 10. Bouchard has more primary and secondary assists, why can Matthews not get those?

also 23 goals as Auston Matthews is bust worthy compared to his regular season scoring, so idk why you bring that up, it actually hurts his chances vs Bouchard

 

[fahad203]

according to Zach Laing (so take this with a grain of salt as I don’t really know who that is)

Draisaitl played through a broken rib and broken finger from game 1 of second round on

Mcdavid played through an abdominal injury requiring surgery

If this is true, then damn they have guys playing through broken bones and surgery-required injuries and still producing.

Meanwhile we get Matthews missing games and if he doesn’t miss games. He ends up playing limp offensively, and the wrist excuses are brought out

why the hell are you pointing out goals from a forward vs defencemen, where btw Matthews is only ahead by 10. Bouchard has more primary and secondary assists, why can Matthews not get those?

also 23 goals as Auston Matthews is bust worthy compared to his regular season scoring, so idk why you bring that up, it actually hurts his chances vs Bouchard

Draisitl had to play with some injury. He just looked off.

 

[Racer88]

Both players here have 0 cups, that is what counts.

View attachment 887121
View attachment 887123

Bouchard is a good offensive player, but why do we leave out context when discussing someone like him? He makes breakout passes and is great on the PP, that is where most of his points come from.

Sounds like someone that we need

 

[Stephen]

It was inevitable that once the playoffs concluded that we’d hear about some gnarly injuries from key superstars going deep in the playoffs that would not put Matthews in the best light in comparison, especially with the lack of public information.

Long and short of it is he’s got a lot of ground to cover to overcome his growing negative reputation in the playoffs. Leafs and their best players have basically been arrested development since at least 2020.

 

[notbias]

Sounds like someone that we need

Sure, I'd take Bouchard, great offensively, sucks defensively but we don't have an Ekholm to cover for him.

Not sure most fans would like him though, he's not Edmundson.

It was inevitable that once the playoffs concluded that we’d hear about some gnarly injuries from key superstars going deep in the playoffs that would not put Matthews in the best light in comparison, especially with the lack of public information.

Long and short of it is he’s got a lot of ground to cover to overcome his growing negative reputation in the playoffs. Leafs and their best players have basically been arrested development since at least 2020.

All he needs is one good playoff where they go on a long run... Barkov is now considered a good playoff performer after only 1.

Tkachuk changed his reputation last year.

 

[Racer88]

It was inevitable that once the playoffs concluded that we’d hear about some gnarly injuries from key superstars going deep in the playoffs that would not put Matthews in the best light in comparison, especially with the lack of public information.

Long and short of it is he’s got a lot of ground to cover to overcome his growing negative reputation in the playoffs. Leafs and their best players have basically been arrested development since at least 2020.

I forget was Matthews the superstar that had a headache and couldn’t play or is he the one that had a tummy ache and couldn’t play. I get our hard tough men mixed up

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

I forget was Matthews the superstar that had a headache and couldn’t play or is he the one that had a tummy ache and couldn’t play. I get our hard tough men mixed up

 

[Stephen]

All he needs is one good playoff where they go on a long run... Barkov is now considered a good playoff performer after only 1.

Tkachuk changed his reputation last year.

Yeah, if Matthews won a Stanley Cup his reputation would change.

 

[Stephen]

View attachment 887234

The information vacuum doesn’t help…

 

[notbias]

Yeah, if Matthews won a Stanley Cup his reputation would change.

I just listed someone who didn't win the cup and the opinion changed...

It happens all the time, there are playoff duds who have one good playoff and everyone forgets about past years.

 

[IPS]

according to Zach Laing (so take this with a grain of salt as I don’t really know who that is)

Draisaitl played through a broken rib and broken finger from game 1 of second round on

Mcdavid played through an abdominal injury requiring surgery

If this is true, then damn they have guys playing through broken bones and surgery-required injuries and still producing.

Meanwhile we get Matthews missing games and if he doesn’t miss games. He ends up playing limp offensively, and the wrist excuses are brought out

why the hell are you pointing out goals from a forward vs defencemen, where btw Matthews is only ahead by 10. Bouchard has more primary and secondary assists, why can Matthews not get those?

also 23 goals as Auston Matthews is bust worthy compared to his regular season scoring, so idk why you bring that up, it actually hurts his chances vs Bouchard

Little bit off topic but it really does lend itself to the fact that they need to drastically reduce the amount of regular season hockey. Honestly 60 games would be enough, still maybe even too much. You never get to see guys at their best deep in the playoffs.

 

[Racer88]

View attachment 887234

Ya and last year it was a wrist or something as to why he didn’t play very well in the second round

Little bit off topic but it really does lend itself to the fact that they need to drastically reduce the amount of regular season hockey. Honestly 60 games would be enough, still maybe even too much. You never get to see guys at their best deep in the playoffs.

Tell that to the team that wins the cup every year……they seem to do just fine

 

[saffronleaf]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1804915162261934481

Hyman was the best goal scorer this season. Yes Matthews got 70 goals too but only one goal that mattered while Hyman had SIXTEEN times that amount.

Matthews needs to be the best goal scorer next season. Can't lose to players making 8 million less than him.

 

[TheDoldrums]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805949414030135683

was half expecting this to end with a C on his jersey

 

[BallardEra]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805949414030135683

 

[LeafsFan89]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805949414030135683

was half expecting this to end with a C on his jersey

Wish he would show this much passion, excitement, and emotion during playoff games.