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Auston Matthews Finalist for Hart Trophy

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Mess said:
Speaking of "killer instinct" the one thing that bothered me most about Matthews was also related to his increase physical play at the same time.

He would throw a hit and take the body and a scrum would occur and then he would stand there grinning like a Cheshire cat, as the opposition grabbed him by the collar and shook him like a rag doll and he just took it laughing.

Killer instinct to me means hating to lose and doing whatever it takes to win, and that means being serious. The follow-through of his intense hit looked like more like a carefree lack of compete low intensity response, and follows through to it doesn't matter if the team wins or loses.



Matthews as the Rocket Richard winner is certainly due full credit for his Hart nomination as valuable to his team, however I still see a lot of growth potential where he carries that forward particularly during the playoffs to the point he is getting Conn Symthe consideration and MVP. He got the size and the strength to dominate a game, but not the maturity level has not caught up to his skillset and talent yet. IMO

Dougie Gilmour is what I think of when I hear "killer instinct" and I suppose that is why they nicknamed him killer.. He was small but he played like a pit bull on the ice and this is what I'd like to see from Matthews in time when his true killer instinct kicks in.
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I think he baited Chiarot into taking a penalty on that play, and then dialed up the intensity in Game 2-4 following up. So that Cheshire cat grin isn’t necessarily the whole picture.

But to your very valid point, if he’s going to be a gamer you throw that heavy hit, draw the retaliation and laugh your ass off when your team is up 5-1 in a close out game, a little insult to injury. Not when you haven’t done the job and no one is worried about your PP.

To get back to Killer. You want to see them want to dominate.
 
Mess said:
That is my point exactly.

Loved the hit, loved the increase using the body to win puck battles, that is what we need to see more of him using his size and strength to his advantage, but then the ending was almost embarrassing like he was proud he did something special, when that should really become routine.

To allow yourself to get tossed around by the collar and think its all fun and games kind of defeats the purpose of forcing your will on others physically.

Had he stood up for himself and pushed back his teammates would have entered the fray and he would have dragged more teammates into the battle and increase the intensity level of the game and the team. As a leader that would inspire more players to get involved and all will follow into battle, particular if you're behind in the game and trying to change the momentum of your team.

That is what a Hart trophy nominee of being valuable to his team is all about.
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My point is that it's less about the physical push back and more about the lack of scoring.

He's playing a role by laughing, but he doesn't fulfill it shooting blanks.
 
Lightsol said:
I was wondering how many posts it'd take before Leaf fans were demanding he be stripped of all potential awards because the Leafs got eliminated in the first round. Wonder why players don't want to come here and/or don't stick around?
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I'm sure he's thinking a bit if it himself and if not I'd be disappointed
 
Gallagbi said:
My point is that it's less about the physical push back and more about the lack of scoring.

He's playing a role by laughing, but he doesn't fulfill it shooting blanks.
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Fairly or not, pure production and physical/emotional engagement or the perception of it are linked. The former is what really counts, but the latter makes a big impression of whether you're dialed in and appear to be doing all you can to win. Otherwise you look like a Sedin getting punched in the head by Marchand. Not a good look when you lose.

Also there's also some benefit of that push back. Across a 7 game series, if at every whistle you drill a defenseman like Chiarot into the boards and then give him a healthy shove to the face, you're going to earn a little more room out there.
 
Stephen said:
Fairly or not, pure production and physical/emotional engagement or the perception of it are linked. The former is what really counts, but the latter makes a big impression of whether you're dialed in and appear to be doing all you can to win. Otherwise you look like a Sedin getting punched in the head by Marchand. Not a good look when you lose.

Also there's also some benefit of that push back. Across a 7 game series, if at every whistle you drill a defenseman like Chiarot into the boards and then give him a healthy shove to the face, you're going to earn a little more room out there.
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You can also be the Kadri or the Simmonds in the situation looking like the idiot trying to be overly physical


I'm fine if he wants to punch everyone around him I'm the face, just like I'm fine if he wants to pretend to be too good for it. Just put up, that's what it comes down to
 
Gallagbi said:
You can also be the Kadri or the Simmonds in the situation looking like the idiot trying to be overly physical


I'm fine if he wants to punch everyone around him I'm the face, just like I'm fine if he wants to pretend to be too good for it. Just put up, that's what it comes down to
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For sure, scoring is what counts... all I'm saying is participating in the normal extra curriculars keeps the critics off your back. And generally a big man who doesn't at least throw his weight around as a weapon (like a Messier) tends to become a big target (like a Lemieux).

A lot of logical reasons why those stupid hockey dynamics exist.
 
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Lightsol said:
I was wondering how many posts it'd take before Leaf fans were demanding he be stripped of all potential awards because the Leafs got eliminated in the first round. Wonder why players don't want to come here and/or don't stick around?
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Read my other post.

This playoffs was very dissapointing. Him getting this dosnt help us in any way. Still like.him as a player.chillax
 
Lightsol said:
I was wondering how many posts it'd take before Leaf fans were demanding he be stripped of all potential awards because the Leafs got eliminated in the first round. Wonder why players don't want to come here and/or don't stick around?
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Okay there white knight
 
Clark4Ever said:
He has brought it in the post season before. This year, it was difficult for him with one linemate coming off of injury and the other linemate going MIA.

If Keefe gave him the chance to play with Nylander for meaningful minutes, perhaps things would have worked out differently.
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Or if Keefe knew how matchups work. It’s unfortunate having a coach who knows less than most fans
 
Lightsol said:
I was wondering how many posts it'd take before Leaf fans were demanding he be stripped of all potential awards because the Leafs got eliminated in the first round. Wonder why players don't want to come here and/or don't stick around?
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Dumb take. No one you quotes said he should be stripped of the recognition. We don’t hate the player, he just hasn’t performed well enough. The nhl ain’t just about the regular season. We just don’t care because the ultimate goal in the NHL to win the cup was failed miserably. He didn’t even win the Ross, Hart or Lindsay.
 
The
Leaf Fans said:
Name one fan who knows more thabln Keefe.
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Any fan who knew better than this idiotic shit Keefe has pulled:

* Against Columbus last season, Nylander hadn’t taken any reps at C all season. Game 5 surprise Willy you’re jumping in at C. Why? So we can put all our offence on one line. Torts is a good guy let’s make it nice and easy for him to shut us down
* The power play went south 30ish games ago - Keefe has no answer
* Our two top five scorers couldn't produce - never tried on separate lines
* Marner looks like he's exhausted due to over work - Keefe trots him out on the PK. In fact in the Columbus series I started noticing this. Keefe overplays the stars until the point that they are visibly worn down and can’t skate to compete for pucks
* At home, where Ducharme has to tell you he's starting Danault - Keefe keeps starting the Matthews line. In fact Keefe basically let Montreal’s coach dictate the matchups the entire series
* Joe Thornton - no more needs to be said
* Shut out the Canadiens with Sandin on the bench and Dermott (who has played almost 300 games in the org) in the line up - Keefe puts Sandin back in. In fact a rookie D man shouldn’t have been playing the series period.
* Kerfoot-Nylander-Galch line is producing - Keefe replaces Kerfoot with an injured Foligno
* Never using Galchenyuk on the power play despite his howitzer of a one timer
Just to name a few. I feel like coaching has been below par
 
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Stonehands1990 said:
The

Any fan who knew better than this idiotic shit Keefe has pulled:

* Against Columbus last season, Nylander hadn’t taken any reps at C all season. Game 5 surprise Willy you’re jumping in at C. Why? So we can put all our offence on one line. Torts is a good guy let’s make it nice and easy for him to shut us down
* The power play went south 30ish games ago - Keefe has no answer
* Our two top five scorers couldn't produce - never tried on separate lines
* Marner looks like he's exhausted due to over work - Keefe trots him out on the PK. In fact in the Columbus series I started noticing this. Keefe overplays the stars until the point that they are visibly worn down and can’t skate to compete for pucks
* At home, where Ducharme has to tell you he's starting Danault - Keefe keeps starting the Matthews line. In fact Keefe basically let Montreal’s coach dictate the matchups the entire series
* Joe Thornton - no more needs to be said
* Shut out the Canadiens with Sandin on the bench and Dermott (who has played almost 300 games in the org) in the line up - Keefe puts Sandin back in. In fact a rookie D man shouldn’t have been playing the series period.
* Kerfoot-Nylander-Galch line is producing - Keefe replaces Kerfoot with an injured Foligno
* Never using Galchenyuk on the power play despite his howitzer of a one timer
Just to name a few. I feel like coaching has been below par
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You think he NHL just blackballed those fans? Or maybe you think they are too good for the NHL. I always know what rlthe coach should have done. I can't he proven wrong either, but knowing you what to do beforehand is a skill that seperates the fans from the coaches.
 
Leaf Fans said:
You think he NHL just blackballed those fans? Or maybe you think they are too good for the NHL. I always know what rlthe coach should have done. I can't he proven wrong either, but knowing you what to do beforehand is a skill that seperates the fans from the coaches.
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It’s all based on what more skilled NHL coaches have done. Case in point in the Boston series Cassidy broke up the perfection line after 2 games to get Pastrnak going
 
Stonehands1990 said:
It’s all based on what more skilled NHL coaches have done. Case in point in the Boston series Cassidy broke up the perfection line after 2 games to get Pastrnak going
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Yeah, there are probably more skilled coaches than Keefe and there are certainly more experienced coaches than Keefe and if the team thinks they can find one that can to better with the team than Keefe has, I am all for it, but it is extremely improbable that the could choose a fan to do better.
 
Leaf Fans said:
Yeah, there are probably more skilled coaches than Keefe and there are certainly more experienced coaches than Keefe and if the team thinks they can find one that can to better with the team than Keefe has, I am all for it, but it is extremely improbable that the could choose a fan to do better.
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I would give it a try. It is a no brain changes. He was like 6 games to late with giving Nylander more icetime and pp1 chances. That saying " act! dont react" he didnt even react. Sheldon "The Ostrich" Keefe combs the sand out of his hair right now, while wondering what happend.
 
Regular season stats mean nothing to me .
Bring that rocket and Hart trophy to the real season .
The playoffs if you haven't heard of it before.
Have a great summer Mathews.
 
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