Auston Matthews

[HamiltonNHL]

The needle won’t move the other way because Matthews has hit a drought.”

It won't ?

That's why McDavid gets that money.

He's so much better than everyone else. And I mean everyone.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Matthews is injury prone.
He's not making more than Tavares.

Maybe ... if he signs an 8 year deal.

 

[Bluelines]

This is fiction.

Matthews just said whoever Babs puts there is fine. Creating a drama because someone said it is always fun to play with player X is a waste of energy, typing and our reading.

News flash, every NHL player wants to play with the best players they can because it is more fun and improves their chances of generating offense. This is not the same as insisting you play with someone.

Are things just going too well so we have to invent problems now? Surely there is a bottom pairing D or backup goalie you guys can ***** about?

WOW, Matthews gets his way and poof the old Matthews is back... sure is a coincidence.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Sadly, good sportswriting has been replaced by terrible hot takes,

Not just good sports writing the entire world

 

[BlueBaron]

WOW, Matthews gets his way and poof the old Matthews is back... sure is a coincidence.

I don't recall him demanding anything. Did I miss it or did you hallucinate it?

 

[Nithoniniel]

He and Marner looked good tonight. Made lots of plays that will open up space and tear down structure. They just weren't in sync, so those things rarely led to something. I want to see more.

 

[Mess]

That was more emotion that usual displayed by Matthews when that PP shot went in..

He really wanted that one bad. Hopefully the goals start coming more freely again once the Leafs return to action.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I hope Babcock gives them a few more games together.
It's almost too bad that he's in the ASG - could probably use the rest

 

[TheTotalPackage]

There were three shifts in the 2nd where he was his usual self, just flat out dominant. Aggressive on the puck, couldn't get knocked off, stickhandled and skated well, and even made that one move where there whole arena lit up in that exact moment. I noticed Kuznetsov was tasked to shadow him the entire game, and I thought he and his line did a really good job of it. Teams will make it tougher on him by not giving him the space that has made him thrive.

I will be in the minority, but I just didn't see the chemistry between Matthews and Marner to be honest.

 

[Mess]

They spoke during the intermission that it appears contract talks with Matthews are heading towards a shorter term 5 year maybe 6 max as 8 years would be too cost prohibitive cap wise.

Will be interesting what the $$ figure for a 5 year deal, buying only 1 year of UFA status would come in at, in an attempt to keep the team together longer.

 

[saffronleaf]

They spoke during the intermission that it appears contract talks with Matthews are heading towards a shorter term 5 year maybe 6 max as 8 years would be too cost prohibitive cap wise.

Will be interesting what the $$ figure for a 5 year deal, buying only 1 year of UFA status would come in at, in an attempt to keep the team together longer.

Is 10m x 6 years reasonable?

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Is 10m x 6 years reasonable?

I think so.

Maybe the exact 11x7 to match Tavares, like the Pens always did with Crosby and Malkin.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Is 10m x 6 years reasonable?

So same money as Eichel but we take 2 years less of term...uh no.

 

[ImpartialNHLfan]

I hope the Hyman - Tavares - Kap line stays together for awhile. That line can be very annoying to play against I think.

 

[Kiwi]

So same money as Eichel but we take 2 years less of term...uh no.

The cap has increased since Eichel signed though

 

[frizzer1]

I hope the Hyman - Tavares - Kap line stays together for awhile. That line can be very annoying to play against I think.

Annoying? Possibly.
But will they score?

 

[BorntoLose]

Annoying? Possibly.
But will they score?

Tavares has shown time and time again he doesnt need special wingers to produce and Kap isnt any slouch either

 

[The Beyonder]

His goal looked the same as early in the season.

Difference is that shot is a lot closer than early in the season and early in the season it was more consistently hard. His shooting just isn't the same to me. I'm not saying he was going to sustain his shooting percentage or getting 60 goals this year but it's the same. Earlier in the season it was going on the goalie fast or hammering against the glass/boards. Looks consistently weaker in the last 2-3 weeks.

 

[93LEAFS]

To be honest, I'd love to see Nylander get a run with JT. JT is an elite passer and great at playing that role. While Matthews is also a very strong passer, he loves to shoot and it is his best skill. Until last night, Nylander and Kadri rarely clicked, so I'm not as worried as I was, but I would like to see it. It would allow Nylander to play a more balanced offensive role than he has with Matthews, which may allow him to take the next step in his development. Although, I could also see why JT might not want Nylander as a line-mate and would prefer someone who works hard like Kapanen if he isn't going to play with Marner.

 

[Bluelines]

I don't recall him demanding anything. Did I miss it or did you hallucinate it?

Have you noticed his play the last 2 weeks?

 

[Bluelines]

To be honest, I'd love to see Nylander get a run with JT. JT is an elite passer and great at playing that role. While Matthews is also a very strong passer, he loves to shoot and it is his best skill. Until last night, Nylander and Kadri rarely clicked, so I'm not as worried as I was, but I would like to see it. It would allow Nylander to play a more balanced offensive role than he has with Matthews, which may allow him to take the next step in his development. Although, I could also see why JT might not want Nylander as a line-mate and would prefer someone who works hard like Kapanen if he isn't going to play with Marner.

Same thought popped in my head when I found out Marner was going to play with Matty.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Tavares can run with Hyman and Kappy and he can drive that line no issues
Willy can drive line with Kadri as long as Marleau not short handing the line
Marner and Matty will be fine need another few games to get in sync but it would help if AJ inserted and Marleau put on 4th line

 

[ShaneFalco]

The biggest lineup change prior to puck-drop was the pairing together of Auston Matthewsand Mitch Marner. Mike Babcock has rarely had the two stars play together outside of the shift following penalty kills, but given the Leafs had only scored ten goals in the previous four games while averaging just 24.5 shots on goal, it was obvious a spark was needed. The general rule Babcock adheres to makes sense in that the Leafs are a deeper team overall if Marner and Matthews are both driving separate lines successfully, but this is something Babcock should have in his back pocket and be willing to go to more often than he has.

Both are elite offensive players who won’t need much time together to figure it out, but there is a benefit to breeding this kind of familiarity for when the going gets tough offensively for the team down the stretch and into the playoffs, as it inevitably will. It could be this combination that comes through with a huge goal at a key time in a big playoff game for the team.
They didn’t make a ton of noise at 5-on-5, but there were early signs of chemistry shown between the two, and Matthews seemed to have more jump. He was in an eight-game goalless drought going in and clearly wanted this one badly on the power play

Game #49 Review: Toronto Maple Leafs 6 vs. Washington Capitals 3

 

[ToneDog]

There is more and more talk that Matty signs before the TDL.

 

[ACC1224]

There is more and more talk that Matty signs before the TDL.

Hopefully they announce it before the next game.

When are they back on the ice?