Is Matthews the worst playoff performer ever?

[Austerlitz]

Just the last 2.

Matthews wasn’t in his prime from when he entered the league in his first year. He gets criticized for making the playoffs as a teenager and not producing as a teenager. Most players don’t make the playoffs for a few years until they’re more developed.

He’s been better in the playoffs since entering his prime but the best version of him hasn’t been healthy in the playoffs aside from the first 2 games last year.

Draisaitl broke Gretzky records playing on a high ankle sprain.

 

[braunm]

I think Hellebuck is a worse playoff performer than Matthews. Hellebuck has always been healthy as opposed to Matthews’ who has ongoing injuries.

 

[lakai17]

Need to get in the tight areas and grind it out as a team player. Get those greasy goals in the playoffs

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Matthews is trolling us all and he's going to put his team on his back in game 6 and take them to the cup.

 

[NVious]

Matthews is trolling us all and he's going to put his team on his back in game 6 and take them to the cup.

The longest Just For Laughs gag out there.

We're all gonna look so stupid when he stops the playoffs and tells us "I was only PRETENDING to be awful"

 

[VainGretzky]

Shouldn't there be an award for dumbest thread ever? I nominate this one. Matthews basically dominates every shift he is on the ice, whether he scores or not. Any Leafs fan who criticizes this guy is clearly not old enough to remember some of the legendary centres the Leafs have had over the years....

McDavid yells dig the f*** in as a captain in the dressing room Matthews says hey boys how do you like my new purse

 

[Kiekura]

Is it though? His playoff stats aren’t bad. He’s been around PPG nearly every playoffs except his second year.

Usually he leads both teams in scoring while being one of the best faceoff players and dominant defensively.

People are upset at him for not scoring more goals. Lots of players who are around PPG in the playoffs are praised here, but not Matthews.

He has not been dominant defensively and close to ppg as one of the highest paid player in league is not good enough. You are suppose to be this superstar, yet there are people who make WAY less than him and perform exactly same or better. Not to mention this is only stats hunting. Once you start to watch those games, difference grows even more with eye test.

Also his playoff games are from 1st or 2nd round. You face better teams further you go, you get more small minor or even major injuries, you are more exhausted etc. Dude cant even perform in second round.

 

[SimpleJack]

Hard to argue with these #s. That core seems mentally fragile and the weight of the pressure must only be getting greater with each passing year/failed playoff run. Don’t think it’s a talent/physical issue.

 

[Fatass]

Matthews deserves to take heat but Marner is even worse. The stats are right there for all to see. Matthews out produces Marner. Marner also way softer somehow. Can't take a hit at all at least Matthews takes a few hits before vanishing. Marner is unwilling to take even 1

Isn’t Matthews 230 and Marner about 170?

 

[sampollock]

This is actually insane and I didn’t even realize it.

sadly it is not is fault
overrated yes

 

[Divine]

He has not been dominant defensively and close to ppg as one of the highest paid player in league is not good enough. You are suppose to be this superstar, yet there are people who make WAY less than him and perform exactly same or better. Not to mention this is only stats hunting. Once you start to watch those games, difference grows even more with eye test.

Also his playoff games are from 1st or 2nd round. You face better teams further you go, you get more small minor or even major injuries, you are more exhausted etc. Dude cant even perform in second round.

There are people who makes less than him that do some things better than him.

Name a player who scores more than him, has a better faceoff percentage than him, is better defensively than him and is paid less than him on a UFA contract? You’re cherry picking things. There’s players who do some things better than him, but other things worse than him.

Draisaitl is not the best player on his team but he gets stapled to the best player on the team to drive offense. Draisaitl also got more money than Matthews on his UFA deal on a longer term. McDavid likely jumps past Draisaitl as well next summer. Matthews would be the third highest paid player on the Oilers for UFA deals.

 

[MikeS24]

Because for some weird reason, mostly due to undeserved arrogance, I believe, Leafs fans think every superstar Ontario-born player will sign in Toronto as soon as they have the chance. the reality is that only Tavares has done that in the last 30 years.

some of those types of players do end up in Toronto, though...usually when they are 35+ years old, way past their primes, and kinda useless. (Marleau, Thornton, Lindros, Nolan, etc)

The fact of the matter is that most guys do not want to play in their hometowns

Extra pressure

Extra distractions

Family always wanting tickets

Probably a lot of unwanted feedback from family members every time you see them

Sometimes space is good between family.

 

[Divine]

Draisaitl broke Gretzky records playing on a high ankle sprain.

Lots of players stars jump up when stapled to McDavid. I guarantee you Matthews playoff stats jump up if he was in Draisaitl’s spot.

Staple Draisaitl to Marner and he doesn’t come close.

Draisaitl has the advantage of being the second best player on his team.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Hat Trick Game 6, come on Matthews

 

[MikeS24]

Lots of players stars jump up when stapled to McDavid.

Staple Draisaitl to Marner and he doesn’t come close.

Draisaitl has the advantage of being the second best player on his team.

Drai would probably help elevate Marner TBH. I bet Marners totals go up

Drai still gets looked over. He played with 4th liners a lot this year and a mix of 2nd line tweeners.

Can pot 50 in his sleep

Coach tells him "I am putting you with two 4th liners for these last two games - Podkolzin and Kap) and he ws told to shut down Eichel

Eichel does nothing and his line has a total of TWO HD chances these last two games. Drai helps set up the OT winner last night

 

[Divine]

Drai would probably help elevate Marner TBH. I bet Marners totals go up

Drai still gets looked over. He played with 4th liners a lot this year and a mix of 2nd line tweeners.

Can pot 50 in his sleep

Coach tells him "I am putting you with two 4th liners for these last two games - Podkolzin and Kap) and he ws told to shut down Eichel

Eichel does nothing and his line has a total of TWO HD chances these last two games. Drai helps set up the OT winner last night

Draisaitl doesn’t score 50 without McDavid. Even when he doesn’t play on McDavid’s line he plays with him on the PP waiting for passes in the slot.

McDavid’s most common linemate over his career has been Draisaitl and vice versa. They have shifts apart but as soon as the Oilers start trailing, they’re back together.

It’s ironic you put up that Draisaitl got an assist last game and he gets overlooked when this whole thread is about discrediting Matthews putting up points and shutting down players because he’s not scoring enough goals. The exact argument you made for Draisaitl is the exact argument being used to discredit Matthews simultaneously in this thread.

Draisaitl against Florida last year was the same (so far) as Matthews against Florida this year.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Draisaitl doesn’t score 50 without McDavid. Even when he doesn’t play on McDavid’s line he plays with him on the PP waiting for passes in the slot.

McDavid’s most common linemate over his career has been Draisaitl and vice versa. They have shifts apart but as soon as the Oilers start trailing, they’re back together.

Throwing shade at Draisaitl is not a good look. He's a phenomenal player and one of the best playoff performers of the era. You can defend your guys without trying to downplay Draisaitl's accomplishments.

 

[MikeS24]

Draisaitl doesn’t score 50 without McDavid. Even when he doesn’t play on McDavid’s line he plays with him on the PP waiting for passes in the slot.

McDavid’s most common linemate over his career has been Draisaitl and vice versa. They have shifts apart but as soon as the Oilers start trailing, they’re back together.

I bet he scores 50 with another star player like Marner. A good set up man. Drai is a good set up guy himself. He is a 50+50 man. Look how crappy EDM PP was this year. That cross ice onetimer is barely an option any more.

ANywho, I don't want to derail this.

Matthews has had 9 years TO SHOW SOMETHING

Guy is a complete DUD

I can't even remember a game he has taken over where you go "wow man, he looks unstoppable"

He does things in little bursts. Guy just doesn't seem to have the passion IMO. Just a great paying job to him.

When you have fans say 'Wellll, he looked good that one game 2 in Boston!". You are in trouble.

I swear, besides the past 3 games, I bet Oiler fans have sh** talked and critisized McDavid & Drai more than Leaf fans/media do to Matthews.

Standards are higher. It's mind boggling how scared everybody is to tear this guy apart (fans and media)

 

[Kamus]

I don't think he'd have any agenda against playing in Canada. Although, most Canadian teams don't really seem poised to win soon, besides Edmonton and maybe Montreal.

My hot take as an Oilers fan….

If McDavid wins this year or next, he will go to Toronto.

Reasons is that I think he feels his commitment to Edmonton has been fulfilled by bringing the cup(he would be seen as a god whatever his choice is).

For legacy reasons, if he went to Toronto and won, he would be cemented as one of the greatest ever as none of the other Greats won beyond their original teams and in their 20s let alone bring a perennial loser, be it the biggest market, a championship for the first time in 50 years.

 

[Divine]

Throwing shade at Draisaitl is not a good look. He's a phenomenal player and one of the best playoff performers of the era. You can defend your guys without trying to downplay Draisaitl's accomplishments.

It’s fair to point out the advantageous a player has when they’re used in comparison.

I never said Draisaitl is a bad player, did I?

Plus every time Draisaitl or Matthews play Florida, they both don’t look good. So I’m trying to equalize the comparison.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

McDavid yells dig the f*** in as a captain in the dressing room Matthews says hey boys how do you like my new purse

I don't think Matthews speaks to his teammates.

 

[Divine]

I bet he scores 50 with another star player like Marner. A good set up man. Drai is a good set up guy himself. He is a 50+50 man. Look how crappy EDM PP was this year. That cross ice onetimer is barely an option any more.

I disagree, but we’ll never know.

There’s a big difference in the space Marner generates vs McDavid. McDavid is a 60 goal scorer so you have to respect that he can score and play him as a shooting threat which opens up more space. Marner is always dared to shoot because he has a weak shot and can’t beat goalies from far. In the playoffs, defending Marner is nearly always daring him to shoot and cheating towards the passing lanes.

I think Draisaitl can score 50 with Kucherov or maybe MacK, because they’re both scoring threats. I don’t see it with Marner personally.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Either Matthews, Marner, or Hellebuyck

 

[Kamus]

Draisaitl doesn’t score 50 without McDavid. Even when he doesn’t play on McDavid’s line he plays with him on the PP waiting for passes in the slot.

McDavid’s most common linemate over his career has been Draisaitl and vice versa. They have shifts apart but as soon as the Oilers start trailing, they’re back together.

It’s ironic you put up that Draisaitl got an assist last game and he gets overlooked when this whole thread is about discrediting Matthews putting up points and shutting down players because he’s not scoring enough goals. The exact argument you made for Draisaitl is the exact argument being used to discredit Matthews simultaneously in this thread.

Draisaitl against Florida last year was the same (so far) as Matthews against Florida this year.

Matthews doesn’t score 35 if every game was in the playoffs.

 

[BeranekAndNeck]

Is it though? His playoff stats aren’t bad. He’s been around PPG nearly every playoffs except his second year.

He's 20th in playoff PPG among active players with two teammates ahead of him. That is not good enough, no.

Usually he leads both teams in scoring while being one of the best faceoff players and dominant defensively.

Except he does not lead his teams in scoring in the playoffs, which again is what matters in a discussion about... scoring in the playoffs.

2024-25: 3rd so far
2023-24: T1st with Domi and Bertuzzi
2022-23: 3rd
2021-22: 1st
2020-21: 3rd

That's five years of data. It's also debatable how "dominant" his defense is in the playoffs, given he has never managed to shut down the other team enough to reach Round 3.

People are upset at him for not scoring more goals. Lots of players who are around PPG in the playoffs are praised here, but not Matthews.

Matthews has three goals in his last four playoff series and has never scored a goal in the second round. That is good enough for a player of his regular season resume. Full stop.