Is Matthews the worst playoff performer ever?

[Bozo Nicholson]

Matthews is getting ready for his summer vacation. When is he shooting his next TV commercial?

Gotta get that murse money.

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

You guys just wait! The offense will finally click, Woll will remember he's allowed to stop pucks, tomorrow Matthews will wake up feeling dangerous and score a nasty slapper off Marner’s spinarama to cut the lead down to 6!

 

[Oak]

This is my favorite thread on hfboards

 

[sampollock]

This is my favorite thread on hfboards

Mine too
Nostrils it's probably going to win an academy award before he wins a Stanley Cup

 

[Kennerback]

Matthews is getting ready for his summer vacation. When is he shooting his next TV commercial?

It’s tough playing in a big market. If he gets more marketing opportunities, I don’t think he should feel guilty about it.

 

[MikeS24]

In response to my original post.

If he wins in TO, he would be recognized as the greatest Leaf ever as well…. Again, I’m an Edmonton fan saying this….

I feel McDavid is a very loyal individual…. So if he wins in Edmonton, (proves his loyalty to Edmonton) he can pay back his loyalty to TO with a cup win…. That would make him revered in 2 of the top 3 (obviously the Habs) most popular/Historic teams in Canada

I don't disagree, but what loyalty would he be paying back to Toronto? Has Toronto been giving him cash under the table?

How about Crosby. Did he "pay back his loyalty" to Montreal?

 

[Summer Rose]

I don't disagree, but what loyalty would he be paying back to Toronto? Has Toronto been giving him cash under the table?

How about Crosby. Did he "pay back his loyalty" to Montreal?

Er... what does Crosby have to do with Montreal?

 

[MikeS24]

Er... what does Crosby have to do with Montreal?

His fav team growing up just like McDavid loved the Leafs growing up. Crosby didn't leave to go to MTL because he seen that he could win more than 1 cup where he was at

 

[Skiiiiiiinerrr]

Er... what does Crosby have to do with Montreal?

“I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan and to have an ovation like that was pretty special.” -Sidney Crosby.

I guess it's this.

 

[Summer Rose]

His fav team growing up just like McDavid loved the Leafs growing up. Crosby didn't leave to go to MTL because he seen that he could win more than 1 cup where he was at

“I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan and to have an ovation like that was pretty special.” -Sidney Crosby.

I guess it's this.

Ah, fair enough. I never knew that, thanks!

 

[MikeS24]

I don't think I can recall a single time where Matthews has stepped up in a critical moment in the playoffs. He doesn't even seem to try and go out swinging.

This is what I always say

#1, thread title is not good. No, he is not the worst, but he sure stands out relative to the $$ he commands and how lethal he has been at goal scoring.

When I talk to some of my Leafs buddies, I say what you did above. They ponder a while (bad sign) and say "well, he kind of took over game 2 against BOS"

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

Matthews hasn't had a great playoffs, but he has the same # of points in 5 games against the Panthers that Leon Draisatl had during the SCF last season. Kucherov was also blasted for having a low number of goals against this team. Just throwing that out there.

 

[Kennerback]

This is what I always say

#1, thread title is not good. N, he is not the worst, but he sure stands out relative to the $$ he commands and how lethal he has been at goal scoring.

When I talk to some of my Leafs buddies, I say what you did above. They ponder a while (bad sign) and say "well, he kind of took over game 2 against BOS"

Not rising to high expectations in Toronto is even worse than screwing the pooch elsewhere. Fact of life.

 

[MikeS24]

Matthews hasn't had a great playoffs, but he has the same # of points in 5 games against the Panthers that Leon Draisatl had during the SCF last season. Kucherov was also blasted for having a low number of goals against this team. Just throwing that out there.

This is not about the Panthers though in general. This is about a 9 year sample size

I am sure Matthews is injured as was leon (Ribs). Leon was honestly pretty useless in the finals which sucked. Kane as well (shut down after game 1 I believe).

I remember our Owner giving Leon a hug in between game 6 and 7 thanking him for how much he was toughing it out. Leon probably should have been shut down if it wasn't a finals. Vancouver hurt him good.

 

[Skolman]

In response to my original post.

If he wins in TO, he would be recognized as the greatest Leaf ever as well…. Again, I’m an Edmonton fan saying this….

I feel McDavid is a very loyal individual…. So if he wins in Edmonton, (proves his loyalty to Edmonton) he can pay back his loyalty to TO with a cup win…. That would make him revered in 2 of the top 3 (obviously the Habs) most popular/Historic teams in Canada

This is so old, it's ridiculous.

McDavid will re-sign in Edmonton for 8 years and we will still hear "mCdAvId Is GoInG tO tOrOnTo"

Mind boggling for people that can't comprehend that not every player wants to play in Toronto

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

We're on page #34 of this thread. A very special number; a number which will undoubtably be retired league-wide following a legendary career.

 

[ChuckW]

He's been bad in the playoffs but for $13 million he has been atrocious

 

[Divine]

Barkov was in round 2 by his 4th year in the playoffs, it took Matthews 7 years to accomplish that. Barkov went to the cup finals in his 5th playoff year, Matthews hasn't been past the 2nd round. Barkov won a cup in his 6th playoff year, Matthews was a year away from winning a playoff round in his 6th playoff year.

Why are you specifying playoff years and not actual years other than to reward Barkov for missing the playoffs?

Let's look at an apples to apples analysis of your claims instead of using different definitions of time & age for each player.

Barkov was in round 2 by his 9th NHL season
Matthews was in round 2 by his 7th NHL season

Barkov went to the Cup Finals in his 10th NHL season
Matthews has not been to the cup final nor played 10 NHL seasons

Barkov won a Cup in his 11th NHL season
Matthews has not won a Cup nor played 11 NHL seasons

In the meantime, Matthews had much better playoff stats than Barkov in the same time period.

 

[SharksFan1992]

Apparently his shot is 10mph slower on average than previous years. It's obvious he doesn't have the same shot not sure why. But overall he's been good.

2 goals this entire playoffs is good?

 

[VaporTrail]

No Connor Hellebuyck is the worst all time performer....Matthews is second worse...

 

[MikeS24]

No Connor Hellebuyck is the worst all time performer....Matthews is second worse...

Oh for sure. This guy goes from 8 shutouts a season or so and Vezina numbers to going last place in #'s lately lol

 

[Sprague Cleghorn]

Why are you specifying playoff years and not actual years other than to reward Barkov for missing the playoffs?

Let's look at an apples to apples analysis of your claims instead of using different definitions of time & age for each player.

Barkov was in round 2 by his 9th NHL season
Matthews was in round 2 by his 7th NHL season

Barkov went to the Cup Finals in his 10th NHL season
Matthews has not been to the cup final nor played 10 NHL seasons

Barkov won a Cup in his 11th NHL season
Matthews has not won a Cup nor played 11 NHL seasons

In the meantime, Matthews had much better playoff stats than Barkov in the same time period.

What are you even trying to argue? The expectations offensively for Barkov are much lower than Matthews. Barkov isn’t a “generational” goal scorer, never mind a special offensive player, historically speaking like Matthews. His two way play, leaning more towards D rather than O, is his calling card.

Even with that in mind, his offensive performance in the past two years are performances that Matthews can only dream of. Note, I haven’t even mentioned the D side of things. The standard for Matthews are higher, especially when he’s the highest paid player in the league.

Of course, everything I’ve said is invalid if you want to admit that overall, Barkov is the superior or equal offensive player to Nostrils in the RS…

 

[Mike C]

It’s tough playing in a big market. If he gets more marketing opportunities, I don’t think he should feel guilty about it.

He doesn't

 

[Mike C]

What are you even trying to argue? The expectations offensively for Barkov are much lower than Matthews. Barkov isn’t a “generational” goal scorer, never mind a special offensive player, historically speaking like Matthews. His two way play, leaning more towards D rather than O, is his calling card.

Even with that in mind, his offensive performance in the past two years are performances that Matthews can only dream of. Note, I haven’t even mentioned the D side of things. The standard for Matthews are higher, especially when he’s the highest paid player in the league.

Of course, everything I’ve said is invalid if you want to admit that overall, Barkov is the superior or equal offensive player to Nostrils in the RS…

I'll say this about Matthews. He came out and faced the media last night and was gracious. He answered the tough questions after a brutal loss and comforted himself with class and respect

I watched a little of McDavid after a series clinch and he was abrasive and agitated and borderline rude

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Matthews hasn't had a great playoffs, but he has the same # of points in 5 games against the Panthers that Leon Draisatl had during the SCF last season. Kucherov was also blasted for having a low number of goals against this team. Just throwing that out there.

It's almost as though the point is that Matthews always struggles to produce in the playoffs. This thread and the responses in this thread aren't solely based on the 2025 playoffs.