Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Simmonds to a 2 year extension (900k AAV)

[Bluelines]

Well, the best player ever knew if you stood your ground the opposition would look elsewhere for trouble. How ironic is it that AM won the Rocket Richard trophy………the Rocket didn’t stand for it either………

Dug pretty deep for that footage eh? Times change...so should fans expectations. We don't expect Reaves to win the scoring title, so why do we expect Matthews to fight a plug? Is someone actually suggesting that if Matthews fights Chariot we win that series?

The problem is not with Matthews, it's with fans who have no clue as to who and what game Matthews plays.

If you want a player that plays like Mathew or Brady Tkachuk, trade Matthews straight up for one of them. No? that would be a crazy trade? Point made.

People please apricate what you have in Matthews. If Leaf psuedo-fans spent as much time looking for reason to celebrate our players and they do looking for reasons to tear them down, heck we might actually have a few fans who deserve to see the Leafs win a Cup.

Matthews managed 41 goals — the 16th-best season by a Maple Leaf in the post-1967 expansion era. If that’s not jaw-droppingly impressive, consider that Matthews’s rate of 0.79 goals per game puts him in elite company.

If you narrow down the field to players who competed in a minimum 40 games in a single season, his Rocket Richard campaign ranks as the highest goals-per-game rate in the history of the franchise — surpassing some of the best work of Depression-era star Charlie Conacher, not to mention the previous best season of the post-1967 era:

Wendel Clark’s 0.74 goals-per-game effort of 1993-94, when Clark scored 46 goals in 64 games.

Zooming out to include the rest of the league, in the past 25 years only Mario Lemieux and Alex Ovechkin have scored at a higher rate than Matthews in a single season.

Opinion | Before Rocket man Auston Matthews there was Gaye Stewart — 75 years ago. Why don’t Maple Leafs win more NHL awards?​

This is what can happen when Matthews becomes physical.

2018
11/28/2018	Missed 14 games (shoulder injury).
10/29/2018	Shoulder injury, injured reserve.
3/22/2018	Missed 10 games (shoulder injury).
2/25/2018	Shoulder injury, injured reserve.
2/24/2018	Shoulder injury, day-to-day.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Beneven Stanciano]

The problem *is* with Matthews. He doesn't have to go out and freight train folks, but he doesn't seem like a competitor. I think if your expectation is to watch great hockey, then this team is for you. Catch some unbelievable plays in the regular season, you might actually really like top level roller hockey too. If that is your expectation for the Maple Leafs then you are probably pretty happy. But if you're expectation is a Stanley Cup/Championship, and you think the leaders on this team aren't the problem, then I'm guessing you'll never understand the difference. There is a good reason a lot of former pros/analysists, league officials, etc, make mention of the Toronto Maple Leafs needing to find another gear, play playoff hockey, being built too top heavy. Is the plan to just wait for a path to the Finals with the least physical teams and hope for the best? Have you ever heard players/fans talk about the physicality and defense ramping up in the Post Season? That it's more of a test of "who wants it more"? Can't you connect the dots that successful teams know how to bridge that style of play? Matthews, Marner & Tavares all took championship pay, so they need to give Championship play. And they are not. If the team is just going to wait around for 'their turn to win', it's always going to be taken away by someone/some team who wants it more and is willing to go and take it.
"Well it's his job to score goals, not fight" OH, well then he sucks at his job IF a championship is the end goal. If it's his job to score goals, and he's getting paid that much to score goals, but he's not scoring goals in the post season and he's not picking up any slack elsewhere, why is he getting so much coin? Hockey is more than just scoring goals, especially if you're looked to as a leader, as a top earner & player. His example to the rest of the team right now is what exactly? It's not to dig in and find SOME way to contribute.
You're getting nothing in the playoffs, his job is not translating and instead of trying to find *some* way to contribute or make a difference, they just look like it's game 41 of the regular season. The reason people think the core is bad, as crazy as this sounds, is because the leadership continually leads the team back here. If the Leaders here need help, maybe they aren't leaders. To me it's the character of the person, which is 100% subjective. When I see these top players here, I don't see someone who would do anything to win, I don't see people who hate losing so much that they resort to cheap shots or other things like typical spoiled kids who don't get their way. They act like they had a bad day at work, if they worked at Lowe's or Walmart. Look at the elimination pressers from any of the other teams top players. They seem generally upset about not winning. The top guys here just don't exude that, to me.

 

[rumman]

The problem *is* with Matthews. He doesn't have to go out and freight train folks, but he doesn't seem like a competitor. I think if your expectation is to watch great hockey, then this team is for you. Catch some unbelievable plays in the regular season, you might actually really like top level roller hockey too. If that is your expectation for the Maple Leafs then you are probably pretty happy. But if you're expectation is a Stanley Cup/Championship, and you think the leaders on this team aren't the problem, then I'm guessing you'll never understand the difference. There is a good reason a lot of former pros/analysists, league officials, etc, make mention of the Toronto Maple Leafs needing to find another gear, play playoff hockey, being built too top heavy. Is the plan to just wait for a path to the Finals with the least physical teams and hope for the best? Have you ever heard players/fans talk about the physicality and defense ramping up in the Post Season? That it's more of a test of "who wants it more"? Can't you connect the dots that successful teams know how to bridge that style of play? Matthews, Marner & Tavares all took championship pay, so they need to give Championship play. And they are not. If the team is just going to wait around for 'their turn to win', it's always going to be taken away by someone/some team who wants it more and is willing to go and take it.
"Well it's his job to score goals, not fight" OH, well then he sucks at his job IF a championship is the end goal. If it's his job to score goals, and he's getting paid that much to score goals, but he's not scoring goals in the post season and he's not picking up any slack elsewhere, why is he getting so much coin? Hockey is more than just scoring goals, especially if you're looked to as a leader, as a top earner & player. His example to the rest of the team right now is what exactly? It's not to dig in and find SOME way to contribute.
You're getting nothing in the playoffs, his job is not translating and instead of trying to find *some* way to contribute or make a difference, they just look like it's game 41 of the regular season. The reason people think the core is bad, as crazy as this sounds, is because the leadership continually leads the team back here. If the Leaders here need help, maybe they aren't leaders. To me it's the character of the person, which is 100% subjective. When I see these top players here, I don't see someone who would do anything to win, I don't see people who hate losing so much that they resort to cheap shots or other things like typical spoiled kids who don't get their way. They act like they had a bad day at work, if they worked at Lowe's or Walmart. Look at the elimination pressers from any of the other teams top players. They seem generally upset about not winning. The top guys here just don't exude that, to me.

Pretty much spot on, the slightest mention of AM not being a complete player get posters implying he needs to be Ryan Reeves. If your supposed to be putting up points and aren’t doing that, you’d better start contributing in other areas of the game. If it’s not beneath you?

 

[rumman]

This is what can happen when Matthews becomes physical.

2018
11/28/2018	Missed 14 games (shoulder injury).
10/29/2018	Shoulder injury, injured reserve.
3/22/2018	Missed 10 games (shoulder injury).
2/25/2018	Shoulder injury, injured reserve.
2/24/2018	Shoulder injury, day-to-day.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Wow, do I need to list names of elite hockey players who have been injured and don’t avoid contact, have you been watching the playoffs? Maybe AM should join a non contact league if he’s above engaging opponents because he hurt his shoulder……..like two years ago.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Pretty much spot on, the slightest mention of AM not being a complete player get posters implying he needs to be Ryan Reeves. If your supposed to be putting up points and aren’t doing that, you’d better start contributing in other areas of the game. If it’s not beneath you?

He was typically double teamed and Marner/Hyman blew it but he actually did contribute more than just points.

25 hits and 11 blocks in 7GP. 14 takeaways and only 2 give aways while being 55% on the dot.

I look at Marner way before I look at Matthews.

 

[Ignatius Reilly]

I think if a player is going into these moments weighing the cost benefit analysis of breaking their hand vs helping a teammate who has been cross checked to the ice and has an opponent standing over them (like Thornton skating away after Hyman was cross checked onto the ice by Jeff Petry) your head is already in the wrong place and not in the right frame of mind to compete.

With that mentality, the smart play will always be for self preservation so you can 'live to fight another day.' So stop up on a 50/50 battle for the puck, to peel back on a forecheck or just wilt from the battle, don't block the shot, etc.

Thornton should not have skated away. He's a big guy and he's not doing much else out there on the ice anyways.

Matthews needs to think about whether or not it's worth it for him to risk taking himself out of the game for 2-5 minutes, or even out of the series with a hand injury.

He's got way way way too much to offer by staying in the game. We don't need another Kadri or a Clarkson move, especially from our best player.

He was typically double teamed and Marner/Hyman blew it but he actually did contribute more than just points.

25 hits and 11 blocks in 7GP. 14 takeaways and only 2 give aways while being 55% on the dot.

I look at Marner way before I look at Matthews.

For sure, Marner was the much bigger issue for us this year. AM's game and physicality moved forward, even if he didn't get much to show for it.

 

[rumman]

25 hits and 11 blocks in 7GP. 14 takeaways and only 2 give aways while being 55% on the dot.

How do these numbers compare to Point/Stamkos/Kush’s numbers in their first round? For perspective?

 

[Menzinger]

How do these numbers compare to Point/Stamkos/Kush’s numbers in their first round? For perspective?

Matthews has more than Point and Kucherov, less than Stamkos.

So fairs pretty well given the disparity in games played. Kuch and Point are both under a hit per game

 

[rumman]

Matthews has more than Point and Kucherov, less than Stamkos.

So fairs pretty well given the disparity in games played. Kuch and Point are both under a hit per game

Interesting, wasn’t Stamkos seriously injured last season?

 

[Menzinger]

Interesting, wasn’t Stamkos seriously injured last season?

He was and the playoffs too.

I think statistically this playoffs will be a career high for him as far as hits given

 

[rumman]

He was and the playoffs too.

I think statistically this playoffs will be a career high for him as far as hits given

Wow, a player back from serious injury not worried about getting hurt in pursuit of the cup, what a concept.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Interesting, wasn’t Stamkos seriously injured last season?

No, noone can win with a significant injury

 

[Bluelines]

Wow, do I need to list names of elite hockey players who have been injured and don’t avoid contact, have you been watching the playoffs? Maybe AM should join a non contact league if he’s above engaging opponents because he hurt his shoulder……..like two years ago.

That is what you took from my post, you totally missed the point. Engaging a opponent is a heck of a lot different that your suggestion that he needs to fight every time he gets bullied. Say Matthews gets in a fight, breaks his hands. Ya know the things he makes a living with. Does that benefit the team or hurt the team? Think real hard what other teams will do if they know every time they try to bully Matthews, Matthews drops his gloves and fights? Think really hard ...

 

[Bluelines]

Pretty much spot on, the slightest mention of AM not being a complete player get posters implying he needs to be Ryan Reeves. If your supposed to be putting up points and aren’t doing that, you’d better start contributing in other areas of the game. If it’s not beneath you?

You were the one that suggested that AM needed to fight ... How does AM contribute by sitting in the box for fighting? Your post is contradictory.

Well, the best player ever knew if you stood your ground the opposition would look elsewhere for trouble. How ironic is it that AM won the Rocket Richard trophy………the Rocket didn’t stand for it either………

 

[fahad203]

Matthews isn't the problem. He will come around

It took Mats Sundin 6 years before learning to play this game. Mats was the highest touted European at the time

Pierre Paige went nuts on Mats because of his lack of competitiveness. Mats eventually became the most clutch player in Leafs history.

The difference is, Mats was never the highest player in the league

I expect more out of Auston. As of right now he's a glorified version of Bobby Ryan

 

[saltming]

The reality is guys like Crosby, Point and Mackinnon do fight. The game is a lot more sanitized than it used to be, but idea that the game has evolved into a non contact skills show lacking any kind of emotional engagement or fiery competition is sort of a strange Leaf Land myth. The way some of our skill guys no show for these moments is atypical even of stars. I'm not saying this is what I demand to see on the ice, but our guys are on the extreme end of a pacifist spectrum and it hurts them from a competition POV:

Fair I shouldn't have said at all. I meant they are not fighters or regular fighters

 

[saltming]

I was replying to your specific post. Sid , Mackinnon and Malkin have all fought at one time or another and they definitely push back when its warranted...thats the point isnt it? They dont allow themselves to be ragdolled weirdly smiling about it. I can't see anyone of those guys responding the same way Matthews did. Marchand is not a fighter but he never takes shit from anyone. Even Kessel stood up for himself if he needed to. Some see what Matthews did like he was the bigger man for not stooping to caveman tactics whereas I saw it as sending the message that the leafs are open to be pushed around with no response. The Jackets did it and the Habs just followed it up with more of the same. And I fully expect whoever plays the leafs in the playoffs next year if they make them to follow suit. The true contenders are playing for keeps, its not fun and games out there.

I agree actually and I'm hoping for way more push back next season

 

[FraumBallard]

Thornton should not have skated away. He's a big guy and he's not doing much else out there on the ice anyways.

Matthews needs to think about whether or not it's worth it for him to risk taking himself out of the game for 2-5 minutes, or even out of the series with a hand injury.

He's got way way way too much to offer by staying in the game. We don't need another Kadri or a Clarkson move, especially from our best player.




For sure, Marner was the much bigger issue for us this year. AM's game and physicality moved forward, even if he didn't get much to show for it.

It’s the mindset from Wonder Boy.
Smile while getting ragdolled.
Never a good look.
Matthews gets a pass due to his ability but that attitude is poison.
Never win four rounds playing super soft hockey.
It’s very obvious.
Shanahan/Wonder Boy/Keefe need to go.

 

[Stonehands1990]

bogo one of our best dmen. wth are you smoking? also one that actually hits and not afraid to get it. are you drunk too?

Bogo is unreal. Bogo was usually out there whenever the other team went 6 on 5. People who don’t notice this are just morons

 

[Racer88]

Wow, a player back from serious injury not worried about getting hurt in pursuit of the cup, what a concept.

Certainly not a Leaf player. Lol

 

[Racer88]

You were the one that suggested that AM needed to fight ... How does AM contribute by sitting in the box for fighting? Your post is contradictory.

Ya they would have really missed his 1 goal in 7 games

 

[Leaf Fans]

Certainly not a Leaf player. Lol

Many Leaf fans have concerns both about performance and chance of injury with Simmons.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Ya they would have really missed his 1 goal in 7 games

They might have missed it or his three assists. Also, his strong play thoughout the series.

 

[Bluelines]

Ya they would have really missed his 1 goal in 7 games

OK Nostradamus, how in the F would he know at that time he would score only on goal in 7 games?

You heard it here folks because Matthews, McDavid, Marner, Draisaitl have not had success in the playoffs and don't fight, they all suck ass ... deep discount sale, trading all 4 for a 4th rounder and a bag of stale bread ... get your stupid Leaf fan logic deals ... no wonder why other fan bases mock the fans of the Leafs ...

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

They dont allow themselves to be ragdolled weirdly smiling about it. I can't see anyone of those guys responding the same way Matthews did. Marchand is not a fighter but he never takes shit from anyone. Even Kessel stood up for himself if he needed to. Some see what Matthews did like he was the bigger man for not stooping to caveman tactics whereas I saw it as sending the message that the leafs are open to be pushed around with no response.

See, this is a good point that you made. If Matthews was tearing it up and scoring PP goal after PP goal..then you just sit there and smile as you get rag dolled because you know your going to get them back on the scoreboard. When you let someone do that to you and you smile back without scoring...you look like a p***y. It's one thing to say that you won't let them get you off your game by not engaging...but that stupid laugh he had really bothered me because he couldn't make them pay...simple as that.