Injury Report: Matthews - Day to Day

[Dough72]

Sometimes I wish he'd take his 50 goals elsewhere to an appreciative fan base.

Toronto whiny ass fans deserve being in the doldrums every season.

whatever you do don't read the Marner thread

 

[ACC1224]

whatever you do don't read the Marner thread

 

[hockeywiz542]

Insider Trading: Matthews’ availability for the weekend still 'TBD' | TSN

TSN's Hockey Insiders discuss the latest on Toronto’s injured captain, Predators GM Barry Trotz explaining his 'rebuild' comment, the focus for the Montreal Canadiens, an update on cut-resistant equipment in the NHL, and the NCAA lifting its ban on CHL players.

www.tsn.ca

The concern over Auston Matthews' injury has ratcheted up after he missed practice again on Thursday. What is your understanding of Matthews' timeline?

Johnston: I don't see any reason for anyone to freak out or panic too much just yet because the plan still is what it has been all along; Auston Matthews is resting his body and giving himself a chance to recover.

As we look ahead to the weekend there are back-to-back games for the Leafs. I wouldn't expect to see him on Friday when the Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings, but Saturday's game against Montreal, at least at this point in time, has not been ruled out. He's in a position to return as soon as then.

The Leafs and Matthews are taking this day-by-day with an injury that he's been managing to some degree since training camp. It's been a busy schedule and I think the Leafs and Matthews here are mindful of where they're at. There's nothing yet to suggest this is going to be a long-term thing.

 

[Enniskillen]

LTIR the muchacho. Let him bask in the Mexican/Arizona sun and heal properly. Minten, come on down, you are the Leafs saviour lol

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Why are Leafs fans such meaniepants poopyheads?

 

[BallardEra]

I wonder if he's dealing with something that might need surgery to properly correct what's ailing him.

Maybe playing through it and dealing with it in other ways hasn't helped.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Matthews ego is a problem. I would sign Tony De Angelo to solve a pp issue as a RD and also Tony would not hesitate to drop the gloves to defend his team-mates but also get in #34 face and ask him why he is not bleeping showing up ? Matthews needs a team-mate to get into his phuckin face and call him out for his lazy i dont give a bleep style of play. If u want it go get it, u want the money for bleep sake. Matthews when he wants can literally dominate whoever he wants, but he isnt a dog, has no dog inside him.

 

[mjd1001]

Give him as much time as needed. I don't care. We need him game 1 all healthy and ready to go on April 20th (or whenever the game 1 of the playoffs is)

I'm with this 100%. If he were to miss half the season, or more, but be fully, 100% without a doubt healthy for the playoffs, no question what you do.

The goal is the Cup. You don't sniff that without Matthews fully healthy and playing better than he ever has in the playoffs.

You are likely going to have to beat Tampa and Florida both in a 7 game series. Your reward? Likely needing to beat Carolina or the Rangers in a 7 game series. Then a 7 game series over the best that comes out of the west.

I know most fans won't like this, but the NBA is getting criticized for 'load management', sometimes star players are just given a day off for no other reason other than resting them? Well, no one really does that in the NHL, maybe that is what the Leafs should be doing in the month leading up to the playoffs. I don't like that idea, I WANT to think my team's players can be more durable and tougher than anyone else, but ANYTHING that will give me an advantage come playoff time I'll take. Matthews being 100% physically and mentally is a must.

 

[thewave]

Getting annoying. Hope he doesnt have to regret taking a 5 year deal.

 

[Stephen]

Give him as much time as needed. I don't care. We need him game 1 all healthy and ready to go on April 20th (or whenever the game 1 of the playoffs is)

This mentality does not seem correct to me.

Auston Matthews has the captaincy and is the highest paid player in the game. On status, salary, expectation, ability, this guy is a Mackinnon, Kucherov, Draisaitl level forward and should be a fixture in the Art Ross race like his peers. He’s set the bar that high for himself, I’m just reminding everyone of it.

The other factor is he’s never really been a big game player, so this kind of bargaining that we can load manage and coddle the hell out him on an unknown injury so he’ll be right for the playoffs. It’s the Kawhi Leonard hypothesis and highly specious at best.

On the short term health front, it is what it is. He needs to get healthy and re-energized but aside from that I don’t think it’s right that we keep scaling back expectations and bargaining when he’ll show up. He needs to be great, step it up and be great in the big games.

 

[Stephen]

I'm with this 100%. If he were to miss half the season, or more, but be fully, 100% without a doubt healthy for the playoffs, no question what you do.

The goal is the Cup. You don't sniff that without Matthews fully healthy and playing better than he ever has in the playoffs.

You are likely going to have to beat Tampa and Florida both in a 7 game series. Your reward? Likely needing to beat Carolina or the Rangers in a 7 game series. Then a 7 game series over the best that comes out of the west.

I know most fans won't like this, but the NBA is getting criticized for 'load management', sometimes star players are just given a day off for no other reason other than resting them? Well, no one really does that in the NHL, maybe that is what the Leafs should be doing in the month leading up to the playoffs. I don't like that idea, I WANT to think my team's players can be more durable and tougher than anyone else, but ANYTHING that will give me an advantage come playoff time I'll take. Matthews being 100% physically and mentally is a must.

No, this ain’t it at all.

If Matthews needs NBA style load management to maybe show up in the playoffs, you don’t build around him.

NBA load management culture worked out really well for the Raptors that one year with Kawhi but it did nothing for the LA Clippers. Joel Embiid missed a ton of games for the 76ers. Doesn’t work for them.

Superstars need to be great, there’s no lowering the bar here.

 

[Suntouchable13]

This mentality does not seem correct to me.

Auston Matthews has the captaincy and is the highest paid player in the game. On status, salary, expectation, ability, this guy is a Mackinnon, Kucherov, Draisaitl level forward and should be a fixture in the Art Ross race like his peers. He’s set the bar that high for himself, I’m just reminding everyone of it.

The other factor is he’s never really been a big game player, so this kind of bargaining that we can load manage and coddle the hell out him on an unknown injury so he’ll be right for the playoffs. It’s the Kawhi Leonard hypothesis and highly specious at best.

On the short term health front, it is what it is. He needs to get healthy and re-energized but aside from that I don’t think it’s right that we keep scaling back expectations and bargaining when he’ll show up. He needs to be great, step it up and be great in the big games.

You make good points. I guess what I meant was there is no need to rush him back till he is ready.

 

[Stephen]

You make good points. I guess what I meant was there is no need to rush him back till he is ready.

That I agree with, no rush there… but for the Leafs to be great he needs to be a warhorse for us and we need more all the time, not save it up for when it matters.