PostBradMalone
Registered User
- Mar 19, 2022
- 2,883
- 6,256
I think there are some legit arguments for why Matthews might not win the Hart. But the arguments trotted out by un-objective haters (like these) are just comically bad.
It's "comically bad" to judge a player defense by the amount of goals that happen while they are on the ice?
If you want to judge Matthews' defence, look at the outcomes he can actually control. Like scoring chances or expected goals against. In looking at those metrics, he's actually one of the best Leafs forwards (behind only their shutdown line players). Unless your argument is that Matthews is personally coaching Campbell/Mrazek/Kallgren to let in hilariously terrible goals, the goals against argument just holds absolutely no water.
Being "One of the best Leafs forwards" at something is not an accomplishment that makes someone eligible for the Hart, sorry. But on that note, if he isn't the best, are you implying that the Leafs shutdown line coaches their goalies to be better when THEY are on the ice? You can't have it both ways.
I also don't get why people are trying to poo-poo some of these feats he could achieve. Like "oh, it's not a true 50 in 50". This is something that hasn't been done in decades. It's clearly special. It's something most people thought simply wouldn't be possible in the modern era.
And it still won't have been done in decades since the definition has always been from the start of the season. It's like this malarky of him having the most goals by an American "born" player- Brett Hull, who was considered American because he grew up in the U.S. and represented them internationally, is the actual record-holder for his country and Matthews likely never touches his totals unless there is a significant rule change in the next ten years. However, there has to be this narrative twisting and turning to make it seem like a bigger feat than it is. That's Toronto sports media for you in a nutshell.