HF Habs: Out of Town Thread: 2025 Playoff edition

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah guy who scored 69 goals is worthless, let's be honest any team that gets Matthews improves their chance to make the playoffs by a huge margin. I'm glad HuGo isn't drinking the haterade.

I think it's safe to say... he can't be 'the guy'. He can't. You need somebody else to lead. If you have that I think he could produce. But he can't be the man you're sitting back waiting to lead the way.

I look at how Suzuki played down the stretch. How Slaf and CC played in the playoffs. They kept coming, played as well as they could. That's what you want to see. Matthews just doesn't seem to have that in him.

The injuries are a legit excuse but even without them he hasn't shown the kind of intensity you want to see. I agree with people saying he looks scared in big games. It's just become who he is now. He's lost in the most spectacular of ways and it's now defining him as a player.

 

[OneSharpMarble]

For free? I'd take him and his cap hit.

But you wouldn't get him for free. It'd be a premium and there's no way I'd pay it.

Of course he isn't free and yeah I wouldn't want to put a package together either because the habs are not in that position in the rebuild. Lots of teams would pay for him, it's rare you ever get a chance at acquiring a player like that.

 

[OneSharpMarble]

I think it's safe to say... he can't be 'the guy'. He can't. You need somebody else to lead. If you have that I think he could produce. But he can't be the man you're sitting back waiting to lead the way.

I look at how Suzuki played down the stretch. How Slaf and CC played in the playoffs. They kept coming, played as well as they could. That's what you want to see. Matthews just doesn't seem to have that in him.

The injuries are a legit excuse but even without them he hasn't shown the kind of intensity you want to see. I agree with people saying he looks scared in big games. It's just become who he is now. He's lost in the most spectacular of ways and it's now defining him as a player.

You don't know he can't be that guy, in another team he might become more of a leader but who cares? If you already have strong leadership he doesn't need to be the guy as well as scoring 69 goals.

Habs have a different culture, they are so often the underdog they play harder when the make the playoffs. Take Matthews out of Toronto and maybe he can wash the stink off.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

You don't know he can't be that guy, in another team he might become more of a leader but who cares? If you already have strong leadership he doesn't need to be the guy as well as scoring 69 goals.

Habs have a different culture, they are so often the underdog they play harder when the make the playoffs. Take Matthews out of Toronto and maybe he can wash the stink off.

I wouldn't gamble on it.

If he's UFA? Totally different story. Yes, I'd sign him. But there's no way I'm giving up the kinds of assets they'd want for him.

 

[ahmedou]

Evilhomer deleted his account View attachment 1038822View attachment 1038822View attachment 1038822

Evilhomer changedou his username

Better Call Delete1

 

[Team_Spirit]

ÇAAA VAAA BIIIEEEN TOOOROOONTOOO!!!

 

[Gustave]

If you prefer Marner to Mathews that is your prerogative and who am I to tell you who you should prefer.

I think both of them are poor playoff performers who consistently disappear in big games. I prefer Mathews because he at least brings some level of physicality and does not whine and cry like Marner does. The only reason that I could justify keeping Marner over Mathews is Mathews health concerns as 2 out of the last 3 seasons he was severely limited by an upper body injury that derailed his entire season from training camp until elimination and there certainly appears to be a real possibility that he may have a chronic issue.

Mathews was unquestionably better than Marner over the last two elimination games despite clearly being injured. Marner had egregious turnovers in both games and was not involved in puck battles nearly to the same extent as Mathews. Combine this with Marner's childish antics on the bench as well as yelling at his teammates like a D and D player having a hissy fit.

I think we agree that both players have serious issues and personally, I don't want either one with the cap hit that they command.

FWIW, I prefer Marner’s general contribution to the game.

I find him to be a fantastic PKer. I see him blocking shots and he has that Stone quality of blocking passing lanes very effectively. Now, I concede he has no physical game at all and gets antsy when the games get rough.

The cap hit will not justify his post season contribution ever. I agree. If he would for example sign here for a lower amount (10 per) and be told that he won’t need to be the man or some BS like that to make him feel comfortable, I’d do it.

But if he commands the highest cap in the league, then no thanks. You cannot “not” be the man when you’re the highest paid player.

 

[OneSharpMarble]

I wouldn't gamble on it.

If he's UFA? Totally different story. Yes, I'd sign him. But there's no way I'm giving up the kinds of assets they'd want for him.

Yeah so would every team in the league.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah so would every team in the league.

I wouldn't sign Marner as a UFA.

 

[bsl]

Both Marner and Mathews are perimeter players but Marner is easily worse in this regard. Both players play well defensively but again, Mathews has the edge there as he is a center and wins battles that Marner refuses to engage in.

Then you bring up Marner's slight statistical edge lol?

I never said that Mathews has not been a problem but you barge in with a Pearce Morgan level false equivalency. The fact that you did not even attempt to respond to my post in an honest attempt to engage in meaningful discourse and pivoted to an unrelated topic that I did not mention is very telling. I said that Marner should be the one to go because he is a UFA and he has made a fool of himself against Florida in both playoff meetings with childish/selfish outbursts on/around the bench. I live in Toronto and have watched every playoff game and way too many regular season games from these players but you carry on with the silly stat quotes.

Blah blah blah

 

[ahmedou]

The 2025 Stanley Golf Cup Champions!!! Since 1967!!!!

 

[OneSharpMarble]

I wouldn't sign Marner as a UFA.

He will have many offers and with good reason.

 

[Lshap]

I think it's safe to say... he can't be 'the guy'. He can't. You need somebody else to lead. If you have that I think he could produce. But he can't be the man you're sitting back waiting to lead the way.

I look at how Suzuki played down the stretch. How Slaf and CC played in the playoffs. They kept coming, played as well as they could. That's what you want to see. Matthews just doesn't seem to have that in him.

The injuries are a legit excuse but even without them he hasn't shown the kind of intensity you want to see. I agree with people saying he looks scared in big games. It's just become who he is now. He's lost in the most spectacular of ways and it's now defining him as a player.

Exactly. There's only one thing every Leafs failure has in common – their core: Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, plus Rielly. They've tried dozens of defensemen and forwards, different goalies, different coaches, yet no matter how they mix & match their roster they keep having the same results. That's because their core, talented as they are, aren't equipped to lead.

Pacioretty looked great. Eichel helped Vegas win a Cup. Lots of players who were over their heads as leaders have success elsewhere.

 

[TRG]

I love this yearly tradition.

I do not feel bad at all for their fans.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Blah blah blah

You seem to be displaying a higher level of literacy here......congratulations my friend!

I'll see your "blah" and raise you a "meh". These are the first iterations of an actual conversation

 

[WeThreeKings]

Anyone suggesting we get Marner or Matthews should turn their fan card in.

We've spent a decade laughing about them being losers, we know what they are.

I wouldn't sign Marner if he paid us.

 

[HabSgt]

Hello HFHabs, I stop by to share the laughter & the joy of this annual tradition with all of you. Happy Leafs Elimination Day! Pop a cold one & listen to the crying. May the Laffs never stop stopping.

 

[dinodebino]

Well if it helps you’re almost never right from what I’ve seen on here

C’est chien, Stan. C’est chien!

 

[salbutera]

 

[salbutera]

How much of this sentiment will resonate and increase the backlash amongst players with “options” vs CDN markets?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yeah guy who scored 69 goals is worthless, let's be honest any team that gets Matthews improves their chance to make the playoffs by a huge margin. I'm glad HuGo isn't drinking the haterade.

Oh wow, make the playoffs. What a lofty goal.

I'm aiming way higher than that and Matthews isnt a winner. He would be a 15m drain on your cap and a total no show every time you needed him.

 

[vokiel]

I think I've seen some Leafs fans this morning. How else would you have half your beard shaven, if it's not because of a Leafs bet?

 

[le_sean]

I just can’t fathom Matthews saying there’s too many passengers on the team. What a mistake giving him the captaincy

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Even some Habs fans giving Matthews the injury excuse?

What the hell am i reading. Everyone is injured at playoff time and somehow it always absolves Auston.

The guy was tied with Nico Mikkola in round two goals.

 

[LaP]

How much of this sentiment will resonate and increase the backlash amongst players with “options” vs CDN markets?

Nothing

Yankees market is as crazy and players still sign there. There's nothing special about the Canadian hockey markets if you compare it to big American markets in other sports or big football markets in Europe. The players brought this on themselves by loosing a game seven 6 to 1 and not competing in that game. It was a pathetic display.