Speculation: Something is wrong with Matthews...

[hamzarocks]

Oh, OT shouldn't count on the ".500" debate because it's a gimmick? Ok. Sure. How about this then. The leafs have NINE regulation wins in 19 games. That better? Couldn't agree more. Glad we came to that compromise. If ot wins count as WINS then ot losses should count as LOSSES. The NHL has just made a silly system to make sub-.500 teams appear better than they are. Some aren't fooled by it.

And no, I don't accept a 20 game poor start for someone paid as the best player in the league (when term is included). Seem unreasonable? Damn right it is. Because unreasonable contracts come with unreasonable expectations. If he wanted REASONABLE expectations (like being ok wit a 35 goal 80 point pace after 20 games) then he should have signed a contract reflecting that.

He had the same poor start last year and went on to be the best player in the league for the regular season

Don't know if he gets back there but his most recent season should give him some time and patience from fans/media

Of he's not at a ~110 pt pace by game 41 then he deserves criticism

 

[Nineteen67]

Matthews has stated this season he does NOT care about goals and points totals. Its about winning and doing whatever it takes to win. Thats it. Thats all.

With that attitude he can sign for 6-8 million in Vegas and fit in their cap.

 

[PromisedLand]

may be a reach but I feel Matthews is doing all the other little things a lot better than he did last season.

Think of it as how Yzerman changed the way he plays to get the wins instead of accumulating personal glory

goals and points will come

 

[glue]

His wrist shot seems less deadly this year and accuracy seems a bit off as well, but to me if he’s not injured then I’m not that worried, he’ll get it back soon enough.

 

[81Leafs50]

With that attitude he can sign for 6-8 million in Vegas and fit in their cap.

some fans are just sad people

The team is 1 game above .500

I think the team did better when Matthews put up the numbers he was PAID to put up. He's now 41st in the league in goals and the goal leaders have more than double his goals.

Like I said earlier, the entirety of the NHL, from media to players to fans, would be losing their collective freaking minds if McDavid was 41st in points in the NHL after 20 games. And those ahead of him had DOUBLE points. Everybody would be SCREAMING that he wanted out of Edmonton. Matthews insisted (when term is included) to be paid McDavid money, thus arguing he is an equal of McDavid. Barely a peep from the media. He is too protected. It's starting to bother me.

When McKinnon said what Matthews did everyone cheered him on. This fan base doesnt care about winning. its all about the stats

 

[saffronleaf]

still struggling a bit but what kenya do

 

[ER89]

may be a reach but I feel Matthews is doing all the other little things a lot better than he did last season.

Think of it as how Yzerman changed the way he plays to get the wins instead of accumulating personal glory

goals and points will come

This isn't like that.

Matthews needs to pot in 45 and score 100 pts to be worth 11m. He's barely better defensively and a whole lot worse offensively. In fact because he's not dominating like last season you can argue overall defense would take a hit cus he's playing in his own zone way more.

 

[Jojalu]

Yeah for sure LeaFland won't say word one about the golden boy, a guy that walked into his negotiation asking McJeebuzz money. Many of the same people were the same when it came to Willie's up and down performances in the past. However the teams points leader and the PPG captain get whipped without mercy. It's baffling.

Possibly because he is coming off back to back rockets, the Hart, and the Lindsey.

He leads the team in hits and is trying to do things to help the team win outside of just scoring( which he said he was going to do)

Although I feel it would help the Leafs win if he scored a few more.

If his worst season ends up being a 40 goal, PPG season it won't be the end of the world.

 

[leafsfan5]

He really needs to get it together, where did his shot go

 

[34]

Oh I will say it again, Matthews is done in Toronto. He wants out badly, the writing is on the wall. He will force a trade out of Toronto after this season when he makes it very clear he will not be signing here again under any circumstances. He is outta there lol.

 

[Tak7]

He really needs to get it together, where did his shot go

Hasn't been there all season.

Only 3 even strength goals, and 2 of them have been deflections - the other was a stuffed wraparound against Boston.

Him being relegated to the slot on the PP until recently also suggests to me that there's something quite not right with him at the moment. We were always due some sort of regression, but that patented zinger of a shot just ripping past goaltenders isn't something we are seeing at all right now. He's barely controlling simple passes, let alone getting his shot off.

Where would this team be if Tavares hadn't started the season as good as he has...

 

[Fonzieleaf]

He's not his usual electrifying self. Hope he comes back to that real soon.

 

[DarkKnight]

I thought he carried Mitch though?

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

It's not just his lack of offense, his line gets hemmed in a lot. Every time I see them getting cycled it seems he's out there. He was the only minus player on the team tonight. He's my favourite Leaf and I'm now officially concerned. Something's up.

 

[BallardEra]

Needs 41 goals in his last 61 games to hit 50 goals.

That's a 55 goal pace over 82 games.

Hopefully he starts heating up soon.

 

[wingman75]

It's not just his lack of offense, his line gets hemmed in a lot. Every time I see them getting cycled it seems he's out there. He was the only minus player on the team tonight. He's my favourite Leaf and I'm now officially concerned. Something's up.

He looked terrible tonight. Not hard on the puck, not finding dangerous spots and probably the most concerning thing for me is that he is NOT moving well. His mobility I think is hampering his ability to get open in 5-on-5. He was still battling and working hard, but something has to be up.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I said it in the GDT but it bears repeating, he has not dominated a single game this season. He did that numerous times last season where he would just take over the game and impose his will. 20 games into this season and we’re still waiting for that special performance.

 

[Aashir]

This is just the guy he is this year

I’m expecting 85-90 points

He’s making me scared of offering him any contract come next year

 

[Maple Leaf]

Should rest him like Hawai Lenard

 

[Gilmour1996]

With so many guys injured, I think he's trying to play through his issues rather than go on the DL. I don't think it's working though. He should spend a week or two healing if it would help. I bet it's his wrist + something lower body. He has a target on his back and he doesn't have a Dave Semenko to deter cheap shots from the rats on the other teams.

 

[Puckstuff]

Marner also just passed Matthews in career points

 

[Nhlpowerweek]

His wrist shot seems less deadly this year and accuracy seems a bit off as well, but to me if he’s not injured then I’m not that worried, he’ll get it back soon enough.

Does matthews play any of those consol or computer games? Like marner etc laine do.

Also does anybody if they or him is watching adult entertainment from vivid?

 

[Orfieus]

What concerns me the most is it isn't just a Matthews issue the team as a whole isn't scoring a lot of goals. They've played 9 games so far in November and 5 of them Toronto only scored 2 goals

Also Matthews 5v5 shooting% is like 4%, that's crazy

 

[Larcos_Unal]

It's quite amazing that the league has somehow found a way to stop Matthews's shot yet OV, Stamkos, Kucherov, Laine, etc. just stand in one goddamn spot and tee off at will. Quite incredible really.

 

[Cournoyer12]

With so many guys injured, I think he's trying to play through his issues rather than go on the DL. I don't think it's working though. He should spend a week or two healing if it would help. I bet it's his wrist + something lower body. He has a target on his back and he doesn't have a Dave Semenko to deter cheap shots from the rats on the other teams.

Therein lies the value of a Colton Orr type!