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Speculation: Something is wrong with Matthews...

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81Leafs50 said:
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.
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If he cared about winning he'd take a bit of a hometown discount and allow the GM to enhance the forward core around him, finally fix the back end. As it stands he is paid more than everybody else and as a result more is expected.
 
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Gilmour1996 said:
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.
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Although the era of the goon is in the past, I can't help but salivate at the thought of a guy like Marchment or Jenner on the LW beside Matthews & Marner. They'd instantly grow two inches and all the abuse they take would get turned down.

I think Matthews is hesitant to use his body cause he's afraid of the repercussions. Case in point Konecny chasing him around the ice. That does not happen if you have a big boy on his line....and no, laying a nice hit on Skinner doesn't count as physical, that should be table stakes.
 
Larcos_Unal said:
If he cared about winning he'd take a bit of a hometown discount and allow the GM to enhance the forward core around him, finally fix the back end. As it stands he is paid more than everybody else and as a result more is expected.
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making less money does not make Campbell better in the playoff or Holl a better defender, or Kerfoot a more impact forward. The "take less money for the team" is mindless fan jargon. Much like "no heart" since it cannot be measured or quantified.
 
Larcos_Unal said:
Although the era of the goon is in the past, I can't help but salivate at the thought of a guy like Marchment or Jenner on the LW beside Matthews & Marner. They'd instantly grow two inches and all the abuse they take would get turned down.

I think Matthews is hesitant to use his body cause he's afraid of the repercussions. Case in point Konecny chasing him around the ice. That does not happen if you have a big boy on his line....and no, laying a nice hit on Skinner doesn't count as physical, that should be table stakes.
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Why tf would a league MVP/top 3 player in the NHL fight Konecny? Like seriously do you even think before you speak? Both get taken off for fighting and another team loses an above average player for 5 mins while you lose the league MVP for 5 mins? That's a fair trade-off to you?

Next time the Leafs play the Avs or Oilers they should send Bunting to fight Mackinnon, McDavid or LD. Fair trade off right? Maybe Giordano can take on Hedman or Makar while we're at it.
 
MAB1 said:
Why tf would a league MVP/top 3 player in the NHL fight Konecny? Like seriously do you even think before you speak? Both get taken off for fighting and another team loses an above average player for 5 mins while you lose the league MVP for 5 mins? That's a fair trade-off to you?

Next time the Leafs play the Avs or Oilers they should send Bunting to fight Mackinnon, McDavid or LD. Fair trade off right? Maybe Giordano can take on Hedman or Makar while we're at it.
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It could definitely happen under the right circumstance, certainly not unheard of.

Matthews doesn't need to fight, just stop being a p***y.
 
ACC1224 said:
It could definitely happen under the right circumstance, certainly not unheard of.

Matthews doesn't need to fight, just stop being a p***y.
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Anything can happen, that's not really insightful.

My point was those fights aren't fair trade offs for the other teams. Why lose their best player for some top 6 player on the other team?

We've seen Matthews throw hits and be physical. Just because he doesn't play the way some beer league couch potato wants him to play doesn't mean anything. Easy to judge a player's toughness when you've never played at that level or come close to it.
 
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81Leafs50 said:
making less money does not make Campbell better in the playoff or Holl a better defender, or Kerfoot a more impact forward. The "take less money for the team" is mindless fan jargon. Much like "no heart" since it cannot be measured or quantified.
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More salary = more expectation
This is a fact

MAB1 said:
Why tf would a league MVP/top 3 player in the NHL fight Konecny? Like seriously do you even think before you speak? Both get taken off for fighting and another team loses an above average player for 5 mins while you lose the league MVP for 5 mins? That's a fair trade-off to you?

Next time the Leafs play the Avs or Oilers they should send Bunting to fight Mackinnon, McDavid or LD. Fair trade off right? Maybe Giordano can take on Hedman or Makar while we're at it.
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Read again, I did not say Matthews should fight...he never should. What I said is he should have somebody riding shotgun who'll step in and protect him. Sorry if it wasn't clear, English is tough at times.
 
PromisedLand said:
waiting for Matthews to start scoring in bunches. Any time now Papi
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It's not like he is snakebitten and generating chances.
He looks like a completely different player, one who doesnt give a f***. I remember when he used to played like this a few years ago and it was really frustrating to watch, but I thought that player is gone. Now it really feels like he is back.
Either that or he is hurt.

Or he is playing some 4D chess leadership test on the team, like he's done so much last year carrying the team, he wants the others to show up, leave it to their hands while he sleepwalks through the regular season completely.

I dont know, but something is way off.
 
Matthews 5v5:

xGF%: 58.41 (+ 9.23 REL, Leads all Leafs forwards)

Gotta think he's just in a prolonged slump and with break out eventually. He's too good not to.
 
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keonsbitterness said:
We should all do some resting in Hawaii.
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Truth! I was there for the first time this year. Already planning a trip back.

It's odd, his underlying numbers are still good, he looks terrible, and production (for his standards) is off.

If he is not injured, no doubt he slides into a streak here at some point. Considering his lack of scoring, the team has been getting good results. JT and Nylander picking up most of that slack.
 
MAB1 said:
His 20 game poor start is literally a replica of last year before he won the Hart and Rocket. What on earth are you crying about lil man? It's pathetic.
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Pathetic . Youre describing Mathew’s first quarter of the season right ?
 
34 said:
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.
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Maybe if you keep posting this 5 times a day someone will eventually care.
 
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Nooodles said:
It's not like he is snakebitten and generating chances.
He looks like a completely different player, one who doesnt give a f***. I remember when he used to played like this a few years ago and it was really frustrating to watch, but I thought that player is gone. Now it really feels like he is back.
Either that or he is hurt.

Or he is playing some 4D chess leadership test on the team, like he's done so much last year carrying the team, he wants the others to show up, leave it to their hands while he sleepwalks through the regular season completely.

I dont know, but something is way off.
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I am giving him the benefit of the doubt that something is wrong.

No way a guy who has led the NHL in goals since he arrived suddenly can't score.

I just can't understand why people jump to nonsense conclusions that he doesn't care, or just wants to lea e or build his brand.

Playing like shit would hurt his UFA status and he would be losing money.
 
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CapspaceKiller said:
Odds are that horrifically bad shooting % won't last the whole season. I'm expecting like 16 goals in his next 20 games
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If he were shooting at the same rate as last year, he'd have 15 goals right now, instead of 9. Nine 5v5 goals, instead of three. His overall play is actually improved over last year IMO, just his shooting, and shot selection aren't there.
 
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sxvnert said:
Looks like hes saving his energy for the post season.
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I don't get this, his two-way effort level and physicality is as high or higher than the rest of his career so far but he can't shoot or handle passes. Does it take a lot of energy not to bobble pucks multiple times a powerplay?
 
Could it wrong, but looks like his wrists might be hurt again. Becoming quite an alarming trend. Has scored a few off tips or net front, and a few on slapshot one timers. Has no wrist shot goals at all really, and his SOG are down.
 
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Skullz said:
Could it wrong, but looks like his wrists might be hurt again. Becoming quite an alarming trend. Has scored a few off tips or net front, and a few on slapshot one timers. Has no wrist shot goals at all really, and his SOG are down.
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I remember Matt Cooke getting Lecalvier with a hit that broke the wrist, wasn't the same shooting threat after.

People like to say that he's playing fine...and he is. However he hasn't had those signature games, like Marner where they take over the game. For the money he's paid and for what he's going to demand on his next deal, if he's incapable of dominating most nights, it's going to be a questionable investment.
 
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