Speculation: Something is wrong with Matthews...

[Grub]

I think last year was one of his best seasons. Just look at Ovechkin he had a big season early in hus career but then couldn't sustain that high shooting percentage. I think in 2~3 years he'll hit that pace again but don't expect him to be having that kind of shooting percentage year after year.

 

[Menzinger]

With less than 15 games played it won't take much for his goal scoring pace to spike after a couple more good games.

I'd say a couple games this season he's been a bit lackluster and then for 2-3 others he's gotten some poor puck luck.

Either way I don't think there's any significant problem at the moment

 

[saffronleaf]

I do notice that we haven't seen his patented wrist shot in a while.

Beyond that, he looks engaged, scoring in different ways, making hits, playing the body, protecting the puck, good passes, good backchecking, etc.

Taking into account early season rust and natural ebbs and flows I don't think there's anything wrong with him, other than not having seen that wrist shot in a while.

 

[tmlms13]

Just a note for all the people complaining Matthews isn't scoring enough and that we need Barry Trotz

He will score even less under Trotz.

 

[Morbo]

nothing wrong besides an unusually low shooting percentage

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[nuck]

With less than 15 games played it won't take much for his goal scoring pace to spike after a couple more good games.

I'd say a couple games this season he's been a bit lackluster and then for 2-3 others he's gotten some poor puck luck.

Either way I don't think there's any significant prseems healthy so as long as thats the case I expect he will hit his strideoblem at the moment

Last year was 7 in his first 17 and he still hit 60. As long as he stays healthy Im not to worried. Look at the streaks he went on last year.

 

[nuck]

Just a note for all the people complaining Matthews isn't scoring enough and that we need Barry Trotz

He will score even less under Trotz.

Ovi's scoring didn't really dip under Trotz. 53g was his third best season ever. 87 pts was his best since 09-10. The Caps didn't have the Leafs offense at forward after Ovechkin so maybe BT tries to balance the scoring a bit more but Ovy never had more than 20:20 TOI under Trotz so kind of average for a player hitting his 30s. I think the Leafs are more similar to the Caps than the Isles so I would draw my parallel there, and obviously just a guess.

 

[ITM]

Let’s see what happens the next 10 games.

We went from fire Keefe, hire trotz, blow it up - 10 days later - We are a team again lol

Let’s see where 34 is in 10 games, before We bring out the worry whiskey.

I’ve noticed he’s a bit more engaging in his 2 way battles. Maybe a bit of an Ovechkin growing pain story.

Mmm...Some of us maybe. Personally, I think it's imperative that we make a move we would have made during a slump, now: On principal, trade Kerfoot and get a player for the blue line that brings size and menace. Let's shore up confidence in our end with a couple of those pieces if we can. And bring in a couple of the same for our forwards. Essentially it's brining your older, meaner cousin along when the bully calls for a fight after school. You're still in the fight, you might get beat, but you're standing a little taller and you're more inclined to release your inner honey badger.

It's a move for the right kind of momentum while we have momentum in the win column. Not resting on our laurels so to say.

And let me note for the record: If Mitch Marner went full on honey badger, I think he'd faint from the level of support and follow he'd win. His first few seasons led me to believe he had it in him. Still do...Don't know what the catalyst could be though.

I think Matthews has a couple of things going on: He's feeling the pressure of a club that appears constrained to address those necessary supplements. So in one way and another, he's trying to be everything to everyone...and it's freezing him to a degree. And obviously the compounded pressure of success before another "all-important" contract decision (dependent on team success?) must be affecting him and the general mood of the club.

I like the Ovechkin growing pain story. But I think the comparison's a little thin given Ovechkin's construction. Our boy (not yet) isn't the unit that's Alexander Ovechkin. I see potential, but I think a little less Scottsdale sun and a little more Lake Nippising in the winter might flip the switch.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

The only thing wrong with Matthews is he's a greedy little piggy and he's gonna ask for $15M per...and he'll probably get it.

Then he'll chirp guys like Holl for not getting him the puck, meanwhile there's no cap leftover to surround him with good dmen. Actions have consequences.

 

[PromisedLand]

Nothing is wrong with Matthews IMO

the LW on that line has not been as useful IMO; Marner also struggling to keep possession and losing puck/board battles adds to it.

One could argue that two 11 AAV players should be able to drive a line and make the LW productive not the other way around but then that is more on the GM's ability to create a balanced team than on the players.

 

[PromisedLand]

Let’s see what happens the next 10 games.

We went from fire Keefe, hire trotz, blow it up - 10 days later - We are a team again lol

Let’s see where 34 is in 10 games, before We bring out the worry whiskey.

I’ve noticed he’s a bit more engaging in his 2 way battles. Maybe a bit of an Ovechkin growing pain story.

Matthews was always a decent 2 way player don't think there is any Ovi growing pain story. Matthews' shot is been taken away on the PP and even strength.

Just look at the goal Marner scored last game. Although he had players around him they were mostly expecting a pass from him they had pass to Matthews and JT covered IMO; Marner took a shot and that fooled everyone and I mean everyone! It fooled the players on ice (leafs and vgk), both coaches (leafs and vgk) and the fans (leafs and vgk) including the goalie who was cheating towards the right expecting a one timer coming from JT.

Leafs loss in OT was due to a stupid and lazy switch where I blame 70% on Marner, 20% on Rielly and may be 10% on Matthews.

I have no clue who Marner was covering there in OT


Marner giveaways have also been an issue which I hope get fixed soon

 

[PromisedLand]

Just a note for all the people complaining Matthews isn't scoring enough and that we need Barry Trotz

He will score even less under Trotz.

Ovi's scoring didn't really dip under Trotz. 53g was his third best season ever. 87 pts was his best since 09-10. The Caps didn't have the Leafs offense at forward after Ovechkin so maybe BT tries to balance the scoring a bit more but Ovy never had more than 20:20 TOI under Trotz so kind of average for a player hitting his 30s. I think the Leafs are more similar to the Caps than the Isles so I would draw my parallel there, and obviously just a guess.

 

[IPS]

Love the attitude, just hope he keeps that same energy come playoff time.

 

[AvroArrow]

He's fine, first 3-4 games he looked like shit. Been much better since then.

 

[m1ker]

The playbook is out on Him and Marner. Matthews needs to play on a line that simplifies their game, cycle down low, shoot from any angle and get rebounds. I can't believe I'm saying this but Matthews needs to play more like Malgin.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

If he does not put up the numbers to warrant being the highest paid player in the league, does he choose not to resign July 1st if he can't get the contract he wants and defers into the season or worse, chooses to test FA ??

It’s Doobler we’re talking about, Matthews will get whatever contract he asks for.

 

[ToneDog]

It’s Doobler we’re talking about, Matthews will get whatever contract he asks for.

With a LW of Bunting, Kerfoot, Engvall and ZAR, a D with little size, strength and grit, a bottom 6 that pretty much does nothing, questionable goaltending and a core that can't get it done, this team is not getting out of round 1 and Doobler will be gone before negotiations with 34 start. We are not running it back, and Doobler and his BFF will be the first to go.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

We are not running it back, and Doobler and his BFF will be the first to go.

Can only say, I hope you’re right.

 

[BayStBullies]

I don't think you can do this and win. If he has a down year I would not mind giving him a 2 or 3 year deal at McD/MacK money with the caveat that if he and the team have success, they will be better able to reward him once JT if off the books.

The trick to trading him is you have to do it before July 1 when his NMC kicks in. After that he'd have to agree to a trade. We do not want to go through a year with Matty's status up in the air.

It doesn't matter what you mind. If Dubas is still here, Matthews gets whatever he wants.

 

[Menzinger]

It doesn't matter what you mind. If Dubas is still here, Matthews gets whatever he wants.

Matthews is going to get offered whatever he wants regardless of whose GM in Toronto

 

[2 Slick]

Players go through bad stretches in their careers at some point, he's human. It's not the end of the world.

 

[ToneDog]

Matthews is going to get offered whatever he wants regardless of whose GM in Toronto

So if he asks for 20%, you are going to give it to him ?? Seriously what has he done to deserve a higher percentage of the cap than McDavid? Some fans are acting the same way the Leafs did shitting their pants thinking an OS was coming for Matty.

I am hoping he has figured out that he can't do it alone and gives the Leafs a good deal. If not, I see us going down the same rat hole with him and Mitch. Said it before, I would rather trade him than give him a blank cheque. Time for the Leafs to show some onions when it comes to negotiations with the big boys, whoever the GM is.

 

[WillyC]

I think he’s developing and expanding his game into a better 2way player… he’s already proven he can score 50-60 goals… that’s money in the bank.

What’s the best 2way power forward in the world worth… who just wants to win?

 

[leafsfan5]

The optimist in me is thinking he's going to coast to 50 goals this year and ramp his game up to last year's level as we get closer to the playoffs. He's been good so far, but hasn't hit that upper level of dominance we saw last year

Which I'm largely fine with as long as come playoff time he has a monster run. He has the ability to takeover a series and win it on his own. It's time to have that kind of performance