Speculation: Something is wrong with Matthews...

[therealkoho]

I don't understand why Matthews gets such a free pass.

When term is included, Matthews demanded McDavid money. Ie, Matthews argued he was the equal of the best player in the world. McDavid in points. Matthews in goals.

And that's been the case 2 years in a row, as Matthews won 2 rockets. Best goal scorer in the world. And McDavid has had the most points numerous years in a row.

But right now, almost 20 games in... 1/4th the season... Matthews is 33rd in goals. Yes. Thirty-third. The goal leaders have TWICE the amount of goals as him.

Can you imagine 20 games in and McDavid was THIRTY-THIRD in points and the point leaders have DOUBLE the points as him? Can you imagine? It would be media bedlam. It's what every sports panel and podcast would be talking about non-stop. Endless discussions about what the HELL is wrong with McDavid and criticisms about his attitude and endless "he clearly wants out of Edmonton" type hot takes.

With Matthews? McDavid's alleged "equal"? 33rd in goals? Half as many as leaders? Barely a peep from literally anywhere.

It's baffling.

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.

 

[Tak7]

He's played 18 games...some of y'all are quite sad with how quick you are to overreact to everything and be overly negative. If this is how y'all are outside of the internet, pity the people stuck with you. Since small sample sizes mean everything for those I'm talking about.

First 9: 7 points (2 goals) = 18 goal, 64 point pace.
Last 9: 11 points (6 goals) = 55 goal, 100 point pace

He's producing like who he's always been his last 9 games, and his first 9 games were rather uncharacteristic looking at his career, even moreso considering his shooting %.

I wouldn't say it's an overreaction. Not many expected him to hit 60 goals again, and if ends up in that 40-50 range I think most would be very satisfied.

However, he's not 100% imo. You don't take your biggest shot threat on the powerplay, with that laser beam that embarrassed so many goalies last year, and move him into either the net front or bumper position, unless there's something going on.

Just my opinion - he doesn't look like Auston Matthews right now.

 

[Nineteen67]

I don't understand why Matthews gets such a free pass.

When term is included, Matthews demanded McDavid money. Ie, Matthews argued he was the equal of the best player in the world. McDavid in points. Matthews in goals.

And that's been the case 2 years in a row, as Matthews won 2 rockets. Best goal scorer in the world. And McDavid has had the most points numerous years in a row.

But right now, almost 20 games in... 1/4th the season... Matthews is 33rd in goals. Yes. Thirty-third. The goal leaders have TWICE the amount of goals as him.

Can you imagine 20 games in and McDavid was THIRTY-THIRD in points and the point leaders have DOUBLE the points as him? Can you imagine? It would be media bedlam. It's what every sports panel and podcast would be talking about non-stop. Endless discussions about what the HELL is wrong with McDavid and criticisms about his attitude and endless "he clearly wants out of Edmonton" type hot takes.

With Matthews? McDavid's alleged "equal"? 33rd in goals? Half as many as leaders? Barely a peep from literally anywhere.

It's baffling.

I think the heat is soon going to get turned up

 

[Ashdown2]

I wouldn't say it's an overreaction. Not many expected him to hit 60 goals again, and if ends up in that 40-50 range I think most would be very satisfied.

However, he's not 100% imo. You don't take your biggest shot threat on the powerplay, with that laser beam that embarrassed so many goalies last year, and move him into either the net front or bumper position, unless there's something going on.

Just my opinion - he doesn't look like Auston Matthews right now.

hes got an many 5 on 5 goals as pierre engvall , ZAR and malgin
yeah i think theres a problem.

 

[wingman75]

Seems to me he is still able to find space, either in the offensive zone or on breakouts. Also seems to me, he very often cannot pick up a pass clean, flubs a shot, misses the puck completely or gets knocked off it easier than we have been used to seeing.

That to me is just focus. Not sure what else he would have on his mind, and I think we all appreciate the extra physicalness, but sorry to say he is not paid to lay hits, he is paid to score goals or setup up someone else's. If he wants to throw hits after doing that, go for it, but this team won't go far with this level of output imo.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

He has 5 points in his last 3 games I see no issue

 

[Menzinger]

He has 5 points in his last 3 games I see no issue

He's also throwing hits too. Not exactly shying away from contact

 

[fillkessel]

This fan base is absolutely toxic. So hard to congest. We have a legitimate superstar on our team and we still have grocery stick beer leaguers trying to talk shit because he isn’t scoring enough LOL. We finally have an extremely rare generational goal scorer but of course that isn’t good el

 

[fillkessel]

This fan base is absolutely toxic. So hard to congest. We have a legitimate superstar on our team and we still have grocery stick beer leaguers trying to talk shit because he isn’t scoring enough LOL. We finally have an extremely rare generational goal scorer but of course that isn’t good enough

 

[Martin Skoula]

You get a guy who's basically prime Getzlaf with Ovechkin's scoring and you complain when Ovi's scoring drops off for 20 games and you're stuck with just prime Getzlaf.

 

[Nhlpowerweek]

He's also throwing hits too. Not exactly shying away from contact

Thats true. I myself may have enterprited his facial expressions and whole being wrong.... He looks to me like he doesnt often want to be there. I look very closely at the players on the bench etc. Maybe matthews has always been like that? But during last seasons... i thought I saw more talking going on. A bit more and a bit more of those bursts when he scored etc. But maybe I am wrong here. To me, his eyes and being seem like he sometimes doesnt want to be there right at that moment or he is way off... in his zone. Also some of his actions have still been wrong. Not fighting konecky etc. But that has happened before too. Even in the playoffs.

 

[81Leafs50]

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.

 

[hfman]

This fan base is absolutely toxic. So hard to congest. We have a legitimate superstar on our team and we still have grocery stick beer leaguers trying to talk shit because he isn’t scoring enough LOL. We finally have an extremely rare generational goal scorer but of course that isn’t good el

still early but its clear to all of us that so far this season he isn't on his game.

last year he showed what he's capable of but so did countless other players in the league and then they vanished. From Alexei Yashin to Gary Leeman, many players looked like superstars for a season and then were gone the next.

Matthews doesn't strike me as this kind of one-hit-wonder, but he had better get it together if he wants that next payday. If he wants McDavid money then he better start playing like McDavid. Connor shows up every game. Does Matthews? Not so far. So no McDavid money for Austin right now.

There's no way he can keep playing as an average player like he is right now and demand 15million per year, he won't get it. So it's in his best interest to return to form so he can get that kind of money.

Is he the kind of player who's going to float through his middle contract years and then turn it on during his final year? Just to make sure he gets that cash on his next deal? If so, is that the type of player a team wants? Play hard only when money is on the line?

It's awesome that we have this kind of player and I hate to admit it, but I have my reservations about him. I'm not sure he has the drive like a McDavid or Crosby. I think he has all the potential in the world but something is missing, whether it's his determination or maybe his level of maturity.

Or it could be what millions of other fans are thinking, that he just doesn't like Toronto? Totally understandable.


Oh and by the way. What exactly does "So hard to congest" mean

 

[nsleaf]

still early but its clear to all of us that so far this season he isn't on his game.

last year he showed what he's capable of but so did countless other players in the league and then they vanished. From Alexei Yashin to Gary Leeman, many players looked like superstars for a season and then were gone the next.

Matthews doesn't strike me as this kind of one-hit-wonder, but he had better get it together if he wants that next payday. If he wants McDavid money then he better start playing like McDavid. Connor shows up every game. Does Matthews? Not so far. So no McDavid money for Austin right now.

There's no way he can keep playing as an average player like he is right now and demand 15million per year, he won't get it. So it's in his best interest to return to form so he can get that kind of money.

Is he the kind of player who's going to float through his middle contract years and then turn it on during his final year? Just to make sure he gets that cash on his next deal? If so, is that the type of player a team wants? Play hard only when money is on the line?

It's awesome that we have this kind of player and I hate to admit it, but I have my reservations about him. I'm not sure he has the drive like a McDavid or Crosby. I think he has all the potential in the world but something is missing, whether it's his determination or maybe his level of maturity.

Or it could be what millions of other fans are thinking, that he just doesn't like Toronto? Totally understandable.


Oh and by the way. What exactly does "So hard to congest" mean

Millions?

 

[Throw More Waffles]

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.

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.

 

[Racer88]

Millions?

I was thinking billions personally.

 

[ToneDog]

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.

Matty has what 2 goals 5vs5 in 19 games ?? McDavid has that many in one game.

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.

Nobody deserves to be paid more than McDavid IMO but be prepared for Matty to be overpaid again if he is open to resigning. And unless he finds his mojo he will sign it coming off a 90-100 point season instead of a 110+ point season.

 

[MAB1]

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.

No, the team is 10-5-4. OT hockey is a regular season gimmick and isn't reflective of anything. There's a reason they don't use it in the playoffs. Nobody cares that you wanna look at it a different way, that's not how the actual NHL does it and how you look at it doesn't matter at all in how they tabulate the standings. The point is to get in, and rack up points in as many games as you can (Leafs are on pace for 104 points right now and haven't played up to their standards for most of the year). Matthews is on pace for 35 goals and 86 points and you're acting like he's fallen off a cliff. 19 games does not override 6+ seasons worth of data.

If Matthews finishes the season 41st in goal scoring, then sure be upset. What's the point of acting like this when we're 19 games into the season? For reference sake for you to stop crying.

Last season after 19 games: Matthews had 9 goals - you know what he finished with
This season after 19 games: Matthews has 8 goals - you crying

 

[MAB1]

I wouldn't say it's an overreaction. Not many expected him to hit 60 goals again, and if ends up in that 40-50 range I think most would be very satisfied.

However, he's not 100% imo. You don't take your biggest shot threat on the powerplay, with that laser beam that embarrassed so many goalies last year, and move him into either the net front or bumper position, unless there's something going on.

Just my opinion - he doesn't look like Auston Matthews right now.

He was on pace for 55 goals in 2019-20 (had 47 in 70gp)
He was on pace for 65 goals in 2020-21 (had 41 in 52gp)
He was on pace for 67 goals in 2021-22 (had 60 in 73gp)

Over the last 3 seasons that's an average of 62 goals per year. Not many?

Where were your comments last year after he had 9 goals after 19 games? A whole one goal above this years total after 19 games with him "struggling".

 

[Dayjobdave]

His hit on Skinner last night was epic. This guy just keeps adding things to his Game.

I think his wrist is bugging him, but I expect he will light the lamp again.

 

[WillyC]

I’m looking forward to Auston reeling in the league leaders this season.

I would never count Matthews out just 20 games in.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

No, the team is 10-5-4. OT hockey is a regular season gimmick and isn't reflective of anything. There's a reason they don't use it in the playoffs. Nobody cares that you wanna look at it a different way, that's not how the actual NHL does it and how you look at it doesn't matter at all in how they tabulate the standings. The point is to get in, and rack up points in as many games as you can (Leafs are on pace for 104 points right now and haven't played up to their standards for most of the year). Matthews is on pace for 35 goals and 86 points and you're acting like he's fallen off a cliff. 19 games does not override 6+ seasons worth of data.

If Matthews finishes the season 41st in goal scoring, then sure be upset. What's the point of acting like this when we're 19 games into the season? For reference sake for you to stop crying.

Last season after 19 games: Matthews had 9 goals - you know what he finished with
This season after 19 games: Matthews has 8 goals - you crying

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.

 

[Vaive50]

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.

With regard to the sentence that I bolded, I think the old system made lower teams look better because if there was no OT, the Leafs right now would be 4 games above .500 (9-5-5) but because there is OT, they look to some as only 1 game above .500. The bottom line should be the points, the Leafs have 24 points in 19 games which puts them at 5 games above .500.

But I hear your frustration, last year, Matthews went the first 7 games with only one goal and exploded from there on (and in those 7 games, the Leafs record was 2-4-1) but is taking too long this year to find his mojo, if the Leafs had his goal scoring to rely on, their record would be more close to 15-3-1 because of those OT losses and last-minute one-goal losses to basement dwelling teams. After game 7 last season, Matthews was relied on and he delivered, hopefully he'll start again sooner than later.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

With regard to the sentence that I bolded, I think the old system made lower teams look better because if there was no OT, the Leafs right now would be 4 games above .500 (9-5-5) but because there is OT, they look to some as only 1 game above .500. The bottom line should be the points, the Leafs have 24 points in 19 games which puts them at 5 games above .500.

But I hear your frustration, last year, Matthews went the first 7 games with only one goal and exploded from there on (and in those 7 games, the Leafs record was 2-4-1) but is taking too long this year to find his mojo, if the Leafs had his goal scoring to rely on, their record would be more close to 15-3-1 because of those OT losses and last-minute one-goal losses to basement dwelling teams. After game 7 last season, Matthews was relied on and he delivered, hopefully he'll start again sooner than later.

It’s only because the leafs have been horrendous in it this year. OT wins count as wins. OT losses count as “ties”. It’s silly. .500 is supposed to mean “middle of the pack.” But only EIGHT teams are currently below .500 lol. So .500 doesn’t mean middle of the pack anymore. It doesn’t mean anything whatsoever.

 

[MAB1]

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.

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.