The Mighty Auston Matthews

[Mr Hockey]

So what? He's a 13 million dollar player.

is he?

 

[Throw More Waffles]

is he?

Well, I certainly hope not. I have no complaints at all about Matthews if it isn't a birthright for him to earn 12-13 mil per. McDavid scored 100 points and won a hart trophy before being offered such a contract.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Well, I certainly hope not. I have no complaints at all about Matthews if it isn't a birthright for him to earn 12-13 mil per. McDavid scored 100 points and won a hart trophy before being offered such a contract.

It's safe to say he is going to want to equal Mcdavids money and use his PPG and team success as leverage

 

[Leafs at Knight]

I feel like if auston doesn't get a couple of those Buffalo OT goal shots off a game, he's considered to have had a bad game / been invisible.

This is completely true even though he gets more goals from in and around the net

 

[Mess]

I'd be content with some solid stickhandling, a few shots on goal, some forechecking and possession in the offensive zone, no major turnover and no injury

How about 1 goal & 2 assists in a big win?

 

[Vaive50]

Even with Matthews playing about half of what he's capable of since that Kronwall boarding, he is still in 6th overall in PPG. Now just one point shy of 40 points at the half way mark, that's still pace for 98 points (in only 68 games).

 

[Stephen]

Even with Matthews playing about half of what he's capable of since that Kronwall boarding, he is still in 6th overall in PPG. Now just one point shy of 40 points at the half way mark, that's still pace for 98 points (in only 68 games).

Glamour numbers are great and definitely part of the portfolio of what makes an elite superstar, and it's so exciting following Matthews as he puts up fairly unprecedented numbers in the modern game. And he's also shown a knack for coming through in big OT moments, being clutch etc. But we also kind of need him to put up some games where he has half the other team on his shoulders and he powers through and carries the Leafs to victory. That's kind of the caliber of player he can be, so it'll be great to see him grow into that role.

 

[Vaive50]

Matthews is basically tied with Ovechkin for number 1 in the league in Goals per game and is on pace for 50 in 68 games. And yes, he is still not playing up to his potential these days like he was before that Trouba hit (16 goals in 10 games).

 

[authentic]

Matthews is basically tied with Ovechkin for number 1 in the league in Goals per game and is on pace for 50 in 68 games. And yes, he is still not playing up to his potential these days like he was before that Trouba hit (16 goals in 10 games).

He never had 16 in 10. He had 10 in 6 then still had 10 in 11 after injury (10 and a period to be exact). He had 16 points if that's what you mean.

 

[authentic]

It's about defense, not offense.

Matthews is just not that good without the puck.

He's still a young center. He still does not know what to do in every situation. That cost the team the last game.

If he can't do it, and nothing so far indicates Matthews can play good defense on a consistent basis, you have no choice but to put Hyman with Matthews. They could do Brown with Matthews, but Nylander and Johnsson with Matthews, that is no good. Two or three years from now, that could be real good, but now, it's not.

This year he hasn't been, but he's already shown he can be.

 

[Vaive50]

He never had 16 in 10. He had 10 in 6 then still had 10 in 11 after injury (10 and a period to be exact). He had 16 points if that's what you mean.

Yep, you're right, I meant to say points.

 

[authentic]

That's not particularly true either. All star players take a few shifts off each game including Marner and Tavares. We all see our favs in different lights. They all have bad giveaways, lazy backchecks and missed assignments at times.

This isn't true this season though, Marner has far less giveaways and consistently creates more and defends better nearly every game. Tavares competes more but gives the puck away and tries to deke standing still way too much. I have defended that Matthews has been our best player before this season, I don't have any favourites and that post you quoted is true.

 

[Griffin76]

This isn't true this season though, Marner has far less giveaways and consistently creates more and defends better nearly every game. Tavares competes more but gives the puck away and tries to deke standing still way too much. I have defended that Matthews has been our best player before this season, I don't have any favourites and that post you quoted is true.

That post may be true in your eyes and their eyes. But I don't see it. All 3 guys give the puck away at times and try their best to get it back. What I see is that there's 2 of them on the same line and it appears they are working harder to get it back. The problem with Matthews is that the player he has had the most chemistry with has been relegated to the third line, and the constant shifting of linemates is why he appears to struggle at times. There's no consistency for him to build any chemistry whereas Marner and Tavares have been together since the beginning of the season. Anyway people see things differently. I don't see any of them floating or taking shifts off very often. We are very fortunate to have all three top end 2 way players.

 

[zeke]

Even Strength Points per 60min (minimum 100min)

1.Matthews 4.17
2.Kucherov 3.64
3.Panarin 3.58
4.Marner 3.48
5.Point 3.41

Even Strength Primary Points per 60min

1.Matthews 3.43
2.Marner 3.29
3.Point 3.12
4.Crosby 2.91
5.Tavares 2.88

Power Play Points Per 60 (minimum 50min)

1.Pastrnak 11.17
2.Kucherov 10.44
3.Bergeron 10.19
4.Matthews 9.59
5.Pionk 9.45

Power Play Primary Points per 60min

1.Matthews 9.59
2.Pastrnak 9.02
3.Pionk 8.66
4.Kucherov 7.35
5.Marchand 6.76


Kid is an absolute monster.

 

[Gabriel426]

Think Matthews is so good that when he is at 80% we complained about him being a floater and yet even at 80%, he is still better than 90% of the League

 

[Morbo]

yeah the shoulder clearly isn't up to par. the Kronwall board set him back a bit, you could see that one hurt on the replay. he needs to play another 2 minutes a game, ultimately. If healthy he'd be right up there challenging for the scoring lead.

 

[A1LeafNation]

11*8

 

[Dreakmur]

So what? He's a 13 million dollar player.

If he goes for top dollar, he hurts the team by taking cap space. You're better off keeping him and sacrificing elsewhere, but it still hurts.

 

[Skin Tape Session]

Even with Matthews playing about half of what he's capable of since that Kronwall boarding, he is still in 6th overall in PPG. Now just one point shy of 40 points at the half way mark, that's still pace for 98 points (in only 68 games).

.

Id love to see how the main board spins 98 points in 68 games. Thats Lemieux esq

 

[Morbo]

If he goes for top dollar, he hurts the team by taking cap space. You're better off keeping him and sacrificing elsewhere, but it still hurts.

But by "hurt", you actually mean "lose some of the ability to pay a player who isn't as good as Auston Matthews".

I don't mind paying a top player in the game top dollar. That's how it should be.

People still have to get used to the concept of 8 figure salaries for the top stars in hockey, I think. The cap isn't 60 million anymore.

 

[Confucius]

just wish he'd sign a deal. Why does it seem like we get all the players that want to take us right down to the wire?

 

[zeke]

This Year + Last Year

Even Strength Points Per 60 Minutes (minimum 200min)

1.Matthews (21): 3.37 (1353.9min)
2.McDavid (22): 3.22 (2122.05min)
3.Kucherov (25): 3.15 (1884.02min)
4.MacKinnon (23): 2.93 (1842.6min)
5.Giroux (30): 2.87 (1862.25min)

Even Strength Primary Points Per 60 Minutes (minimum 200min)

1.Matthews (21): 2.93 (1353.9min)
2.McDavid (22): 2.43 (2122.05min)
3.MacKinnon (23): 2.38 (1842.6min)
4.Kucherov (25): 2.36 (1884.02min)
5.Point (22): 2.30 (1822.75min)



Kid is an absolute beast.

 

[BlueForever75]

Matthews definitely is a monster and I believe he is the best player on the Leafs. I know some may debate and put Marner/Tavares in front of him. But I disagree.

He's had bad luck with injuries and had he not, he would be leading the league in goals and be in the top 5 in points easily. We are talking about a guy that still has 20 goals in less games then most 20 goal scorers currently in the league and he's only scored 1 goal in his past 6 games.

Some really need to give their heads a shake. This guy will once again go on a tear and when he does, he will overtake Ovi and win the Rocket Richard trophy this season. That's my prediction.

 

[Dreakmur]

But by "hurt", you actually mean "lose some of the ability to pay a player who isn't as good as Auston Matthews".

I don't mind paying a top player in the game top dollar. That's how it should be.

People still have to get used to the concept of 8 figure salaries for the top stars in hockey, I think. The cap isn't 60 million anymore.

I think I was pretty clear. Guys who really want to win will leave money on the table.

 

[LeafGrief]

I love Auston Matthews. If he walked into my office right now I'd be screaming like a 14 year old girl at a One Direction concert.