Was Matthews Injured in 2023?

[AnomX]

I have to agree -- felt he was injured all year long. Not sure why if that's the case he wouldn't just sit rather than risking further injuring himself and potentially throwing away tens of millions of dollars.

 

[socko]

Can anyone think of another NHL player whose career was severely sidetracked by chronically damaged wrists? Of all the things that could be chronic issues I have confidence and hope the medical community and player can figure it out.

I've been using Tiger Woods as a comp. Not the same sport. But he had a drive that was substantially better than most of his competition. Would out drive the other top players by a good number of yards. And that swing destroyed his knee. Multiple surgeries. Had to change his swing. Never dominated again, just a guy after that.

 

[keonsbitterness]

His wrist may have been bothering him, but didn’t he shed some weight last summer? I know Tavares did but I think Matthews trimmed a few lbs as well. At his age and physique he should still be adding weight in the off season, especially in his upper body.

I wonder if he put on weight last summer, and too much of it.

 

[centipede2233]

Look at the bright side. Goal scorers always peak after the age of 25-26 years old.

They do?

 

[leafan11]

A lot of you are forgetting Matthews wrist wasn’t 100% during his 60 goal year . He scored a lot of tips.

 

[saffronleaf]

he was awful this year. a middle of the road top six center. although he did do well against tampa, gotta give him that.

but yea, lost his shot, looked tired, weak, sad.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Every year it's a new "was Matthews injured" thread. He's either always injured or he's just not that guy. Not someone I want to drop my pants for while giving him a blank cheque.

 

[authentic]

His wrist may have been bothering him, but didn’t he shed some weight last summer? I know Tavares did but I think Matthews trimmed a few lbs as well. At his age and physique he should still be adding weight in the off season, especially in his upper body.

Matthews shed weight before his Hart winning season and looked faster than ever. He was heavier coming into this season

He was never going to score 60 again, but the way the zip & sting of his shot just disappeared for stretches this season was so unusual.

Definitely not healthy. We saw the wrapped up wrist, and we know he's had back / shoulder issues in the past. He told us he was healthy during locker clean out interviews, but I find that very hard to believe just based on what we saw this year.

I completely disgree with the "He was never going to score 60 again" He scored well over a 60 goal pace two seasons in a row. If he gets his health back he could get 60 yet again.

 

[authentic]

This has been a major concern for me over the last couple of years. And at 24 and 25 he shouldn't be losing speed. I just don't see the same intensity in his game.

Past couple of years? He was lighter and faster than ever during his Hart winning season.

 

[authentic]

A lot of you are forgetting Matthews wrist wasn’t 100% during his 60 goal year . He scored a lot of tips.

Also wasn't the season before when he had 41 goals in 52 games. There were 10-15 games in each of those seasons where he was clearly not shooting any good shots at all and setting up for tips constantly. Yet he still scored at 65 and 67 goal paces while playing good defensively, and people want to trade him.

he was awful this year. a middle of the road top six center. although he did do well against tampa, gotta give him that.

but yea, lost his shot, looked tired, weak, sad.

In the NHL you mean?

 

[Tak7]

I completely disgree with the "He was never going to score 60 again" He scored well over a 60 goal pace two seasons in a row. If he gets his health back he could get 60 yet again.

Scoring at a 60 goal pace isn't the same as scoring 60 goals.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Scoring at a 60 goal pace isn't the same as scoring 60 goals.

They were Expected Goals. Therefore, according to the "advanced" stat crew, they count.

 

[67leafs]

My biggest problem is that he has no personality…..seems kinda boring and laid back for my liking…..I’d let him go and search for some passion (ie TKachuk0

 

[Boxscore]

Past couple of years? He was lighter and faster than ever during his Hart winning season.

He had flashes of brilliance during that season but his goals overshadowed his lack of intensity at times, which is fine, he earned that. But once the playoffs started it looked like he lost a gear and his intensity dropped. This year he never looked good for any significant stretch and he was abysmal in the playoffs, sans a game or two, yet again.

If we're being honest, his entire playoff career (7 trips) has been disastrously underwhelming:

Regular season:
PPG = 1.13
Goals per 82gp = 51
GWG per 82gp = 15
+/- = 109

Playoffs:
PPG = 0.88
Goals per 82gp = 36
GWG per 82gp = 8
+/- = 0

Matthews not only hasn't been able to up his game in the playoffs, he's actually regressed annually in the post season. Not remotely good enough for a guy who wants to be paid more than McDavid in a year.

Does all the blame fall on him? Of course not. But he absolutely needs to shoulder his share and prove he is willing to battle and level up in the playoffs. To date, he's been content with floating around and trying to find empty space to fire bullets.

In reality, he needs to do his part, but he also needs a better constructed supporting cast, which requires resources. The best thing he could do for the franchise and his career is leave some decent money on the table with his next deal so we can get him better support pieces.

Matthews hasn't done anything to earn being paid more than Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon. If he demands that, he's not the type of player or person who can lead the Leafs to a Cup imho.

 

[authentic]

He had flashes of brilliance during that season but his goals overshadowed his lack of intensity at times, which is fine, he earned that. But once the playoffs started it looked like he lost a gear and his intensity dropped. This year he never looked good for any significant stretch and he was abysmal in the playoffs, sans a game or two, yet again.

If we're being honest, his entire playoff career (7 trips) has been disastrously underwhelming:

Regular season:
PPG = 1.13
Goals per 82gp = 51
GWG per 82gp = 15
+/- = 109

Playoffs:
PPG = 0.88
Goals per 82gp = 36
GWG per 82gp = 8
+/- = 0

Matthews not only hasn't been able to up his game in the playoffs, he's actually regressed annually in the post season. Not remotely good enough for a guy who wants to be paid more than McDavid in a year.

Does all the blame fall on him? Of course not. But he absolutely needs to shoulder his share and prove he is willing to battle and level up in the playoffs. To date, he's been content with floating around and trying to find empty space to fire bullets.

In reality, he needs to do his part, but he also needs a better constructed supporting cast, which requires resources. The best thing he could do for the franchise and his career is leave some decent money on the table with his next deal so we can get him better support pieces.

Matthews hasn't done anything to earn being paid more than Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon. If he demands that, he's not the type of player or person who can lead the Leafs to a Cup imho.

I suppose, although that floating around comes with over 100 hits, 40 takeaways, and over a blocked shot per game in his last 4 playoff runs alone while rarely taking any penalties. I get it, he hasn't been that guy nearly enough in the playoffs. But to say he's been content floating around just waiting to shoot isn't a very fair assessment of his game, even despite playing hurt very often he has clearly done a heck of a lot more than that.

Beyond that I agree he shouldn't be paid more than those guys, and it would be really nice if he would take a little less for the benefit of the team. I guess we'll see how it plays out but I still believe he'll be getting 14.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Matthews isn't fast, isn't a zone entry guy, isn't the best stick handler, is an OK passer.
He's a deadly wrist shooter.
playing with injured wrists.

very scary formula.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Matthews isn't fast, isn't a zone entry guy, isn't the best stick handler, is an OK passer.
He's a deadly wrist shooter.
playing with injured wrists.

very scary formula.

I would argue the following:

I've seen Matthews enter the zone with the puck (like a League MVP),
pass (like a League MVP), stick handle (like a League MVP), etc.

I've even seen him win the Hart Trophy.

What is scary?

 

[GoonieFace]

Half the Panthers were mangled and won’t start the next season, made the finals

Matthews has a boo boo on his wrist, this is why we didn’t win

 

[HamiltonNHL]

If he gets his health back he could get 60 yet again.

It’s possible.

I can pay $10 AAV for possible.

If the goal is winning a cup.

Which it isn’t.

The goal is to turn a 2 billion dollar money making scheme into a 8 billion dollar money making scheme.

And it was a success. Larry T is happy. And it’s his opinion that counts. Not some random fan’s opinion.

 

[koyvoo]

Yes, clearly. But that wasn’t the only issue. He never scored at the rate (almost 100 goals in 100 games) that he did with Marner, without Marner. Still a great goal scoring clip, for sure, but those insane generational/MVP type numbers will only come, could only come, have only come if he’s stapled to Marner all season long.

A lot of people seem to be in denial about this, or downplay it, but I’d you know how to set filters on HockeyReference, or QuantumHockey for example, it tells the whole story.

 

[myleafs]

Scoring at a 60 goal pace isn't the same as scoring 60 goals.

This x 10000000
Arent we done with the expected goals and wins crap yet?

 

[dubplatepressure]

Can anyone think of another NHL player whose career was severely sidetracked by chronically damaged wrists? Of all the things that could be chronic issues I have confidence and hope the medical community and player can figure it out.

If you include hands with that then lots. Lindros has chronic hand / wrist injuries. Alzners hand issue was debilitating and well known.

 

[ToneDog]

Matthews isn't fast, isn't a zone entry guy, isn't the best stick handler, is an OK passer.
He's a deadly wrist shooter.
playing with injured wrists.

very scary formula.

Matty with 2 healthy wrists gonna cost you $15m. With one injured wrist, 13,5m.

 

[WillNy29]

My Theory: (no proof just guesswork)

I think after winning rocket, hart last season, Matthews decided to take it easy in the offseason and did not put in much work. It was evident in the pre-seaon when he was bent over after 30 second shift huffing and puffing for air.

Matthews also lost a bit of speed this season; he wasn't skating as good as the season prior.

His wrist was an issue when it comes to his shot no doubt (which may be the case moving forward ) but his conditioning was terrible to begin the season, during the season and in the playoffs.

seemed to happen after getting his ribs moved around by Benn

 

[WillNy29]

Scoring at a 60 goal pace isn't the same as scoring 60 goals.

in fairness the season was 51 games long lol and he scored more than 40...then followed it up by actually scoring 60 in 72