Was Matthews Injured in 2023?

[AcerComputer]

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

If he's a on a 60 goal pace every year, I am good with that. If gets 51 goals in 70 games, I am not going to whine about it.

 

[notbias]

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

We just need our goalie to steal games while the rest of the team doesn't play great, that is the formula to have some success I guess.

 

[mydnyte]

Game 3 against Florida, got hit in the hand with a puck and was in noticeable pain. That was the end of his scoring streak and he was basically a ghost offensively those last 3 games.

Even still I don't believe he ever got to 100%, but he was definitely playing pretty well near the end of the season and against Tampa compared to what he was like all season.

Keefe and Dubas mentioned he was nursing injuries through the season as well but I'm just curious as to why he was not sitting and resting if it's not something he needs surgery for. I really hope we see 2022 Matthews again this season but if not I pray he's atleast healthy again and he should be good for 50+ goals and 100+ points and show up in the playoffs.

game 5 of the season he was brutally x-checked by Benn in the ribs (over the pants, completely unprotected) and weeks later he was still skating off and showing signs that he was hurt there.

I have theorized he got fractured ribs and played through it rather than by sidelined for the usual 6-8 weeks, and months later, you could still see him favoring that area from time to time after a shift (a bend to the side, or putting your hand on it)

 

[mydnyte]

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.

Matthews can stick handle in a phone booth ...I dont know who you have been watching.
he tends to pass off on zone entries, looking for a return pass/shot attempt that seldom comes though
his passing is as good as anyones

 

[Atomos2]

When is he not?

 

[myleafs]

If he's a on a 60 goal pace every year, I am good with that. If gets 51 goals in 70 games, I am not going to whine about it

But he doesnt get 51 in 70 every year does he?... which is what was being talked about...you know actual goals not expected or paced.

 

[egd27]

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

Remember the good old days when he was on a 328 goal pace?

 

[United35]

game 5 of the season he was brutally x-checked by Benn in the ribs (over the pants, completely unprotected) and weeks later he was still skating off and showing signs that he was hurt there.

I have theorized he got fractured ribs and played through it rather than by sidelined for the usual 6-8 weeks, and months later, you could still see him favoring that area from time to time after a shift (a bend to the side, or putting your hand on it)

Good point. He should get the pads QBs have for additional protection. He’s a marked man for sure. That and a little more of a deterrent (heavyweight that is actually in the lineup) could work well.

 

[therealkoho]

I love Matthews, but my biggest concern is what happened to him this past year. His wrist shot completely disappeared for long stretches of the year where it was slower than we've seen and/or not as accurate with him missing the net more than he ever has. Additionally, his motor seemed to have regressed where he wasn't his dominant self at both ends of the ice and he seemed more fatigued than normal in many games. In 2022 Matthews was league MVP and at the time I had him as 2nd best player in the NHL behind McDavid. In 2023, most would struggle to put him in the top 10-15 based on the results from this past year. I had assumed he was carrying at least one injury (wrist, leg, back) and we would be hearing about surgery this offseason, but there has been no reports of any operations being lined up.

I'm interested in hearing others thoughts on what they saw from Matthews this year as something didn't seem right compared to what we've seen. Honestly, if he was injured it would be amazing that he scored 40, but I'm no longer sure that was the reason for the differences in play we saw from him.

You saw everything we all saw, a guy who is a comfy 40 goal man, I want a lot more in the playoffs if the guy wants all the money!

 

[AcerComputer]

But he doesnt get 51 in 70 every year does he?... which is what was being talked about...you know actual goals not expected or paced.

We just had two shortened season from a once in a century pandemic. In a down season last year he scored 40 goals, where he clearly looked injured all year, and why they had him playing the point on the PP, where he is not likely to score many goals. Not sure what you are complaining about?

 

[IPS]

Matthews can stick handle in a phone booth ...I dont know who you have been watching.
he tends to pass off on zone entries, looking for a return pass/shot attempt that seldom comes though
his passing is as good as anyones

This exactly. That poster is nuts, Matthews has a fantastic set of hands.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Matthews can stick handle in a phone booth

He could barely carry the puck this year.

He played like he looked: injured.

 

[Doublerum1975]

I think it’s a built in excuse oh he’s playing bad he must be injured oh he’s playing good he must be healthy maybe he’s not just playing good simple as that

 

[authentic]

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

Good thing he actually scored 60 goals then

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

He could barely carry the puck this year.

He played like he looked: injured.

But he didn't have a deadly wrist shot this year. Whether you were just talking about this year or in general, your analysis was poor

 

[authentic]

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.

Not the best stick handler? Surely you mean only when he's injured because if not then you should take up watching another sport.

 

[authentic]

I think it’s a built in excuse oh he’s playing bad he must be injured oh he’s playing good he must be healthy maybe he’s not just playing good simple as that

That's a cool theory but unfortunately very obviously wrong.

 

[Doublerum1975]

No

That's a cool theory but unfortunately very obviously wrong.

I don’t think so why can’t you believe sometimes players play like crap it happens it’s not always a injury

 

[therealkoho]

Maybe just maybe Auston Matthews is a 40 goal guy and the 60 was the out of character season.

It's great that we have a 40 goal guy in fact maybe Will is as well. What I don't get is why Matthews is "untouchable" in some people's minds?

 

[Stephen]

Not the best stick handler? Surely you mean only when he's injured because if not then you should take up watching another sport.

Matthews is one of the most elite set of hands in the game. His inefficiency with his stickhandling is he overhandles east west which seems to impede his north south momentum. It would be good to see him simplify and just take it up full speed more frequently.

 

[Sypher04]

Maybe just maybe Auston Matthews is a 40 goal guy and the 60 was the out of character season.

It's great that we have a 40 goal guy in fact maybe Will is as well. What I don't get is why Matthews is "untouchable" in some people's minds?

He scored 40 as a rookie.
He scored 41 in 52 games in the Covid season.
He scored 60 in 73 in his Hart year.
He scored 40 in 74 last year in an injury riddled season

He’s essentially never played to less than a 40 goal season. The only two seasons he didn’t make it he missed significant time (14 & 20 games) and was well on track to hit 40 both years

What you’re suggesting is essentially that he came into the NHL as a finished product goal scorer which is an exceptionally hard argument to make.

As for why he’s considered virtually untouchable, that’s very simple. Healthy he is arguably the best goal scorer and one of the outright best and most complete players in the entire league, and our center ice position becomes very bad if we don’t have him. Especially so if you subscribe to the school of thought that Tavares is no longer fast enough to play center.

I’m confident the only way Matthews isn’t on this team next year is if he tells them in no uncertain terms in the next 6 days he is not extending.