Has Matthews struggled in the playoffs?

[snowkiddin]

He's doing fine for a young guy. He'll have to get better though if they're to go anywhere in the playoffs.

Pretty much this. He’s not performing like the generational player some proclaim him to be but this is just one playoff series of course

 

[Trap Jesus]

Credit has to go to Marchand/Pastrnak ... insanely underrated defensive players (more Marchand obviously)

and Riley Nash is a defensive specialist .... sooo it's not like he had an easy night

Matthews barely played against them. Chara-McAvoy heavily matched against him and the krejci and Backes like split.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He's been pretty invisible but the dude is 20 yrs old and everyone matures at a different rate.

It's a bit more concerning to me that it's more of an effort thing - seems to be coasting at times out there but again that's just mental maturity that should grow with age.

He should be in many more playoff rounds and I'm sure he will improve, he's a great player and still learning from his experiences.

I don't think anyone needs to make excuses for Matthews. He's been mediocre this series and is clearly frustrated. The Bruins have a game plan for him and his line and it's working. Is there enough time to adjust? Probably not in this series, this playoff year. Matthews is an interesting personality for sure though. He's very self-assured (cocky) but that doesn't equate to "maturity beyond one's years." He definitely doesn't look like captain material at this point and would probably be best served not being burdened with that responsibility any time soon.

 

[BostonBruins11]

Matthews barely played against them. Chara-McAvoy heavily matched against him and the krejci and Backes like split.

True I didn't think that one through lol

 

[BruinLVGA]

It's not?
After his first season I expected him to score 50 goals this year and 60 goals the next season, becuase he can only become so much better.

Tell that to Leafs fans (that somehow Matthews might not always progress) and see the reactions...

 

[viper0220]

the problem is the leafs are waisting another year with all these young guys on ELCs' and these guys make up a majority of their solid top 6, its going to be hard to keep them all

With cap going up and the ability of front loading contracts, I think they will be fine. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

The best lessons learned are usually the hardest and most painful.

 

[nhlfan9191]

With cap going up and the ability of front loading contracts, I think they will be fine. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

If the cap goes up, so do players salaries so it’s a wash. If the cap goes up this offseason, your players will be paid accordingly.

 

[behemolari]

he is not struggling, this is his level

 

[Tage2Tuch]

Do we know it was Matthews who declined?

LOL because the Media would of declined interviewing the lEafs Franchise player who is struggling after possibly the biggest game of the season.

THE MEDIA...in TORONTO ....of course it has to be this.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Tell that to Leafs fans (that somehow Matthews might not always progress) and see the reactions...

I mean, he obviously did progress this year. he was hampered by injury

 

[Tage2Tuch]

McDavid had 9 points in 13 games.

Matthews has 1 in 4.

Not at all comparable.

I know, GOrd Stellick who aleways tries to put Matthews in a McDavid like spot, he is a former Leafs GM and is a HUGE Homr (to which they openly joke about on hockey centrlal) did this today.

Talked about how McDavid had to learn last year. LOL< McDavid's team was two goals away from the third round and had 9 points, not without series victories and only having won one game, with 1 point.

I mean, he obviously did progress this year. he was hampered by injury

Because now injuries matter.

You didn't care too much about Points Per Game in the summer, (Due to Matthews having a worse one in comparison) ... and what happened? Matthews got hurt and his PPG is slightly higher then JE15 this year ....so now it matters. lol

Hampered by Injuries, PPG. things of that nature.....Leaf Nation cared little about but now preach like gospel.

What I do find absolutely comical is all the talk about Matthews being a kid, having to go up against the best defender (Chara-Mc-) best checkers (bergeron) as if this makes things beyond complicated.

Welcome to Eichel's world CLWM. We don't have depth like your team and he faces the toughest competition every night, unlike Matthews. The Kadri line goes against most teams top lines at home especially and Matthews has the benefit of playing against the 2nd best guys a lot of the time.

It's really something else JE15 out-scored Matthews this year considering he faces the toughest comp every night, (something Matthews is showing he can't handle this series) and on Buffalo.

93Leafs can talk about his powerplay time all he wants. Over 45 of his 64 points were PRIMARY and even strength, so Matthews getting little PP time on a 2nd unit shouldn't be an excuse. Especially since 2nd units sometimes even face weaker checkers.

Also this whole Defensive thing with Matthews, he's no where near Selke Candidate level. He isn't that great defensively. He's been exposed all series long and every little play he makes are highly overblown.

 

[Quiet Jack]

It's been 4 games. Pick any player and you can go find a 4 game sample size where they struggled. It happens.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Dear God, Toronto media is venomous. Guess they always need to find a target for their ire.

 

[GodEmperor]

he is not struggling, this is his level

Agreed, just like all these other guys


Bergeron had 1 goal and 8 assists in 19 games by the time he was 25
Datsyuk had 3 goals and 12 assists in 43 games by the time he was 28
Zetterberg had 9 goals and 2 assists in 22 games by the time he was 26
Barkov had 1 goal and 2 assists in 6 games by the time he was 21
McDavid had a 4 game period where he had just 2 points even last year as the league's MVP
Seguin has 7 goals and 14 assists in 49 games in his entire playoff career
Getzlaf had 3 goals and 4 assists in his first 16 playoff games at 21
Kopitar had a year where he had 2 goals and 7 assists in 18 games not too long ago
Even Crosby has had a year where he had a similar overall pace to Matthews with 9 points in 13 games
Ovechkin has had 6 goal 6 assist periods during 21 game stretches in his prime
Same thing with Giroux who was PPG in the playoffs during his entire career but has 2 points in his last 8 games

Low level stuff, most of them will probably be in the ECHL next year or maybe even Senior A.

 

[GodEmperor]

I know, GOrd Stellick who aleways tries to put Matthews in a McDavid like spot, he is a former Leafs GM and is a HUGE Homr (to which they openly joke about on hockey centrlal) did this today.

Talked about how McDavid had to learn last year. LOL< McDavid's team was two goals away from the third round and had 9 points, not without series victories and only having won one game, with 1 point.




Because now injuries matter.

You didn't care too much about Points Per Game in the summer, (Due to Matthews having a worse one in comparison) ... and what happened? Matthews got hurt and his PPG is slightly higher then JE15 this year ....so now it matters. lol

Hampered by Injuries, PPG. things of that nature.....Leaf Nation cared little about but now preach like gospel.

What I do find absolutely comical is all the talk about Matthews being a kid, having to go up against the best defender (Chara-Mc-) best checkers (bergeron) as if this makes things beyond complicated.

Welcome to Eichel's world CLWM. We don't have depth like your team and he faces the toughest competition every night, unlike Matthews. The Kadri line goes against most teams top lines at home especially and Matthews has the benefit of playing against the 2nd best guys a lot of the time.

It's really something else JE15 out-scored Matthews this year considering he faces the toughest comp every night, (something Matthews is showing he can't handle this series) and on Buffalo.

93Leafs can talk about his powerplay time all he wants. Over 45 of his 64 points were PRIMARY and even strength, so Matthews getting little PP time on a 2nd unit shouldn't be an excuse. Especially since 2nd units sometimes even face weaker checkers.

Also this whole Defensive thing with Matthews, he's no where near Selke Candidate level. He isn't that great defensively. He's been exposed all series long and every little play he makes are highly overblown.

/\ WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP BRINGING UP EICHEL???????

Brings up Eichel consistently when people have not done so themselves.

I don't know what's sadder, the fact that you spend your days and nights writing these monologues or that you actually think you're convincing anyone that 20 goal Eichel is actually better lmao.

 

[Tage2Tuch]

/\ WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP BRINGING UP EICHEL???????

Brings up Eichel consistently when people have not done so themselves.

I don't know what's sadder, the fact that you spend your days and nights writing these monologues or that you actually think you're convincing anyone that 20 goal Eichel is actually better lmao.

If you've read the thread we had a conversation going last night and I had been responding to 93Leafs.


Oh can you just not take the 2 seconds compared to 200 hours of Matthews coverage. It's a matthews thread, but these two guys don't stop the bashing and if there's some relevance as in rep;lying or "Injuries now matter" I will point out hypocrisy.

If it bugs you just don't post.

And as for being sad, calling someone 20 goal Eichel, is sad. 25 by the way (in two seasons in just 60 plus games) with over 30 assists each year. 39 this year on a crap team in 67 games.


And I'm the one that's sad? Do I call Matthews 20 assist Matthews? That would be almost as sad as you.

Guy is not a leader. I laugh when I hear he lead the team to the playoffs. LOL

Guy is not a playmaker. Has never hit 30 asssists on a top 5 team in scoring.

Guy is immature and has a bad attitude.

Overrated to the moon, acts like a spoiled, entitled brat.

Doesen't elevate his play when it counts in the playoffs. And if you go back t0 the Caps series again, that's just sad. Live in the now. He lost that series by the way. You guys didn't even have a regulation win in that series if I recall? Maybe either way it's irrelevant, livin in the now.

 

[Plural]

LOL because the Media would of declined interviewing the lEafs Franchise player who is struggling after possibly the biggest game of the season.

THE MEDIA...in TORONTO ....of course it has to be this.

That is not even remotely close to what I meant. How is it possible that you misunderstood? You're running around this forum with way too much emotions. Take a breath and re-think what my point was. Or alternatively read the thread.

 

[GodEmperor]

/\ Drama queen paper mache king Jack "300lb clean" Eichel has clearly worn rather heavily on you.

Take a break, there's more to life than spamming threads with the same debunked garbage for the 1000th time.

 

[Tage2Tuch]

That is not even remotely close to what I meant. How is it possible that you misunderstood? You're running around this forum with way too much emotions. Take a breath and re-think what my point was. Or alternatively read the thread.

I didn't say you meant that. I was speaking in general terms, I get yours was an actual question, Bit I was laughing at the thought of that being true and if people actually would run with it. Or make an excuse, any one possible for Matthews the golden boy who can do no wrong and has never had a bad game.

Maybe you should read a few of the other Leaf posters in here who are much worse in that regard, bu tthanks for the advice when I need help, I'll surely ask for it.

 

[Raging Bull]

LOL because the Media would of declined interviewing the lEafs Franchise player who is struggling after possibly the biggest game of the season.

THE MEDIA...in TORONTO ....of course it has to be this.

Management determines media availability and always have here. Some guys have scheduled days off from media scrums. Don’t know if this is what happened though.

 

[Plural]

I didn't say you meant that. I was speaking in general terms, I get yours was an actual question, Bit I was laughing at the thought of that being true and if people actually would run with it. Or make an excuse, any one possible for Matthews the golden boy who can do no wrong and has never had a bad game.

Maybe you should read a few of the other Leaf posters in here who are much worse in that regard, bu tthanks for the advice when I need help, I'll surely ask for it.

You're still not understanding. Read the freaking thread. I didn't imply media didn't want to interview him. I meant that it's possible management didn't allow him to talk to media. Not sure if that's what happened,but Lou and Leafs run tight ship and it would not be out of character for them to tell players not to address media.

 

[LeafFever]

Tell that to Leafs fans (that somehow Matthews might not always progress) and see the reactions...

Matthews #'s look fine to me.

 

[Bocephus86]

I kind of feel bad for the kid - ya he's a millionaire athlete but he'll likely get killed by the Toronto media for having a bad series/bad press at 20 years old after some (i assume) frustrating games. The fan in me wants the media to drive him crazy/drive him out of Toronto but the human in me feels for a kid who has ran into a better team who has shut him/his team down, reacted a bit poorly, and is (likely) going to get killed for it.

In one of the 40 Matthews threads on this board, someone mentioned that he'll likely get crap out about in the city from some fans in the off season - as a human, you gotta feel for a kid to deal with that.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Bolt to your home town and sign with the Yotes after next year, its your only way out young Austin.