Player Discussion Auston Matthews Discussion

[therealkoho]

Keefe specifically said he was pulled because of this "illness".

Whoa that's new! Back in my day we played through the clap.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

we played through stuff

what's weird is that there has been "illnesses" on the Leafs for LIKE A MONTH STRAIGHT.

It's not just lately.

"A bug going around" ...

 

[Gabriel426]

Unacceptable not that he didn’t come out but his whole series barring ONE game. He is being outplayed by Coyle.

 

[Drytoast]

Who on the Leafs is?

Closest to captain material? maybe Rielly?

 

[Stephen]

Closest to captain material? maybe Rielly?

Rielly is not really captain material either. He seems closest to showing he cares in a conventional hockey way but that’s a pretty low bar. Also factor in his flagging quality of play.

 

[Stephen]

Unacceptable not that he didn’t come out but his whole series barring ONE game. He is being outplayed by Coyle.

Matthews is so Jekyll and Hyde, it’s unbelievable, and especially in the playoffs. Notwithstanding this bizarre health issue in Games 3 and 4, sometimes you get it all and sometimes you get nothing at all and he’s just incapable of getting into a game.

I think about the dash to 70 goals vs Florida and Tampa and the quality of his play in Game 1. It wasn’t the same thing. Then he pops off in Game 2. Coming home, keep it going. Nope. And now he’s been pulled by medical staff from a 3-0 game that he was on the ice for to close the 2nd period, after visibly bickering with teammates on the bench. Now we’re down 3-1 in a series that’s most likely over. Optically it’s just adding up to a lot of bad stuff.

 

[theTTC]

what's weird is that there has been "illnesses" on the Leafs for LIKE A MONTH STRAIGHT.

It's not just lately.

"A bug going around" ...

I think you know what it very likely could be. But can't speculate about that particular cause here or anywhere public.

 

[Gabriel426]

Matthews is so Jekyll and Hyde, it’s unbelievable, and especially in the playoffs. Notwithstanding this bizarre health issue in Games 3 and 4, sometimes you get it all and sometimes you get nothing at all and he’s just incapable of getting into a game.

I think about the dash to 70 goals vs Florida and Tampa and the quality of his play in Game 1. It wasn’t the same thing. Then he pops off in Game 2. Coming home, keep it going. Nope. And now he’s been pulled by medical staff from a 3-0 game that he was on the ice for to close the 2nd period, after visibly bickering with teammates on the bench. Now we’re down 3-1 in a series that’s most likely over. Optically it’s just adding up to a lot of bad stuff.

He is really the only one in the new gen of top players that is bad in playoffs.
Mack, MCD, Drai, Point, Barkov, Pastra, even Eichel, all had or having great playoffs.
MM is leading the charge in being horrible but AM is not far behind.
Don’t really know what happened to AM but do think he is not 100% as he had been missing practices.
But still, a 60% AM is still better than Coyle.
It seemed like AM always struggle with a pure shutdown C. He needs to be better and over come that.
The more I think, AM needs to evolve to a more dump and chase style of play/ cycling instead of the pass and puck on stick style. His goals might go down but he will be more effective in playoffs.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

 

[1specter]

Sounds like he has the perfect out ready for another no show on Tuesday.

 

[Raging Bull]

It gets worse when he's asserting himself? He should be fine then.

 

[TheShape]

Unless the guy was suffering from congestive heart failure or collapsing lungs, I don't see why he couldn't finish the 3rd. Team/player pulled the shoot on the game, said rest up and come back for game 5 would be my guess.

Not a good look in any way, maybe more will come out post series.

 

[Jojalu]

what's weird is that there has been "illnesses" on the Leafs for LIKE A MONTH STRAIGHT.

It's not just lately.

"A bug going around" ...

I was thinking the same thing. It feels like it's been longer than a month and Matthews has been hit like 3 times already...

I don't get it

 

[BraveCanadian]

If the illness is so touch and go that you may have to be pulled from the game you're better off sitting and getting someone in that isn't going to be family skating while Boston goes in 2 on 0 for a goal.

It's one thing to be banged up and play its another thing to be so sick that doctors pull you mid game and leave a hole in the roster.

I swear this team makes the most stupid move in every situation.

 

[Evilhomer]

I think you know what it very likely could be. But can't speculate about that particular cause here or anywhere public.

Most of these guys have probably already had COVID 2 or 3 times. I very much doubt that is the issue here.

 

[Canadian Finn]

 

[BallardEra]

Maybe it’s not an illness and instead say a knee, back etc injury. Gamesmanship so that the Bruins don’t go after his real injury?

Did he have it during the regular season?

 

[Aashir Mallik]

This guy can’t stay healthy in the playoffs

Whether it’s a magical wrist injury, or a sickness, or a leg injury..this guy is always injured and can’t perform.

 

[hamzarocks]

He sucks again

Like clockwork. This choker disapears come playoffs

He isnt a top anything player. Unreliable one dimensional player.

Never should be compared to Mcdavid, Mack, Kucherov, Draisaitl, Makar, Tkachuk, Pastrnak, etc

 

[BraveCanadian]

Maybe it’s not an illness and instead say a knee, back etc injury. Gamesmanship so that the Bruins don’t go after his real injury?

Did he have it during the regular season?

Whenever he isn't producing people will claim he is hurt. For some reason Matthew$ and Nylander are above criticism while Marner is the current scapegoat.

Matthews had an actual playoff game in game 2 so I think the illness thing sounds more plausible but damn.. what a coincidence that just when we need our top players the most they are all hurt/sick.

 

[DarkKnight]

So he isn't Mark Messier after all, as he was anointed here after showing up for exactly one playoff game?

 

[Menzinger]

Always been a Matthews fan but 1 goal in your last 9 playoff games isnt good enough for the leagues best goal scorer.

Yep. He's paid to walk the walk and is expected to do it, and on the whole we have an incomplete effort when taking his career postseason performances. He IS capable of winning a series for the team, but needs to step up.

With that said, he's still clearly dealing with something the last couple games. Like with the Nylander injury bad takes from some folks I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for those games.

 

[Pavel10]

Not good optics he left "sick" along with Nylander not playing. These guys played up to game 82 and then no show.

It's playoffs everyone is beat up by the finals.

 

[Gabriel426]

Whenever he isn't producing people will claim he is hurt. For some reason Matthew$ and Nylander are above criticism while Marner is the current scapegoat.

Matthews had an actual playoff game in game 2 so I think the illness thing sounds more plausible but damn.. what a coincidence that just when we need our top players the most they are all hurt/sick.

I think people are criticizing AM too, at least I am part of them.
Can’t say too much about Willie this playoffs as he only played ONE game.
Diff between AM and MM is that MM is playing worse than AM. While AM is already underperforming except for Game 2.
Let’s not start on JT bc he is a sunk cost at this point.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Matthews has always had a suspect compete level, heart etc. We know he is soft. He gets a free pass when he doesnt show up because he can score 50 on a down year. Matthews was hungry in game 2 for sure. I didnt notice Matthews in game 1, 3 or 4 and everyone on this board who wants to be honest noticed the same thing.