Auston Matthews

[Divine]

He's been looking invisible the last few weeks. Today, he clearly gave up on plays where he could have got the puck. It's not looking promising for a guy rumoured to be asking 13M+ on contract discussions.

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[Mr Hockey]

Maybe the shoulder did not properly heal or he reinjured it and it's bothering him?

 

[Mr Hockey]

....................

 

[Koolboss]

I remember posting about trading both Nyland and Matthews for a number one D and a good winger. This was when we were winning games and Matthews was hurt. Was pretty bold back than but it would make so much sense now.

 

[yubbers]

Somethings up. Matty is a sensitive kid. He's not even getting frustrated which is the most worrisome part. No emotion to his game

 

[mikeo1]

He doesn't fight for the puck like he used to and gives up way too early on plays. I'm guessing he's afraid of injuring his shoulder again and is trying to coast on talent, but it isn't working.

 

[ORRFForever]

He's not even getting frustrated which is the most worrisome part. No emotion to his game

Yes and yes.

He has been invisible for a while.

 

[Nooodles]

Somethings up. Matty is a sensitive kid. He's not even getting frustrated which is the most worrisome part. No emotion to his game

He actually look depressed.

 

[Mats13]

He's clearly off right now, but don't kid yourself he's the best player we have had in YEARS.

Once he gets going, these same posters will be slobbering over him.

 

[JamieG19]

Somethings up. Matty is a sensitive kid. He's not even getting frustrated which is the most worrisome part. No emotion to his game

You’re not going the must be hurt route, right?

I think he’s playing not to get hurt and is pissed he’s the not The Man.

Frig. Is there ever a question mark that McDavid, Crosby or Ovechkin won’t be on the number one power play? Of course not, but that’s life for Matthews under Babcock.

 

[Divine]

There are rumours from people I know within the industry that he is absolutely miserable in Toronto. Not necessarily anything to do with the organization/coaching but he is really unhappy and wants to be closer to Arizona or a US market. I have to preface this by saying that it was told to me that they were rumours but i was extremely extremely disappointed to hear it. Not saying it has anything at all to do with his play but apparently based on what they're hearing they're having a really hard time seeing him being a longterm Leaf. They just kept saying he is really really unhappy here...like also just in the city of Toronto...which I find nuts.

That's ironic considering Dreger was reporting Matthews camp is looking for an 8 year contract and Dubas is looking at a 5 year contract.

 

[Moncherry]

If only we had a certain winger that could help him get scoring again. Kapanen is good, but Nylander, Brown, Marleau, Hyman, Johnsson, haven't been able to do it. Am I missing anyone else? I can't think of them.

 

[yubbers]

You’re not going the must be hurt route, right?

I think he’s playing not to get hurt and is pissed he’s the not The Man.

Frig. Is there ever a question mark that McDavid, Crosby or Ovechkin won’t be on the number one power play? Of course not, but that’s life for Matthews under Babcock.

No. I was insinuating something in his life. His mind is just not in it

 

[JamieG19]

No. I was insinuating something in his life. His mind is just not in it

Yeah, I think it’s just a combo of playing not to get hurt and being displeased with how he is used.

 

[93LEAFS]

I feel a story like this would have come to light sooner, and he wouldn't be making long-term plans with endorsement deals and such, which are predicated on him being here. He also didn't start the year playing like this. I just think his game is off right now, and he needs to fight harder for pucks, but for as great as he has been we forget he's a 21-year-old. I guess we'll see soon enough, his time as an RFA is coming up soon enough.

 

[scotian1]

If he isn't able to raise his level of play. the Leafs are in serious trouble.

 

[talitintti]

Matthews last 6 games: 0+3, -9 (secondary assists)

0 primary points

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

I think he's given up on Babcock. After his dominant performance in Tampa (he had zero points, but was a beast), he was given Johnsson & Brown to work with. He also gets 16-18 minutes of ice time while other young stars get 20-24.

 

[HomerJLeafs]

Like we know for sure that he was unhappy with Babcock at the end of the last season and Babcock isnt doing any favours to "please" him or just dont piss off Matthews this season either.
Also that Kronwall hit was huge for him menthaly.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Huge moment in the game . The Leafs kill a penalty and Marner/Matthews/Tavares are on a line. All of a sudden Matthews is FLYING. He is 100% engaged... Im thinking to myself, finally Babcock is pairing Marner/Matthews together to change up the looks. Matthews does not want to play for this coach. Babcock is favouring Tavares and its making Matthews rage. Babcock completely refuses to play Marner/Matthews together and I think they are dying to play with each other. Especially Matthews who after 3 years does not have a skilled reliable line mate.

*IF anyone thinks Nylander is a line-mate that players love playing with, your 100% wrong. Im not even talking the last 19 games. Im talking the last 3 years. Nylander is not trust-worthy, reliable and when he checks out the Matthews line is basically in survival mode, borderline PK mode.

 

[Stephen]

I heard the same thing about McDavid as he just wants to play in Toronto. He is only scoring bc that’s the only way he can justify his contract. Now I only heard this from a friend of a friend of a friend who said he is closed to Father McDavid’s dog sitter who over heard something. Even though it is a rumour, I just feel very disappointed if McDavid’s heart is really not in the Oilers.

Seems like we could just swap "problems" in this case.

 

[scotian1]

That is not the case, he started the game with Nylander on his wing with Hyman, when that wasn't working they put Johannson on instead of Hyman, still wasn't working and Nylander was awful so Brown replaced him until late in the third. If Matthews is a generational talent he should be able to carry a line.

 

[rumman]

let Arizona offer sheet him if he's unhappy here, you can't make someone perform who isn't happy and it's affecting their game.

 

[socko]

Babcock is favouring Tavares and its making Matthews rage.

Babcock is a strange dude. Who knows how his brain works. I don't really even want to know. He knows Nylander is a loser though, so smarter than Dubas.

 

[Divine]

Babcock is a strange dude. Who knows how his brain works. I don't really even want to know. He knows Nylander is a loser though, so smarter than Dubas.

This is revisionist history. If anything, Babcock was the one who kept saying he expects Nylander to be in the lineup this season, forcing Dubas' hand.