That right there is the problem and absolutely needs to change especially as a #1 center if this team desires to win a cup with Matthews being the top dog eating so much cap.
When we talk about Matthews compete not being where it needs to be this is it right there. Matthews has to become more than a guy who floats into holes while his linemates do all the hardwork so he could score goals. Brett Hull hockey gets you plenty of goals but it wins you zero in the way of championships. Brett Hull didn't win squat until his game changed where compete lead his skill same with Yzerman and you can bet the same will happen with Matthews or we should be looking to trade him now. It's not about Matthews individual statistics in goals, points or any other players individual production line that translate wins especially playoff wins.
Wow.....this is what you got from my statement? Talk about taking things way out of context. Last year and his first season, he was doing exactly what I described. No one would say he was a floater the first 2 seasons. This year he has been tasked with propping up the corpse of Marleau, and trying to gel with a winger who (Kapanen) only has eyes for the net when the puck is on his stick,and has no vision. Not an easy thing to do, and requires an entire different mindset and style of play that he is still adjusting to. Most 21 year olds aren't perfect either. Yet his is still producing near the top of the NHL in scoring rates. He isn't simply waiting for the puck to come to him, but he is having to adjust to a different role, and maybe thinking too much and not anticipating, which makes people look slower.
And for the record, Tavares is not a puck carrying C either.
