Matthews' wingers cause for concern.

[jrgtml67]

So last night in the GDT thread there was a lot of hate on our Franchise center.

Let's go over some things. He has 61pts in 52 games. On pace to crush his best year. He missed a month, and missing that much time, it takes a bit to get back.

Now the biggest issue. Its Kapenen and Johnsson. While both have top 4 offensive skill both cant pass very well. They are both goal scorers not playmakers. This is the problem. Last night one play stuck out..well 2. One AM all alone in the slot Johnny just fires it on net. Early in the 3rd Kap has AM right beside him passes it into his skates..play dies. I do believe I read AM lead team in possession..also people forget as a center he isn't the puck hunter. He cant just go in hard and try and steal it, as to say when there is a bigger gap, other team has 80% chance at a clear. He has defensive responsibilities, whereas the wingers (depending on what side of ice puck is) job is to pressure. This is where Hyman is the best on the team one of the best in the league. I love Kap and Johnny buy AM needs an elite passer with him. I feel like when Kadri comes back, Johnny or Kap move with Kadri and Nylander moves up. I was saying that the game Kadri got injured..and then boom Kadri gets sacked twice and out he went.

In summary, the comments about hes not worth the $ we gave him are a joke. One hes elite, and missing a playmaking winger, he is amazing defensively, and gotten a lot better at faceoffs. Finally the cap will continue to rise in coming years. Say 3mill a year do that's 15mill over his term. That deal will look like a steal by year 2 or 3.

One more thought. When we are winning its be nice to enjoy it. We had decades of hard years, and then there are people here who like to rain on a good day. While I get there is frustration, maybe air it out when we lose? Or not in the GDT thread. That was annoying to say the least.

Thoughts, comments, let's go!

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[NHL WAR]

Once Kadri comes back, put Nylander with Matthews.

Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen
Mix and match of Ennis, Moore, Brown, Goat and Petan

 

[HolyCrap]

Once Kadri comes back, put Nylander with Matthews.

Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen
Moore-Petan/Goat-Brown

I wanna see Willy with Mathews too. I also think Ennis has done more than enough to be in the lineup. Let Brown ride the pine.

 

[93LEAFS]

Matthews is going to catch criticism outside of when he's highly elite. When you take the contract he took (which doesn't do the team any favors), people are going to hold him to a very high standard. He's no longer viewed as a young guy who gets a break. Some of that is fair, but others take it too far. That's the burden of the contract he signed in this market. Marner will get held to a similar standard when he gets his deal. JT has a bit of a grace period due to coming home, and the belief he took a discount.

Like most elite players, Matthews will probably get too much credit when things are going really well, and too much blame when things aren't going well. That's just life as a high-profile athlete.

 

[NHL WAR]

I wanna see Willy with Mathews too. I also think Ennis has done more than enough to be in the lineup. Let Brown ride the pine.

Cant believe I just forgot Ennis existed the day after his first career hat trick. You are right, he has got to be in there.

 

[BorntoLose]

Willy and Matthews needs to happen but you know Babs is just going to strap Marleau back up there

 

[jrgtml67]

Matthews is going to catch criticism outside of when he's highly elite. When you take the contract he took (which doesn't do the team any favors), people are going to hold him to a very high standard. He's no longer viewed as a young guy who gets a break. Some of that is fair, but others take it too far. That's the burden of the contract he signed in this market. Marner will get held to a similar standard when he gets his deal. JT has a bit of a grace period due to coming home, and the belief he took a discount.

Like most elite players, Matthews will probably get too much credit when things are going really well, and too much blame when things aren't going well. That's just life as a high-profile athlete.

The only criticism I've heard is here. Media hasn't one bit lately. You are right though. It's just many here like to put blame on the wrong guy. Its definitely not having a playmaking winger that's the problem..even still 61pts in 52 games whilst time to catch up after missing a month ain't bad at all.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Matthews is a -1 this year.

How does he get to -1 on the Leafs ?

 

[93LEAFS]

The only criticism I've heard is here. Media hasn't one bit lately. You are right though. It's just many here like to put blame on the wrong guy. Its definitely not having a playmaking winger that's the problem..even still 61pts in 52 games whilst time to catch up after missing a month ain't bad at all.

I'm a huge Matthews fan, but he has had significant periods of time where he is lackadaisical trying to get the puck back. I don't know if it's the shoulder injuries, but he's trying to be more of a pure-sniper than constantly win the battles and turn and drive the net to score. When he is willing to engage for pucks, he tends to be a much more impactful player. He doesn't bring that as often as people want. Compare how he has played along the boards this year to someone like JT. If Matthews played with that intensity consistently (he does for stretches) people wouldn't be as harsh on him with the new deal.

Matthews shouldn't be completely absolved of blame because he doesn't have the perfect line-up construction.

 

[KobeBean143]

We were crippled at 1C for a decade, and people want to criticize a 21yo underutilized player who’s scored more goals/60 than anyone in the league the last 3 years. He’s this good and still an unfisnished product.

He has not been right since the Kronwall hit though. And yes he’s had games off and leaves you wanting way more. But he’s still producing.

This guys a f***ing stud.

I just thought people would be more appreciative of a dude like this after having bozie as are guy for the better part of a decade

 

[jrgtml67]

Matthews is a -1 this year.

How does he get to -1 on the Leafs ?

Usually the center is last off so caught on a bad change? I was even surprised at that stat when I saw it. Couple times lately hes been a bit lax on back checking but sometimes that plus minus thing is misleading. Like how is Ron hainsey plus 36?

See what I mean..go by that stat alone and its say Ron is our best D, and AM sucks...

 

[KobeBean143]

Willy and Matthews needs to happen but you know Babs is just going to strap Marleau back up there

 

[ACC1224]

Matthews is a -1 this year.

How does he get to -1 on the Leafs ?

and Minus Mitch is +25....the world is upside down.

 

[Gary Nylund]

We were crippled at 1C for a decade, and people want to criticize a 21yo underutilized player who’s scored more goals/60 than anyone in the league the last 3 years. He’s this good and still an unfisnished product.

He has not been right since the Kronwall hit though. And yes he’s had games off and leaves you wanting way more. But he’s still producing.

This guys a ****ing stud.

I just thought people would be more appreciative of a dude like this after having bozie as are guy for the better part of a decade

Like the post before yours says - it's that contract. When he has "games off" and "leaves you wanting more", you best believe he's going to hear about it.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

It's Hainsey -6.

 

[KobeBean143]

Like the post before yours says - it's that contract. When he has "games off" and "leaves you wanting more", you best believe he's going to hear about it.

There’s nothing wrong with his contrast, how could you spend 11.6 better?
And I was more hinting at something being wrong with him after the hit when making those points.

 

[Notsince67]

So last night in the GDT thread there was a lot of hate on our Franchise center.

Let's go over some things. He has 61pts in 52 games. On pace to crush his best year. He missed a month, and missing that much time, it takes a bit to get back.

Now the biggest issue. Its Kapenen and Johnsson. While both have top 4 offensive skill both cant pass very well. They are both goal scorers not playmakers. This is the problem. Last night one play stuck out..well 2. One AM all alone in the slot Johnny just fires it on net. Early in the 3rd Kap has AM right beside him passes it into his skates..play dies. I do believe I read AM lead team in possession..also people forget as a center he isn't the puck hunter. He cant just go in hard and try and steal it, as to say when there is a bigger gap, other team has 80% chance at a clear. He has defensive responsibilities, whereas the wingers (depending on what side of ice puck is) job is to pressure. This is where Hyman is the best on the team one of the best in the league. I love Kap and Johnny buy AM needs an elite passer with him. I feel like when Kadri comes back, Johnny or Kap move with Kadri and Nylander moves up. I was saying that the game Kadri got injured..and then boom Kadri gets sacked twice and out he went.

In summary, the comments about hes not worth the $ we gave him are a joke. One hes elite, and missing a playmaking winger, he is amazing defensively, and gotten a lot better at faceoffs. Finally the cap will continue to rise in coming years. Say 3mill a year do that's 15mill over his term. That deal will look like a steal by year 2 or 3.

One more thought. When we are winning its be nice to enjoy it. We had decades of hard years, and then there are people here who like to rain on a good day. While I get there is frustration, maybe air it out when we lose? Or not in the GDT thread. That was annoying to say the least.

Thoughts, comments, let's go!

People are expecting him to perform to the level they have witnessed him play at. Less than that and they start questioning his commitment. It isn't how good he is (which he is being well paid for). It is how he is measuring up to what he is capable of.

 

[jrgtml67]

I'm a huge Matthews fan, but he has had significant periods of time where he is lackadaisical trying to get the puck back. I don't know if it's the shoulder injuries, but he's trying to be more of a pure-sniper than constantly win the battles and turn and drive the net to score. When he is willing to engage for pucks, he tends to be a much more impactful player. He doesn't bring that as often as people want. Compare how he has played along the boards this year to someone like JT. If Matthews played with that intensity consistently (he does for stretches) people wouldn't be as harsh on him with the new deal.

Matthews shouldn't be completely absolved of blame because he doesn't have the perfect line-up construction.

The centers job isn't to do that (most of the time in the O zone especially. Hes supposed let the winger go in and he sits back a bit for it to get loose..if we turn it over and hes too deep it's a 2 or 3 on 1 the other way. This is why Hyman is so under valued here. He is one of the best in the league at getting the puck back..when's hes off on a given night and not forechecking as hard or a tad slow to the puck, that line is way less effective. Marner isn't good at board battles BUT he is great when Hyman gets it to him and he gets a couple steps to work his magic. I'd say out of his wingers now Kapanen needs to be harder on it. In the D zone Kapenen is ok at it but the ozone, he isn't engaging and hitting, Johnny is, but Johnny also falls more. When that line is on Kapenen speeds into the corner gets the puck and pushes it back to AM or the D who get it to AM. I think Matthew's is annoyed to be honest. The number of times I've yelled at my TV..."hes wide open," and Kap or Johnny fire it on net or dump it in..I'm like are you blind.? He needs his Marner, so Nylander. I'd even take Marleau at how Marleaus played the last 5 games, seems to have speed back..but Brown is sucking hard.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Matthews +25 last year

 

[jrgtml67]

Matthews +25 last year

Ya ...his line isn't made up right this year. Last yr he had Nylander, and Hyman. Hyman is a d specialist, Nylander elite passer and shooter. Hes got 2 rookies with him. The while I love Kap and Johnny he needs a passer with him, and or a guy to help him on D the side of things..centers have a ton of responsibility. For eg Nylanders offense went MiA again...why? Hes center and has more D responsibilities, but also because Brown has stunk and messes up any pass he gets. Kinda funny no matter what line hes on no one passes to the guy. Last night position A beauty pass..nope misses way high and wide.

 

[Gary Nylund]

There’s nothing wrong with his contrast, how could you spend 11.6 better?
And I was more hinting at something being wrong with him after the hit when making those points.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the contract, just that the contract means that he will be held to a very high standard (which is as it should be)

 

[Al14]

We were crippled at 1C for a decade, and people want to criticize a 21yo underutilized player who’s scored more goals/60 than anyone in the league the last 3 years. He’s this good and still an unfisnished product.

He has not been right since the Kronwall hit though. And yes he’s had games off and leaves you wanting way more. But he’s still producing.

This guys a ****ing stud.

I just thought people would be more appreciative of a dude like this after having bozie as are guy for the better part of a decade

He needs to step up and PROVE that he is a STUD every game. Not every 4th game, not every 3rd game, not even every 2nd game! EVERY ****ING GAME.

When he's not scoring, he needs to at least win puck battles and appear to be engaged and not floating around the ice doing nothing. Fore check and back check hard every shift.

If he's pouting because he doesn't like his line mates, that's not acceptable. He will be earning BIG MONEY next season. He needs to DRIVE any line mates he is matched up with. Mats Sundin didn't have the best line mates when he was a Leaf, however, he made freaking Jonas Hoglund a 30 goal scorer. Matthews needs to do the same with whomever Babcock sticks him with.

JMHO.

 

[93LEAFS]

The centers job isn't to do that (most of the time in the O zone especially. Hes supposed let the winger go in and he sits back a bit for it to get loose..if we turn it over and hes too deep it's a 2 or 3 on 1 the other way. This is why Hyman is so under valued here. He is one of the best in the league at getting the puck back..when's hes off on a given night and not forechecking as hard or a tad slow to the puck, that line is way less effective. Marner isn't good at board battles BUT he is great when Hyman gets it to him and he gets a couple steps to work his magic. I'd say out of his wingers now Kapanen needs to be harder on it. In the D zone Kapenen is ok at it but the ozone, he isn't engaging and hitting, Johnny is, but Johnny also falls more. When that line is on Kapenen speeds into the corner gets the puck and pushes it back to AM or the D who get it to AM. I think Matthew's is annoyed to be honest. The number of times I've yelled at my TV..."hes wide open," and Kap or Johnny fire it on net or dump it in..I'm like are you blind.? He needs his Marner, so Nylander. I'd even take Marleau at how Marleaus played the last 5 games, seems to have speed back..but Brown is sucking hard.

The center's job is absolutely to win puck-battles down low so the team can hold the cycle. Its a significant reason centers are asked to be good skaters because of the ground they are meant to cover so much ground. He isn't supposed to be the first fore-checker, but he absolutely should be expected to consistently battle down low. Look at Barkov, Kopitar, Toews, Getzlaf, Crosby, Tavares, etc. Matthews has shown an ability to do this but seems to be more passive than he was as a rookie in doing it. Part of what makes Matthews an elite player is his ability to win these battles, and use his hands to drive center ice to create high-danger chances.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Connor Brown is +12. Fine for a 4th liner

 

[KobeBean143]

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the contract, just that the contract means that he will be held to a very high standard (which is as it should be)

Fair enough