The Mighty Auston Matthews

[LeafFever]

No, you won't see a "strong week" from Nylander, what ever that means

this season is a blow out for him, he is well out a synch with the rest of the team and the league and the way kappy is playing , welp he won't be playing wing with his gravy train much

Melander does not have the will or skill to recover from being out of synch and losing his gravy train center.

Are you so sure of that? Since re re-joined Matthews they are #3 in posession and #1 line in the NHL in high danger chances. The goals are coming..

 

[ULF_55]

Got me thinking:

Would a Matthews trade look like this?

The finalized trade had the Nordiques acquire Hextall, Duchesne, Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Peter Forsberg, a first-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, $15 million, and future considerations

Of course other than the money involved?

What would be the equivalent today?

Would you trade Eric Lindros for Peter Forsberg?

Eric Lindros trade - Wikipedia

 

[Burnie97]

Are you so sure of that? Since re re-joined Matthews they are #3 in posession and #1 line in the NHL in high danger chances. The goals are coming..

Just giving my 2 cents but... Damn. I didn't realize how well he had been doing considering not putting up many points.

One can dream but a hat trick against Boston would shut everyone up.

He'll get going ... I don't doubt it.

 

[meefer]

My two cents: one of the most skilled players in the NHL. But, he has not been playing with the commitment of a Tavares this past month. We've seen where his abilities can take him when he does, it's darned impressive. The question to me is, why isn't he playing with the intensity we've seen before? I believe his psychological make-up is much the same as Tavares' and that he's absorbing as much as he can from his team mate. I just believe that his body isn't allowing him to do what he wants to do. He wants to be a complete, dominant player, he has the skills to do just that, but his body (shoulders/back?) are not allowing him to use his physical tools the way we know he can. When healthy, he's one of the best. I don't think he's healthy. Which presents concerns in other areas...sit him until, play him until, contract negotiations, playoff performance in a compressed schedule, is he 'injury prone'...I hope his string of physical issues is over soon and we get to see him play the game the way he can.

 

[Stringer Bell]

You need to stick Hyman on his line again to give him energy and space. I don't care what you guys think, Matthews with Hyman and Nylander was a good line. But Hyman will never be taken off Marner or Tavares' line now, and I doubt they'll hold a meeting in the summer to try to make it happen either.

 

[supermann_98]

Love to hear the media talk about paying him more than McDavid. McDavid is clearly on another level than every other player in the NHL.

 

[supermann_98]

it's pretty ridiculous that Kadri gets to play on the top PP unit while Matthews gets demoted

Asinine

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Love to hear the media talk about paying him more than McDavid. McDavid is clearly on another level than every other player in the NHL.

When he signs and it will be soon then you will understand why media is talking like they are. It is not a total guess like you may think. But I am not going to speculate but I have heard a lot of talk from other dads and scouts and everyone is saying deal is close.

 

[Stephen]

I was going to post this same thought. I find teams aren't giving him that extra half foot like before, and he's not one to deke through players. He likes to tuck the puck back before whipping it (the OT goal against the Sabres first comes to mind). Seems to be that teams are taking that away from him and/or getting their stick in the shooting lane which redirects the puck up into the mesh.

Yeah. In order to restore the effectiveness of the deke, curl and shot, he needs to add to his arsenal the deke, shoulder dip and ability to go around on a defenseman and cut back in hard again. If he can start burning guys like that they’ll back off again. Or at least won’t be certain about how to play it.

 

[Kazparov]

You need to stick Hyman on his line again to give him energy and space. I don't care what you guys think, Matthews with Hyman and Nylander was a good line. But Hyman will never be taken off Marner or Tavares' line now, and I doubt they'll hold a meeting in the summer to try to make it happen either.

I was thinking exactly this.

 

[ninetyone]

He's got 20 goals after missing a month. This thread is just nuts. Anyone doubting Auston based on a few games is out to lunch.

Watch other games. Every player has stints with no goals or points. Every player disappears now and then, things don't go their way.

Auston is among the best in the NHL. Period. Not McDavid, but in that next group.

 

[saffronleaf]

I think the lines need to be:

Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Kadri - Kapanen

The AJ - Matthews - Nylander line was dominant, even if they didn't put up a lot of goals. The goals will come.

 

[Stephen]

My two cents: one of the most skilled players in the NHL. But, he has not been playing with the commitment of a Tavares this past month. We've seen where his abilities can take him when he does, it's darned impressive. The question to me is, why isn't he playing with the intensity we've seen before? I believe his psychological make-up is much the same as Tavares' and that he's absorbing as much as he can from his team mate. I just believe that his body isn't allowing him to do what he wants to do. He wants to be a complete, dominant player, he has the skills to do just that, but his body (shoulders/back?) are not allowing him to use his physical tools the way we know he can. When healthy, he's one of the best. I don't think he's healthy. Which presents concerns in other areas...sit him until, play him until, contract negotiations, playoff performance in a compressed schedule, is he 'injury prone'...I hope his string of physical issues is over soon and we get to see him play the game the way he can.

Let's face it, there's been stretches in Tavares' career where Tavares hasn't been Tavares. For whatever reason.

 

[zeke]

Top-10 PPG, sorted with even strength linemates who are also top-20 in ppg:

1.Kucherov 1.64 --- 6.Point 1.36
2.Rantanen 1.55 --- 4.MacKinnon 1.50 ---- 20.Landeskog 1.16
3.McDavid 1.53 ---- 14.Draisaitl 1.23
5.Gaudreau 1.46 --- 16.Monahan 1.20
7.Bergeron 1.36 ---- 18.Pastrnak 1.18
8.Matthews 1.34
9.Marner 1.33 ---- 19.Tavares 1.16
10.Crosby 1.32

Only Matthews and Crosby are doing it alone.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

If you give McDavid the team Matthews has, he will run away with it and might as well destroy the whole league. As much as I like Matthews, he just dont have the drive McDavid has. McDavid brings it every night even on a team like Edmonton.

 

[Confucius]

You need to stick Hyman on his line again to give him energy and space. I don't care what you guys think, Matthews with Hyman and Nylander was a good line. But Hyman will never be taken off Marner or Tavares' line now, and I doubt they'll hold a meeting in the summer to try to make it happen either.

Yet last season almost all were cursing that Mathews was stuck with "stone hands" Hyman on his line.

 

[zeke]

Matthews has been far more productive this year without Hyman.

 

[Ports]

If you give McDavid the team Matthews has, he will run away with it and might as well destroy the whole league. As much as I like Matthews, he just dont have the drive McDavid has. McDavid brings it every night even on a team like Edmonton.

If Dubas pays him McDavid money what will he need to pay Marner? Be careful Kyle.

 

[Confucius]

If Dubas pays him McDavid money what will he need to pay Marner? Be careful Kyle.

book is out on Dubas.

 

[Stringer Bell]

I just can't imagine giving him basically the max yet. I know it's based on projecting but he really hasn't earned it at all yet.

 

[saffronleaf]

Might be a good idea for Matthews to take off another month to heal up whatever is ailing him physically or mentally or whatever.

 

[saffronleaf]

I think 10m x 6yr for Matthews and 9m x 6yr for Marner should be good.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

I think 10m x 6yr for Matthews and 9m x 6yr for Marner should be good.

Hows Marner going to feel as a proven 100 point player getting paid less than a proven 69 point player?

 

[Stephen]

Too bad Matthews wasn't out there in the final minute. That must have irked him somewhat to be on the bench when Hyman and Johnsson were out for the goalie out.

 

[Gallagbi]

Matthews has been far more productive this year without Hyman.

Are his ES numbers up much this year?