Auston Matthews
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If they had decided on Matthews and don't end up naming a captain this summer as a result of the incident, it suggests they didn't either know about it or knew about it and only decided against naming him captain because it became public. Both of those things aren't a good look for the organization.
I would think either have to name Matthews captain or give it to someone else because they have already said they are going to have a captain this year.
I would think either have to name Matthews captain or give it to someone else because they have already said they are going to have a captain this year.
Zee said:
I think public perception is that they had decided on naming a captain prior to the season, even if they deny that, I don't think people will buy it.
So now if they don't do it, like I suggested above, it looks like either didn't know about the incident or only decided to delay naming a captain because it became public.
BrownRolo
New member
Yeah the only reason I wouldn't give the captaincy to Matthews now is if he didn't tell the team about this. If he kept it a secret then that's a pretty big deal.
The actual crime he committed although stupid and insensitive in the end wasn't egregious.
The woman was a security guard where Matthews lived so they likely knew each other. Him being drunk at the time he likely thought it was a funny joke to pull but definitely a bad move.
The actual crime he committed although stupid and insensitive in the end wasn't egregious.
The woman was a security guard where Matthews lived so they likely knew each other. Him being drunk at the time he likely thought it was a funny joke to pull but definitely a bad move.
Phileas Fogg
New member
Deebo said:
Yeah, I think Babcock all but confirmed it with his little back and forth with the press about the first game date being "later". They can't walk that back very easily.
I agree with your points. It's not a good look; but hopefully due to the former (ignorance of the details of the situation) and not the latter.
Guilt Trip
Active member
A lot of what ifs. Let's see what happens, hear the other side of the story and who knew what before blasting anyone.
ZBBM
Active member
Responsible men don't accost women at any time, drunk or not, 2 am or not. If he's guilty of this, I think the team should suspend him for some nontrivial length of time. And if he were going to be named captain, that obviously is out the window.
It is amazing this hasn't surfaced until now.
It is amazing this hasn't surfaced until now.
hockeyfan1
New member
I do wonder if the security guard had been a man, if the end result would have been the same? Because she was female? Hmm. Makes one wonder.
Auston was never my first choice as captain, but if he should be so be it.
Now that this whole scenario happened, it would be inappropriate for the Leafs to name him as such. Leadership? No, sorry, not yet.
Auston was never my first choice as captain, but if he should be so be it.
Now that this whole scenario happened, it would be inappropriate for the Leafs to name him as such. Leadership? No, sorry, not yet.
herman
Well-known member
Nik the Trik said:
I think the team brand has been steered in a certain direction with Shanahan and Dubas, where something like this coupled with the team?s profile and influence becomes a teachable moment, not just a punitive hot take. I really appreciated how the team responded to Rielly?s situation last season with transparency and advocacy even though Rielly was absolved.
Something worse than this has happened under Dubas? watch with the Soo and I think he got burned and learned a pretty big lesson there. After the legal proceedings take their course, I wouldn?t be surprised to see Matthews (and other Leafs) being the face of an awareness campaign.
Matthews is a good kid but put himself in a position to lose control, likely a byproduct of the cultural expectations of being young, rich, famous, and male. He?s fortunate he only went Ace Ventura and not Full Monty and he?s going to get meme?d to oblivion for it, but the real issue is the harassment-as-fun component.
I guess in 2019, any time a man does anything at all wrong to a woman, he needs to be held responsible for all crimes by men against all women.
What is most bothersome to me is that the woman's statement is exactly that - her statement. Does anyone want to even wait to hear what Matthews (of his buddies) have to say in this before sentencing him?
He did not intend to harm the woman and I do not believe that he is the type of person who ever would have harmed her. If the statement is true then he is guilty for his actions, and not thinking about how his drunken joking around would make this woman feel threatened. If true, what happened to her is very unfortunate and needs to be properly addressed. But is there even a hope people can keep this in perspective?
As an aside, through this incident and the reaction to it now, Matthews has likely learned a great deal. He strikes me like someone who would learn much from this. I would be willing to bet he is never again in public after drinking too much.
But alas, Toronto media need a bone to chew on, and they have already condemned him and ruled that he cannot be made captain now. I love the "fan" side of this hockey crazy market, but this kind of over reaction is regrettable.
I will be front row next Wednesday for the home opener and I hope that I have a C on my jersey by then.
What is most bothersome to me is that the woman's statement is exactly that - her statement. Does anyone want to even wait to hear what Matthews (of his buddies) have to say in this before sentencing him?
He did not intend to harm the woman and I do not believe that he is the type of person who ever would have harmed her. If the statement is true then he is guilty for his actions, and not thinking about how his drunken joking around would make this woman feel threatened. If true, what happened to her is very unfortunate and needs to be properly addressed. But is there even a hope people can keep this in perspective?
As an aside, through this incident and the reaction to it now, Matthews has likely learned a great deal. He strikes me like someone who would learn much from this. I would be willing to bet he is never again in public after drinking too much.
But alas, Toronto media need a bone to chew on, and they have already condemned him and ruled that he cannot be made captain now. I love the "fan" side of this hockey crazy market, but this kind of over reaction is regrettable.
I will be front row next Wednesday for the home opener and I hope that I have a C on my jersey by then.
Kin
New member
herman said:
The truth is neither you or I have the slightest clue as to what kind of person Auston Matthews is. Anything we've seen of him has been through the lens of carefully crafted PR people and a sports media that's largely owned or affiliated with his employer.
The difference is, I don't particularly care what kind of a person he is short of him being a criminal and, if he's that, I feel like the justice system can deal with him with at least as much good judgement as the NHL can. I've never been a "Somebody think of the Children" type when it comes to sports anyway.
Now, you may be right that Dubas and Shanahan want to act in a way to protect their careful branding of the product they're selling and who knows? Maybe a dead eyed Auston Matthews reading cue cards about how you shouldn't be a jerk to people is the thing that will finally kick toxic masculinity right in the ol' keester. Fingers crossed!
Zee
Active member
The only way this works out with Matthews looking fine, is if it comes out that the complainant found out who he was after the fact and decided to bring up charges in hopes of a financial payday. So far we've only heard one side of the story coming from the security guard, so we don't know the actual facts of how innocent or not the entire situation was. Short of that happening, I can't see anything good for Matthews here. He's under intense media scrutiny, calls for him not being named captain now. I even saw this on BT this morning so it's making regular news programs not just sports shows.
Why can't Leafs fans ever have good things?
Why can't Leafs fans ever have good things?
ZBBM
Active member
Bender said:
It's subjective of course, but if he's found guilty, I could see 10 games. That would be significant enough to get his attention and hopefully he'd never do anything like that again. And it would be significant enough to potentially adversely affect the team's record. I think that's important. Part of the message here is that if you behave like this, you not only damage yourself, you damage the team. Everyone on the team should know that.
You can argue the exact length but to me a game or two or three doesn't get it done.