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Auston Matthews

AvroArrow said:
Bullfrog said:
Disingenuous on Matthews's part? It's the point of the justice system to ensure restitution for victims and to punish the guilty (where necessary). If she was happy with the settlement, then justice is done. It doesn't send a good message to bring this through the courts and cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars.
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I think the issue is with someone being able to buy their way out of trouble, a luxury that not everyone can afford.
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It's the law in Arizona, that misdemeanours can be worked out between the plaintiff and accused.  So settlements happen all the time there. As Bullfrog points out it clears already full dockets in the courts and of course save's the taxpayers a lot of money.  And not every plaintiff is looking for a cash payout, some are just looking for a heartfelt apology.

One has to ask if the charge would have been laid if she didn't know Matthews has a fortune?  Seems like a Juvenile prank that just enriched the plaintiff by "probably" quite a substantial amount.  Matthews is still a very young man (My son is 26 going on 12) and he seems to be highly intelligent.  I would think he has learned a lesson.
 
Two thoughts about Matthews:

1.  Posters in last night's GDT called him out for not driving the net more.  His unwillingness to enter danger areas very much (if it is that) could well be related to his injuries the past couple of years.  I think at least he got his shoulder injury pinballing around in front of the net.
2.  Millen made one of his very rare interesting comments last night. As he related, MacKinnon started out hyped, but wasn't playing up to expectations and indeed Colorado almost dealt him.  Then he decided to get serious, started training with Sid (and I'm talking about mental prep and drive as much as skills/physique), and now he's a monster. 

Matthews could do the same.  He's got the same physical tools to work with.  He also has shown he can come back from summer with improved skills.  I think his basic problem is that he's still rather immature.  He doesn't yet grasp how hard even someone as naturally talented as he is has to work to get to the very highest level, to be a true superstar like he could be (although he probably thinks he does understand this already).  He's definitely not there yet.

But this talk of trading him, or booing him, is just insanity.  I've been plenty hard on him but in the real world Keefe/Dubas/Shanny need to drill it into him that he's got to commit ? on both sides of the puck ? to giving it his all.  Every night.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
2.  Millen made one of his very rare interesting comments last night. As he related, MacKinnon started out hyped, but wasn't playing up to expectations and indeed Colorado almost dealt him.  Then he decided to get serious, started training with Sid (and I'm talking about mental prep and drive as much as skills/physique), and now he's a monster.
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This isn't tied into your general point about Matthews but this comment bugged me because it was another example of Millen just talking out of his behind. MacKinnon started training with the guy Crosby uses when he was like 14 or 15 years old. And he's been training with Crosby at that guy's summer camp since he was 18. I don't know exacly when his and Crosby's friendship blossomed, but for Millen to suggest that MacKinnon didn't take his fitness levels seriously until he was like 22 years old is nuts.
 
Mackinnon after his 4th season was completed had 75G 131A 206P.  Matthews is in his 4th season.  He has 127G 109A 236P.    He's done that in 58 fewer games.

Matthews has wart s.  The contract builds expectations that he be better than he has performed but we are still talking about a guy who is 8th in the league in goals and T-14 in the league in points with Ovechkin.  We all know there should be a next gear but this notion that Matthews is the problem with the team is kind of silly.

 
CarltonTheBear said:
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
2.  Millen made one of his very rare interesting comments last night. As he related, MacKinnon started out hyped, but wasn't playing up to expectations and indeed Colorado almost dealt him.  Then he decided to get serious, started training with Sid (and I'm talking about mental prep and drive as much as skills/physique), and now he's a monster.
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This isn't tied into your general point about Matthews but this comment bugged me because it was another example of Millen just talking out of his behind. MacKinnon started training with the guy Crosby uses when he was like 14 or 15 years old. And he's been training with Crosby at that guy's summer camp since he was 18. I don't know exacly when his and Crosby's friendship blossomed, but for Millen to suggest that MacKinnon didn't take his fitness levels seriously until he was like 22 years old is nuts.
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I mean I find the original analysis so hard to believe. Some people get by on skill and are lazy and whatnot, but I think the majority of people who have a drive to be the best at their craft are pretty single minded in their focus to get there.
 
L K said:
Mackinnon after his 4th season was completed had 75G 131A 206P.  Matthews is in his 4th season.  He has 127G 109A 236P.    He's done that in 58 fewer games.

Matthews has wart s.  The contract builds expectations that he be better than he has performed but we are still talking about a guy who is 8th in the league in goals and T-14 in the league in points with Ovechkin.  We all know there should be a next gear but this notion that Matthews is the problem with the team is kind of silly.
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Is it, though? Is it "silly" to suggest Matthews is a significant problem when he's being paid McDavid money yet is basically invisible for long stretches of games?  And then he calls out the team for quitting...I sure hope he is including himself in that group because if he thinks he's giving more than others on the team that's a big problem. He's not the only problem, but his play lately is definitely part of it.

The guy is ultra talented and can score points even when he's largely floating through games. But I have definitely noticed recently that he is settling for more shots from further out (whole team is doing it which suggests it might be a "system" thing). Part of it seems to be defenses are adjusting to him and not allowing those clean looks from the slot, where he has the time to drag the puck and pick a top corner (maybe goalies are looking for that more, too). So he's going to have to adjust to that and work harder to get into open areas, maybe push harder to the net and risk injury. At this rate the team isn't going to make the playoffs so it's time for him to start laying it on the line.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
2.  Millen made one of his very rare interesting comments last night. As he related, MacKinnon started out hyped, but wasn't playing up to expectations and indeed Colorado almost dealt him.  Then he decided to get serious, started training with Sid (and I'm talking about mental prep and drive as much as skills/physique), and now he's a monster.
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This isn't tied into your general point about Matthews but this comment bugged me because it was another example of Millen just talking out of his behind. MacKinnon started training with the guy Crosby uses when he was like 14 or 15 years old. And he's been training with Crosby at that guy's summer camp since he was 18. I don't know exacly when his and Crosby's friendship blossomed, but for Millen to suggest that MacKinnon didn't take his fitness levels seriously until he was like 22 years old is nuts.
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I didn't ground-truth Millen (ya big mistake on me) but I do recall that MacKinnon was on the verge of being traded.  Something happened after that and, as I said, it could well have been an upgrade in attitude.
 
L K said:
Mackinnon after his 4th season was completed had 75G 131A 206P.  Matthews is in his 4th season.  He has 127G 109A 236P.    He's done that in 58 fewer games.

Matthews has wart s.  The contract builds expectations that he be better than he has performed but we are still talking about a guy who is 8th in the league in goals and T-14 in the league in points with Ovechkin.  We all know there should be a next gear but this notion that Matthews is the problem with the team is kind of silly.
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He's not "the" problem but I don't know of anyone who believes he couldn't be better.  In most fields the last 10% of improvement is a matter of dedication.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
He's not "the" problem but I don't know of anyone who believes he couldn't be better.
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But that's such a complete and total strawman. This isn't a disagreement between people who think Matthews has been perfect or not. It's people who think Matthews should be singled out for specific criticism and possibly even traded vs. people who think that's insane.
 
I mean, quite literally there isn't a single guy on the Leafs whose play I'd say has been terrific this year. I want more from every guy on the team. The bright spot of the year has probably been Mikheyev but even then it's more that he's a found wallet and less that I'm astounded with his play every night.

Is Matthews in that group of general disappointment? Yes. Should he be highlighted in it? I don't think so.
 
Nik Bethune said:
I mean, quite literally there isn't a single guy on the Leafs whose play I'd say has been terrific this year. I want more from every guy on the team. The bright spot of the year has probably been Mikheyev but even then it's more that he's a found wallet and less that I'm astounded with his play every night.

Is Matthews in that group of general disappointment? Yes. Should he be highlighted in it? I don't think so.
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I do.  The stakes are highest with him.  Otherwise I agree with you of course.
 
Nik Bethune said:
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
He's not "the" problem but I don't know of anyone who believes he couldn't be better.
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But that's such a complete and total strawman. This isn't a disagreement between people who think Matthews has been perfect or not. It's people who think Matthews should be singled out for specific criticism and possibly even traded vs. people who think that's insane.
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Just for the record, I think that's insane.
 
I've been critical of him the past couple weeks but I've also been one of his greatest supporters as far as where I rank him in the league.
Always said he has so much raw talent and could be easily top 3 players in the league if he puts everything together. Problem I see is the willingness to use his big frame to his advantage. Rarely do you see him challenge guys one on one. There is always an argument on who's the better player AM or MM in our coffee conversations and I always said Auston is a more complete player and more valuable to the team than Mitch.
As much as I have criticized his play and gotten into the trade him conversation it's not so much at how he's playing it's in my opinion a way for the Leafs to get away from the cap crunch that Dubas has created. Having 40 million tied up in 4 guys was a mistake and I think hurting the team. Sure some guys will be leaving next year and there will be some money freed up but too many holes to fill and not sure the money is there to solidify certain spots. They have roughly 55 million tied into 9 forwards. 5 million each for Freddy and Morgan so say $62 plus 1.2 for Kessel. So about $66 million according to cap geek. So roughly 25-30 million depending on cap for another 3 forwards, 5 defensemen and a backup. Not saying it can't be done but what kind of personnel are you going to be able to sign with that much dough left?
I don't want anyone traded but might have to be considered for the overall betterment of the team.
 
azzurri63 said:
I don't want anyone traded but might have to be considered for the overall betterment of the team.
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If the Leafs are sold on Engvall and Moore then I would look to trade Hyman and Johnsson. Their 5.65 mill should fetch a good defence first right side D man and a back up. I would also try to unload CC for whatever I could get.
 
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