Auston Matthews

[Guilt Trip]

Saw this on Twitter. Matthews(172) now has more career goals then McDavid(171) in 71 less regular season games. He's also just 6 goals behind Draisaitl(178) in 142 less games...Pastrnak is 16 ahead in 99 more games....crazy good.

 

[princedpw]

I?m curious, if you are coaching other teams, at what point do you try to apply an Esa Tikkanen approach to Matthews or would that not work in the modern game?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I?m curious, if you are coaching other teams, at what point do you try to apply an Esa Tikkanen approach to Matthews or would that not work in the modern game?

If you're referring to sticking a player on him like glue I don't think it would work.
As they've pointed out a few times in the last couple games, the first line causes chaos. Matthews and Marner (and to a lesser degree, Rielly) are constantly moving in and out of the slot and across the zone. Teams would get lost in their defensive zone coverage.

 

[princedpw]

I?m curious, if you are coaching other teams, at what point do you try to apply an Esa Tikkanen approach to Matthews or would that not work in the modern game?

If you're referring to sticking a player on him like glue I don't think it would work.
As they've pointed out a few times in the last couple games, the first line causes chaos. Matthews and Marner (and to a lesser degree, Rielly) are constantly moving in and out of the slot and across the zone. Teams would get lost in their defensive zone coverage.

I?m thinking box-and-1.

 

[princedpw]

But I can believe it wouldn?t work very well due to Matthews size and the newer hooking and holding rules.

 

[Kaberle15]

Matthews might be the greatest Maple Leaf of all time in the making.

Hope he will smash every single record that is to be mashed.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I?m curious, if you are coaching other teams, at what point do you try to apply an Esa Tikkanen approach to Matthews or would that not work in the modern game?

If you're referring to sticking a player on him like glue I don't think it would work.
As they've pointed out a few times in the last couple games, the first line causes chaos. Matthews and Marner (and to a lesser degree, Rielly) are constantly moving in and out of the slot and across the zone. Teams would get lost in their defensive zone coverage.

I?m thinking box-and-1.

Yeah, I wasn't really sure what you were referring to in regards to Tikkanen.

I actually think teams have been playing a dice pattern with the Leafs. Or at least they've been trying to.

 

[cabber24]

https://twitter.com/kritikosdesigns/status/1263914736225304576
I'm sure he prefers hope and playoffs much more. Plenty of time to go home in his elder years Maybe him and Connor will do it after the runs in their respective cities.

I can totally see Matthews go home one day for a boatload of picks, Conner will come home for a boatload of $$$$$$$$$ and visit JT in his old folks home.

I secretly hope PHX moves and crushes this possibility.

 

[Zee]

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1365360564248141830?s=20

Hope it doesn't turn into something long term

 

[Zee]

https://youtu.be/uEpvtWROgLw

 

[Matthews34]

What a pleasure it is to watch this young player develop in our organization. His 200ft game has come along way from day 1 while his scoring hasn?t been affected one bit. He?ll go down as the Leafs best goal scorer of all time when all is said and done. I don?t buy into all this nonsense he?ll be leaving for Arizona after his current contract is over. For all we know, Arizona might not even have a franchise when the time comes. I just wish we gave Matthews the C and kept Tavares with an A.

 

[Kin]

I just wish we gave Matthews the C and kept Tavares with an A.

I don't ultimately think that matters a ton but I do agree that it was probably the wrong choice from a symbolic stance. I think this season has really firmly established that if the Leafs do anything, it'll largely be on Matthews' back. Going with Tavares was the safe, conservative choice.

I also agree about Arizona. That sort of thinking always seemed to spring from the same well of logic that always assumed anyone born in Ontario would just automatically sign with the Leafs at a deep discount. Matthews becoming a UFA early on might mean he's open to moving but the idea that it's because of a specific plan to go to Arizona is far-fetched. I'm actually more worried about a place like NY or LA.

 

[herman]

I just wish we gave Matthews the C and kept Tavares with an A.

I don't ultimately think that matters a ton but I do agree that it was probably the wrong choice from a symbolic stance. I think this season has really firmly established that if the Leafs do anything, it'll largely be on Matthews' back. Going with Tavares was the safe, conservative choice.

Knowing Toronto's fanbase demographic... safe was the right choice. Also, summer drama on the eve of the announcement (which Dubas swears changed nothing).

 

[Zee]

I agree.  Other teams have had "succession plans" for captains and have had captains hand over the C at some point.  I think Matthews's next contract will come with him as captain.

 

[Kin]

Knowing Toronto's fanbase demographic... safe was the right choice.

Again, I don't think it's a big deal but knowing Toronto's fanbase demographic, I think smacking them in the face with smart over safe is probably needed to a healthy degree.

 

[herman]

Knowing Toronto's fanbase demographic... safe was the right choice.

Again, I don't think it's a big deal but knowing Toronto's fanbase demographic, I think smacking them in the face with smart over safe is probably needed to a healthy degree.

I don't disagree, but I also don't think it would have been fair to make Matthews into that particular cudgel at that stage; it's that demographic that really cares about a particular interpretation of what the captaincy stands for. By Matthews' next contract, as Zee points out, there will be a significant body of work that warrants making that ceremonial handoff.

Or maybe they decide to just mess with everyone and make 3 captains: Matthews, Marner, and Nylander

 

[rdowdall]

I agree.  Other teams have had "succession plans" for captains and have had captains hand over the C at some point.  I think Matthews's next contract will come with him as captain.

Joe Thorton had the captaincy taken away from him and handed to Pavelski while he was with the Sharks.  I think that building a succession plan when it starts to get close to these contract renewals may be a great story.

 

[rdowdall]

What a pleasure it is to watch this young player develop in our organization. His 200ft game has come along way from day 1 while his scoring hasn?t been affected one bit. He?ll go down as the Leafs best goal scorer of all time when all is said and done. I don?t buy into all this nonsense he?ll be leaving for Arizona after his current contract is over. For all we know, Arizona might not even have a franchise when the time comes. I just wish we gave Matthews the C and kept Tavares with an A.

Why do I feel that we have this situation going on with Matthews34:

SNL Chris Hemsworth Video

 

[Guilt Trip]

I just wish we gave Matthews the C and kept Tavares with an A.

I don't ultimately think that matters a ton but I do agree that it was probably the wrong choice from a symbolic stance. I think this season has really firmly established that if the Leafs do anything, it'll largely be on Matthews' back. Going with Tavares was the safe, conservative choice.

I also agree about Arizona. That sort of thinking always seemed to spring from the same well of logic that always assumed anyone born in Ontario would just automatically sign with the Leafs at a deep discount. Matthews becoming a UFA early on might mean he's open to moving but the idea that it's because of a specific plan to go to Arizona is far-fetched. I'm actually more worried about a place like NY or LA.

I'm not worried at all. The key to keeping Matthews will be team success. Crosby, Malkin, Hedman, Stamkos, Toews, Kane and more stars all signed 5 year deals after their ELCs. All of them also had NMC in the 5th and final years. Not one of these stars left their original teams. Tavares was one of the very few. His 2nd contract was for 6 years, with a NMC/NTC in the 5th and 6th years.

 

[herman]

What a pleasure it is to watch this young player develop in our organization. His 200ft game has come along way from day 1 while his scoring hasn?t been affected one bit. He?ll go down as the Leafs best goal scorer of all time when all is said and done. I don?t buy into all this nonsense he?ll be leaving for Arizona after his current contract is over. For all we know, Arizona might not even have a franchise when the time comes. I just wish we gave Matthews the C and kept Tavares with an A.

Why do I feel that we have this situation going on with Mattthews34:

SNL Chris Hemsworth Video

;D