• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

Blue Jackets vs. Leafs - Oct. 29th, 7:30pm - SN1

Arn said:
About a year and a half, or so?

Interestingly from the athletic




Emphasis my own, but…
Click to expand...
"It’s hard to untangle all the varying factors. It might just be a little bit of everything."

I'm kind of there. I think Marner and injury are the bigger factors.
 
cw said:
"It’s hard to untangle all the varying factors. It might just be a little bit of everything."

I'm kind of there. I think Marner and injury are the bigger factors.
Click to expand...

I don't believe Matthews not scoring is a Marner factor. Matthews has scored (*often at a higher rate without Marner) regardless of who he played with. This is something else. I believe if anything it would be injury related.
 
What is the injury...he is still able to rip shots and has done so a number of times this year (both wrist and one-timer). That makes me think it's probably not the wrist, though it could be something that acts up and then calms down. Something like the back or back/shoulder makes more sense. I've had back problems for many years and it wears on you. I will also dare say this, he's never really been a rah-rah or emotional guy on the ice (except for rare occasions) but he looks really out of it so far this year. The word that comes to mind is morose...he looks depressed, just going through the motions. It could be that constant pain or fear of aggravating whatever the injury is has really gotten into his head. He fumbles pucks (guy used to be able to stickhandle around or through players in a phone booth), shoots into legs, isn't the takeaway specialist anymore, generally looks indecisive and tentative. I feel bad for him and hope he can get past whatever it is, for his own sake as well as the team's.
 
Chris said:
What is the injury...he is still able to rip shots and has done so a number of times this year (both wrist and one-timer). That makes me think it's probably not the wrist, though it could be something that acts up and then calms down. Something like the back or back/shoulder makes more sense. I've had back problems for many years and it wears on you. I will also dare say this, he's never really been a rah-rah or emotional guy on the ice (except for rare occasions) but he looks really out of it so far this year. The word that comes to mind is morose...he looks depressed, just going through the motions. It could be that constant pain or fear of aggravating whatever the injury is has really gotten into his head. He fumbles pucks (guy used to be able to stickhandle around or through players in a phone booth), shoots into legs, isn't the takeaway specialist anymore, generally looks indecisive and tentative. I feel bad for him and hope he can get past whatever it is, for his own sake as well as the team's.
Click to expand...
His shot is nowhere near what it used to be, not even remotely close. Visually, you can see the whip, and accuracy is gone.

He may regret the 3-year maximize-the-shit-out-of-my-lifetime-earnings-contract.
 
cabber24 said:
His shot is nowhere near what it used to be, not even remotely close. Visually, you can see the whip, and accuracy is gone.

He may regret the 3-year maximize-the-shit-out-of-my-lifetime-earnings-contract.
Click to expand...

It's the accuracy. Wrist, back, shoulder? Not sure what would be the cause for the degradation in his otherworldly ability to aim the puck.
 
I do think play style is a factor. We talked last year about the lack of comeback stuff where the Leafs weren't coming back from 2 goals down because Matthews and Marner or Nylander/Tavares would get cooking.

But it's hard to not see Matthews and see an injured player and given that the play style is crossing multiple seasons I think we need to accept that we aren't getting peak Matthews back
 
Chris said:
What is the injury...he is still able to rip shots and has done so a number of times this year (both wrist and one-timer). That makes me think it's probably not the wrist, though it could be something that acts up and then calms down. Something like the back or back/shoulder makes more sense. I've had back problems for many years and it wears on you. I will also dare say this, he's never really been a rah-rah or emotional guy on the ice (except for rare occasions) but he looks really out of it so far this year. The word that comes to mind is morose...he looks depressed, just going through the motions. It could be that constant pain or fear of aggravating whatever the injury is has really gotten into his head. He fumbles pucks (guy used to be able to stickhandle around or through players in a phone booth), shoots into legs, isn't the takeaway specialist anymore, generally looks indecisive and tentative. I feel bad for him and hope he can get past whatever it is, for his own sake as well as the team's.
Click to expand...
I'm increasingly suspicious of his back
 
cabber24 said:
His shot is nowhere near what it used to be, not even remotely close. Visually, you can see the whip, and accuracy is gone.

He may regret the 3-year maximize-the-shit-out-of-my-lifetime-earnings-contract.
Click to expand...

He'll have to figure out how to survive on $60 million (+ whatever remaining contracts he gets). Nice problem to have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top