Now do his numbers for the last 2 months.

It isn't the numbers. It is the effort that is problematic.
- Aetherial

At 5v5 in the last two months (October 16 to today) he is tied with MacKinnon, McDavid, Draisaitl, Patrick Kane, Sebastian Aho, Pacioretti . . .so I mean, it's not like he's exactly slouching here.

Yes, I see that his presence in the D-zone is sometimes confused. I'm not sure how much he's floating and how much he's fitting in to the new system which varies who is pressuring the puck carrier.

It certainly doesn't look like the effort is there, but I think it is.

Matthews defensive numbers are really good. A fans eye test isn’t worth a (frank). When teams are looking for scouts I don’t think knowledgeable fans need apply.
- shack67

How about the coach's eye test? Or the media. As much as we laugh, there are people who have forgotten more about hockey and pro sports than you or I will ever know. Those people are asking questions also.

Hey, I still wouldn't trade the guy (well, I would for a great return) and I still hope he turns it around, grows up and plays up to his talent. I just think the free pass should be over. He should be playing better than a 74 pt. pace and even +/- in November December.

At 5v5 in the last two months (October 16 to today) he is tied with MacKinnon, McDavid, Draisaitl, Patrick Kane, Sebastian Aho, Pacioretti . . .so I mean, it's not like he's exactly slouching here.

Yes, I see that his presence in the D-zone is sometimes confused. I'm not sure how much he's floating and how much he's fitting in to the new system which varies who is pressuring the puck carrier.

It certainly doesn't look like the effort is there, but I think it is.
- Monkeypunk

Is that true? I'll feel a little better if it is

Honestly, I didn't used to be. No question I am now
- Aetherial

Pretty sure you were saying all these things in his rookie season.

I'd put a Jiri Crha shooter-tutor in the backup role at this point.
- Aetherial

He's still suffering with PTSD from his earlier Leaf days.

I'd like to see Matthew's with Hyman or Mikeyev, Johnsson and the bit parts simply have not worked
- Archaic

Johnsson is good at times, but he needs to get into that groove where he's just feeling it. A real puck hound would benefit that line so much - so yeah, a Mikheyev or Hyman. I like Engvall, but I don't know if he's that guy who hounds and retrieves the puck. I like Moore as well, but he didn't really show up against top-6 competition when paired with Marner and Tavares. He just looked outclassed on most shifts.

Kadri’s gon Kadri

What a bad penalty to take

Definite suspension coming for Kerfoot
- RickJames77

nope... only happens against the Bruins

Pretty sure you were saying all these things in his rookie season.
- shack67

Not the same things no.

I wondered about a 13 game slump, but I was certain he would mature in a couple years to be a dominant player. People just chose to ignore that part of what Isaid, because, Hockeybuzz. I just figured it was a rookie adopting to the league.

Seriously, he has regressed. That is the concern.

At 5v5 in the last two months (October 16 to today) he is tied with MacKinnon, McDavid, Draisaitl, Patrick Kane, Sebastian Aho, Pacioretti . . .so I mean, it's not like he's exactly slouching here.

Yes, I see that his presence in the D-zone is sometimes confused. I'm not sure how much he's floating and how much he's fitting in to the new system which varies who is pressuring the puck carrier.

It certainly doesn't look like the effort is there, but I think it is.
- Monkeypunk

Guys with his size commonly look like they are floating. His numbers are great. And the people we compare him with have been in the league longer and have better wingers.

Is that true? I'll feel a little better if it is
- Aetherial

It is. Now, it's 9 goals which is tied for 11th with all of those guys. The guy leading the league in the last 2 months in 5v5 goals? Jakub Vrana with 13.

Now, POINTS-wise, he's 20th, which is underwhelming for his 5v5 production. Given that Nylander and Johnsson have not been consistently producing either isn't helping.

I expect him to pick it up, I really do. But I think that line needs someone who is going to hound the puck in the O-zone, and they haven't had that.

Johnsson is good at times, but he needs to get into that groove where he's just feeling it. A real puck hound would benefit that line so much - so yeah, a Mikheyev or Hyman. I like Engvall, but I don't know if he's that guy who hounds and retrieves the puck. I like Moore as well, but he didn't really show up against top-6 competition when paired with Marner and Tavares. He just looked outclassed on most shifts.
- Monkeypunk

Yeah when he plays well he looks great, but he needs to get into a groove.

Not the same things no.

I wondered about a 13 game slump, but I was certain he would mature in a couple years to be a dominant player. People just chose to ignore that part of what Isaid, because, Hockeybuzz. I just figured it was a rookie adopting to the league.

Seriously, he has regressed. That is the concern.
- Aetherial

Agree to disagree. I don’t think he’s regressed at all. He might be the best even strength player in the league.

nope... only happens against the Bruins


- BorjeFan4Ever

Right, right

Guys with his size commonly look like they are floating. His numbers are great. And the people we compare him with have been in the league longer and have better wingers.
- shack67

Nov-Dec he is on a 74 point pace, and even +/- and I have been consistent about specifying the last 2 months.

Going by last year's scoring stats, that would put him 38th in scoring and somewhere in the hundreds.

He is the 3rd highest paid player in the league. How are you defining "great".

For the record, even at his October pace, he was not living up to that contract.

Timur Bilyalov

Leafs goalie tandem woes are over.
- Woderwick

Plays on the same team as Leafs prospect Kara.


Suck it, Peter. We no longer need your trash.

Nov-Dec he is on a 74 point pace, and even +/- and I have been consistent about specifying the last 2 months.

Going by last year's scoring stats, that would put him 38th in scoring and somewhere in the hundreds.

He is the 3rd highest paid player in the league. How are you defining "great".

For the record, even at his October pace, he was not living up to that contract.
- Aetherial

That’s right.

If those are his numbers, he better look like Barkov or Bergeron out there defensively with that contract.

Agree to disagree. I don’t think he’s regressed at all. He might be the best even strength player in the league.
- shack67

I think he has the talent to be, except maybe McDavid or Mackinnon.

I am trying to take heart in what people posted last week about Mackinnon and him suddenly putting it all together and being dominant.

I think he has the talent to be, except maybe McDavid or Mackinnon.

I am trying to take heart in what people posted last week about Mackinnon and him suddenly putting it all together and being dominant.
- Aetherial

MacKinnion took off the moment Duchene was traded.



Bye Nylander.

Plays on the same team as Leafs prospect Kara.


Suck it, Peter. We no longer need your trash.
- Steven_Seagull

We could use another found wallet in net. When was the last time we had a great goalie prospect.

We could use another found wallet in net. When was the last time we had a great goalie prospect.
- Aetherial

pogge

We could use another found wallet in net. When was the last time we had a great goalie prospect.
- Aetherial

THE MONSTER







....Rask...

MacKinnion took off the moment Duchene was traded.



Bye Nylander.
- Steven_Seagull

I'm torn there also.

I feel like if we are going to go all in on the Dubas plan, we need to give Nylander the same chance that most of us are willing to give Matthews.

It would be good to have one less Floater on the team.

I think he has the talent to be, except maybe McDavid or Mackinnon.

I am trying to take heart in what people posted last week about Mackinnon and him suddenly putting it all together and being dominant.
- Aetherial

At that age he can still have big eye-opening moments that could effect how he plays. A hockey epiphany, lol.

I think he can do it. But it’s going to take some time, and patience to get there. But the last few game the Leafs kinda look cranky out there, so maybe that’ll help.

Drew Brees all-time TD leader in the NFL.

MacKinnion took off the moment Duchene was traded.



Bye Nylander.
- Steven_Seagull

This is your best post ever, and it’s not even close.

*slow claps*