Auston Matthews

[Ricboff]

best American hockey player over the last 20 yrs?

largely a flop come playoffs, so certainly Kane will get a lot of votes, understandably. But Matthews plays the C position and is a much better defensive player than Kane

it has been a pleasure watching this guy develop. American father/Mexican mother ..played in Arizona.....what were the odds?

he's top 10 Leafs scorers of all-time and on pace, statistically, to easily top Sundin.

 

[Dr.Love]

American father/Mexican mother ..played in Arizona.....what were the odds?

Yeah, that's crazy. Great hockey player who grew up in AZ? Unreal.

 

[SheriffJoe]

"Now you kids out there...Matthews is a diva floater, eh"

 

[Ricboff]

haha

Don Cherry was awesome. Miss him

Auston has become a complete player, sure he could be more physical. But that's not in his DNA. He plays both ends of the rink. Leafs have no goaltending and Liljegren , Dermott at the back. Likely gone first round . Dubas needs to do something.

 

[SheriffJoe]

This is what happens when you pay your players like they've won multiple cups and haven't even won a round.

Their cap is fucked. Rookie GM and coach in over their heads.

Up 3-0 early tonight and almost blew it again. Bet the over! lol

Dallas Leafs
Toronto Cowboys

 

[Ricboff]

i hear ya. Huge contracts to Auston , Marner, aging Tavares . Marner's is a head-scratcher for sure . An undersized winger making that kinda coin? he's an exceptionally skilled playmaker for sure . Auston has asked to play with him , lol. That 1st line is top 3 in the league easy .

lost Hyman and haven't missed a beat offensively. So full credit to Dubas with Bunting, Kampf (solid defensemen minded C ), Kase. Ritchie was a bust, but 3 out of 4 not bad. I cant believe how Bunting has fit beautifully on that 1st line. That guy does all the little shit, has no fear. Dude has 18 goals? wtf, he's rat--like: K Linesman



issue is clear with this team -defensive issues and shaky goaltending. Campbell started the season like he was going to win the Vezina--that honeymoon is done. He's unorthodox, not my kind of goalie. Dee? too soft . Sandin is a smurf-who the fuck is he moving off the puck? Good offensive skills to his credit. Liljgren, Dermott are both vomit material. Dermott is a spaz. Cant win Lord Stanley with shaky goaltending and a soft dee. Look at the Habs a yr ago--cinderella run anchored by exceptional goaltending and they pretty much went 4 dee. Weber is a horse--who is fuckin with Shea Weber? Leafs dont have ONE dee that will play physical. To Toronto's credit their 4 lines r solid and special teams r elite; # 1 pp unit, and i think #6 pk unit--special teams can be huge come playoffs

playoff are wide wide open ....i dont see any team that separates themselves from the rest. Get a hot goalie and who knows

 

[SheriffJoe]

Matthews is probably gone when his contract expires.

Beer league hockey doesn't win in the playoffs.

 

[Ricboff]

Mathews to shoulder the blame ? beer league hockey?

Agreed in that ya gotta perform when it matters most last yr was not good for matthews /marner , esp game 7. Keep in mind Matthews hit the bar in OT game 6. No bar down, curse of the organization ?lol

He's a franchise player , these kinda guys aren't a dime a dozen. An exceptional talent that has helped pencil the Leafs into the playoffs for 5 yrs, soon to be 6.



I'd dump management and/or the coach before giving up on Matthews . Let's recall last yr Dubas got two forwards before the tradeline, gave up a first rounder for Foligno. Forwards? needed to shore the dee--they went with rookie Sandin into the playoffs !?! Dermott's giveaway cost game 6.

 

[SheriffJoe]

I didn't say the Leafs will want to get rid of him, I don't think Matthews will stay as a FA. Probably will go to a southern market like his home in AZ. Or maybe LA, SJ...

Yes, beer league hockey. In the playoffs when the game tightens, any hard working team can keep Leafs on the perimeter where they don't score - easy shots for any NHL-caliber goalie. Not a lot of hitting, forechecking or cycling. Even Ovi said they're not going to win the way they play.

Should have signed Pietrangelo instead of Tavares and built the team differently from the net out. Like you said, they don't have a Hedman, Ekblad, Weber, Chara...big workhorse Ds that can log a ton of minutes in the playoffs.

 

[Ricboff]

k, good read. U a big hockey fan? u in the northeast?

i agree, i'd rather build from the back . But flexible and if an opportunity to get a top C presents? had no issue grabbing Tavares. The length of contract was not good, he will not age well.

Can win Lord Stanley without an elite dee. Just get a solid 6 , or even 4 and work them . Pens showed us this.. And there has to be a commitment to team defense, esp if your strength isnt at the back. . Oddly, Leafs earlier in the yr would go to shutdown mode when leading into the 3rd. Now? blow a 4-3 lead Vs an inferior opponent on home soil (Vcr). This is on the coaching staff, cant lose your way.


confidence plays a big role in the playoffs, to get over the hurdle. How many times did Wash fail before finally winning? TB? The lightening were swept 1st round Vs Columbus after winning The Presidents. -they had all the parts of the puzzle. Gotta hope that those failures make them hungrier, stronger . Look at TB today? They KNOW they can win

With that said, individuals are different. Some players thrive the bigger the situation. Its easier to see in an individual sport rather than a team sport. Marchand/Bergeron/ these guys relish playoff hockey. Marner/mathews ? marner was very disturbing a yr ago (that penalty he took while short-handed, lackadaisical lifting the puck into the stands? wtf) , gotta grow. These r proud players, they want to win


Leafs dont have the parts at the back or the goaltending (have no faith in Campbell) That's on Dubas

disagree on the 'beer hockey' stuff

 

[RayFinkel]

At the end of his career, Matthews will be the best Maple Leaf ever; most goals most assists and most points. He will also be the greatest American born hockey player of all time. Hes by far a better player than Modano.
I don't consider Hull an American..he was born in Ontario.

And to compare his NHL talents to a beer league player...well that person is one retatarded fucking uneducated faggot!

 

[REDEYE]

Maple Leafs might be the best sports franchise name out there..

 

[SheriffJoe]

At the end of his career, Matthews will be the best Maple Leaf ever; most goals most assists and most points. He will also be the greatest American born hockey player of all time. Hes by far a better player than Modano.
I don't consider Hull an American..he was born in Ontario.

And to compare his NHL talents to a beer league player...well that person is one retatarded fucking uneducated faggot!

You don't win playing beer league hockey (7-4, 8-6 etc.)

ZERO PLAYOFF SERIES WINS!!

 

[Ricboff]

Maple Leafs might be the best sports franchise name out there..

who u like at The Players?

gottin bring the A game there. The bombers dont have much of an advantage there . All precision . That rough at Arnie's tourney was crazy, that was like a major

like players in form and strong iron games - Morikawa, Hovland, Berger, Im...Billy is playing well

 

[Ricboff]

Cale Makar for the Norris?

has gone from -150 awhile back to recently -225, and now seeing -375

this dude needs an injury to not win.

teammate E Johnson on Makar;

“The thing that impresses me so much is his edgework,” Johnson said. “He gets so deep on his edges and can really score from any way, any angle, and he can get on any edge and shoot. Just the way he skates is special. It’s fun to watch as a player and his teammate.”


FUCKIN SPOT ON!!!!!!!!!

 

[REDEYE]

who u like at The Players?

gottin bring the A game there. The bombers dont have much of an advantage there . All precision . That rough at Arnie's tourney was crazy, that was like a major

like players in form and strong iron games - Morikawa, Hovland, Berger, Im...Billy is playing well

Haven't looked at props yet. Be down on some tomorrow.
Have these guys so far
Matsuyama 31/1
Schauflee 28/1
Berger 35/1
Morikawa 16/1
Nieman 70/1

This weather situation this week as me concerned getting in to deep this week. Does the weather influence you this week ?

 

[SheriffJoe]

Makar is quite a player.

 

[Ricboff]

will make it longer-- rain thursday/friday? but i think its a course , most importanly, u better b playing well coming in. Anyone not, i cant support. And id prefer a strong iron player . C Smith is 3 for 3 top 10s ytd, solid iron player. R Knox also strong iron player, certainly Hatton and hes playing well



players not in form, cant support- DJ, Brooks, Reed (fallen off the map?), spieth

Rahm struggling with the putter, he has the game to win here easy.

should b fun! love this tournament as the u dont need to be long to win. Westwood was in the final pairing a yr ago and hes a nearly a senior!

 

[Ricboff]

At the end of his career, Matthews will be the best Maple Leaf ever; most goals most assists and most points. He will also be the greatest American born hockey player of all time. Hes by far a better player than Modano.
I don't consider Hull an American..he was born in Ontario.

And to compare his NHL talents to a beer league player...well that person is one retatarded fucking uneducated faggot!

he's on pace to CRUSH Sundin's most goals. Crazy . yeah --what a fuckin release . ,for me top American over the last 20 yrs. Sorry Kane, ..homer alert !

 

[REDEYE]

will make it longer-- rain thursday/friday? but i think its a course , most importanly, u better b playing well coming in. Anyone not, i cant support. And id prefer a strong iron player . C Smith is 3 for 3 top 10s ytd, solid iron player. R Knox also strong iron player, certainly Hatton and hes playing well



players not in form, cant support- DJ, Brooks, Reed (fallen off the map?), spieth

Rahm struggling with the putter, he has the game to win here easy.

should b fun! love this tournament as the u dont need to be long to win. Westwood was in the final pairing a yr ago and hes a nearly a senior!

What have you heard with DJ ? Something up with him ? Crazy odds for DJ. Thought I saw 50/1 somewhere.