Auston Matthews Makes Major Sacrifice to Embrace New Complete Role
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews caught some flak for his lack of scoring this season, but it might have just made him the best he's ever been.
There's a lot of talk this season surrounding what exactly happened to Auston Matthews. One year removed from scoring a historic 69 goals, he scored less than half of that total this season, as fans were worried if he was dealing with an underlying injury still, or if there was something else distracting the superstar.
However, it could be that perhaps Matthews has started to evolve past just a goal-scoring threat and is becoming a more well-rounded and balanced player which might just be what Toronto needed all along.
According to a couple of NHL analysts, they too believe that while Matthews is sacrificing points, that self-sacrifice could be a key factor in Toronto being potential champions this season.
Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne, and Sam McKee discussed Craig Berube's usage of both Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in the defensive zone and how it's actually beneficial to Toronto as opposed to hindering them:
I stress with Marner but I'll include Auston Matthews.
There are many face-offs starting in their own zone.
They aren't getting as many offensive zone chances as Tavares.
You don't want Tavares to skate 200 feet to the net.
People are all over them because of the offense; they gotta skate 200 feet! MacKinnon doesn't take defensive draws.
They (Marner and Matthews) are just too good defensively.
Is it going to cost goals, and chances and points?
Yes, and I've said this for years, but to me he's always looked like a winger but now he's looking like a true centerman for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There are many face-offs starting in their own zone.
They aren't getting as many offensive zone chances as Tavares.
You don't want Tavares to skate 200 feet to the net.
People are all over them because of the offense; they gotta skate 200 feet! MacKinnon doesn't take defensive draws.
They (Marner and Matthews) are just too good defensively.
Is it going to cost goals, and chances and points?
Yes, and I've said this for years, but to me he's always looked like a winger but now he's looking like a true centerman for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While it is understandable that fans are wanting more high-octane action and goal scoring from their captain, but some of the world's best pivots aren't just used in an offensive role.
Aleksander Barkov is the perfect example. Florida's captain is a perennial 75-80 point producer each season, and can easily hit 25-30 goals any given season.
That's some elite production offensively especially given his reputation defensively.
His true dominance lies in his ability to seemingly have psychic abilities and disrupt opponents at every turn, is incredible with his stick-checking; he wins face-offs regardless of which zone he's in, he controls the pace of the game and has the discipline of a monk.
Barkov has won the Selke twice, and finished in the Top 10 six times.
He also won the Lady Byng once as well; he's perhaps the most well-rounded player in the league currently.
So if Matthews can emulate the type of play that Barkov does on a nightly basis, it can only mean good things for the Maple Leafs going forward.
Barkov has won a Stanley Cup due to his play; and now perhaps #34 can do the same this season.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 24 | 400 ANSWERS Auston Matthews Makes Major Sacrifice to Embrace New Complete Role Is Auston Matthews now a true centerman, or does he still have things to improve on? | ||
| He's a true #1 center! | 311 | 77.8 % |
| He's default #1, needs more work! | 89 | 22.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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