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Ex-NHLer Receives Immediate Criticism on Podcast After Slamming Leafs' Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro Imagn Images
Former NHLer Sean Avery's comments about Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews did not sit well with the Spittin' Chiclets podcast crew.
Three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner Auston Matthews was placed outside the top-10 on the NHL Network's list of the Top-50 active players earlier this week.
His placement on the list seems to come with recency bias after an injury-plagued season saw the 28-year-old score just 33 times -- his lowest total in a single season in his career.
While questions of his health were the focus of the off-season, Matthews entered training camp fully healthy and looking to regain his 2023-24 form, which saw him score 69 goals and 107 points.
On last week's episode of "Spittin' Chiclets", former NHLer, the always controversial Sean Avery, joined Paul Bissonnette, Keith Yandle and Ryan Whitney to discuss a variety of topics. While most of the episode was fine, the former enforcer singled out Auston Matthews during his appearance, and his words were met with instant disdain from Bissonnette and Yandle.
"If there's a guy right now in the league that I say might not have the next gear to win, he [Matthews] might be at the top of my list."
Before he could finish his thought, however, Bissonnette and Yandle came to the defense of the Arizona native.
"Now you're just stirring the pot... If he's not putting it in the back of the net, he's still such a horse. I don't agree with you, Aves. I think he is an absolute horse," stated Bissonnette.
"I think Papi's got it in him," said Yandle. "He just doesn't show it cause he can't cause he's in Toronto. He's not going to be calling guys out on the bench because he knows it'll be such a big deal... I think he's so good. I got no complaints on Auston."
Throughout the off-season, there has been far too much discourse about Matthews' poor performance last season and it has led to a lot of bias towards his ability to perform offensively.
The Leafs' captain admitted himself that his injury impeded his ability to be at his best last year, but throughout the pre-season, he has looked like his old self and many expect a bounce-back season for him.
Previously on Maple Leafs Daily
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 30 | 1925 ANSWERS Ex-NHLer Receives Immediate Criticism on Podcast After Slamming Leafs' Auston Matthews Do you agree with Sean Avery about Leafs captain Auston Matthews not having an extra gear? | ||
| Yes, he hasn't show it so far | 882 | 45.8 % |
| No, Mitch was holding him back | 426 | 22.1 % |
| We'll have to see | 617 | 32.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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