TSN Host Makes Firm Demand of Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Ahead of the Playoffs
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
An injury-plagued season and the lowest offensive production in his career have led to TSN's Bryan Hayes asking Leafs captain Auston Matthews to either step it up or take a step back.
Upon his return from two separate absences due to injury, Matthews admitted his injury would be a long-term issue that will require ongoing attention.
Despite battling a nagging injury, the 27-year-old chose to captain Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he was forced to miss a game because of it.
Thursday saw the Leafs and Matthews struggle against a very physical Florida Panthers team that led to the team's top stars being called out for their lack of intensity.
On Friday's edition of 'OverDrive', TSN's Bryan Hayes focused on Matthews and almost begged him to do one of two things - pull himself from the lineup to fix his injury or step up his game and become the game-changer that we know he can be.
"For me it's very simple. If he's injured. If he is hurt, then stop playing. Get out of the lineup and take care of yourself. You've got about five weeks to figure this out. If you're going to play, like he has been, you better play better than this. It's that simple.
Here's a guy who's the highest paid player in the league, the captain of the team... he's having the worst season of his career. He's not seeking out contact. He looks uncomfortable when it comes to a tightly checked game. He's not using his body a lot."
Here's a guy who's the highest paid player in the league, the captain of the team... he's having the worst season of his career. He's not seeking out contact. He looks uncomfortable when it comes to a tightly checked game. He's not using his body a lot."
Asking the Leafs' captain to bench himself is obviously an outlandish ask, but one many fans may agree with given that Matthews missed a handful of games in the Leafs' first-round loss to the Boston Bruins last season after entering the playoffs healthy. Entering them unhealthy is just not a risk he or the team cannot afford to take.
While Matthews may believe he is doing what is right in playing through his injury, it is not doing the team any good if it is affecting his ability to produce offensively and limiting the way he plays the game considering the Leafs already struggle to score in the post-season.
We will surely see him get some rest down the stretch once the Leafs lock up a playoff spot, but by that point it may be too little, too late, which may spell disaster for the Leafs come April.
| POLL | ||
MARS 15 | 2331 ANSWERS TSN Host Makes Firm Demand of Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Ahead of the Playoffs Do you agree with Hayes that Matthews should be figuring out his injury instead of playing in this final run of games? | ||
| Yes | 1947 | 83.5 % |
| No | 192 | 8.2 % |
| Not yet, but he should sit soon | 192 | 8.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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