The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a slow start and will end the month of October last in the Atlantic Division.
A key reason for the Maple Leafs’ slow start is due to the struggles of captain Auston Matthews. Matthews is considered one of, if not the best, goal scorers in the NHL. But, to begin the year, he has just 5 goals in 11 games, but he has just one five-on-five goal and has more empty net goals than goals on even strength.
It’s been a disappointing start, and Maple Leafs insider Jonas Siegel of The Athletic gave a concerning update on Matthews, as he believes the star forward may still be injured.
“Matthews has been less productive so far (0.45 goals and 0.73 points per game) than even last season when he played hurt from training camp (0.49 and 1.16),” Siegel wrote. “The production is one thing, which has been hurt in part by a flailing power play. Matthews hasn’t felt all that dangerous, either. A flood of goals — like the 51 (!) in 50 games he once delivered at his apparent apex — doesn’t appear imminent. Nor has he been able to impose his will on games like before. …
“One possibility is that Matthews still isn’t all the way back physically. The speed and power he used to have through the neutral zone isn’t so overwhelming these days, nor, obviously, is the shot as potent.”
Matthews dealt with an injury last season that resulted in him going to Germany to get checked out. That injury hampered him all season long, and perhaps he still isn’t healthy.
Loss of Mitch Marner Has Impacted Matthews
Although Siegel believes Matthews may be injured, another key reason for his struggles is the loss of Mitch Marner.
Marner is a playmaker and has been setting up Matthews for years. But, Marner left this offseason for the Vegas Golden Knights, and Siegel believes that has impacted Matthews’ play.
“A more clear-cut factor for the early struggles: The disappearance of Mitch Marner and the major impact that’s had on Matthews, offensively and defensively, amid a period of great instability at right wing,” Siegel added.
With Marner leaving, Toronto has been shuffling the top line to try and find some chemistry with Matthews.
Maple Leafs Coach Sends Message to Team
Toronto is off to a slow start and is last in the division.
After a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube called out the team, as he believes they aren’t playing how they should be.
“For me, we were complicating the game at times tonight. We got burned on it,” Berube said postgame on Wednesday. “We forced pucks when we didn’t need to and turned them over. They came at us, and as we’ve talked about, they’re a talented and good rush team. They capitalized on their opportunities. More than anything, that is what it boils down to. I felt like we were disconnected at times getting through the neutral zone. It cost us.”
The Maple Leafs will return to the ice on Saturday on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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