Auston Matthews, the undisputed star and captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is navigating a season that is far from his usual explosive standards. Known for his goal-scoring prowess, Matthews finds himself in unfamiliar territory, sparking discussions about form, fitness, and team dynamics.
A Statistical Dip for the Maple Leafs Captain
This season, Matthews has netted only 13 goals, a tally that places him tied for 35th in the NHL. This is a stark contrast to his previous campaigns where he shattered records with 60 and 69-goal seasons. Even the power behind his shot has seen a dip, with his hardest attempt this year measured at 86.82 miles per hour, placing him in the 73rd percentile—respectable for many, but not for a player of his calibre.
When questioned about his performance, the 28-year-old acknowledged the challenge. "It's fine," Matthews stated, "But, it's been a grind lately." Speculation points to the lingering effects of past wrist and back injuries, combined with the NHL's relentless physical demands, as potential factors impacting his peak output.
Coach Berube's Assessment and Lineup Changes
Head coach Craig Berube has openly addressed the situation, careful not to lay the blame solely on his captain's shoulders. "It's not at the level that he wants it to be, or us," Berube admitted. "It's not just about scoring goals. It's just the whole game in general. But I do believe, and I know he believes, it's going to get better. And it's just not him. I think it's our team in general."
This sentiment of collective responsibility was echoed by Matthews himself. He emphasised focusing on team success over individual statistics. "For myself personally, it's … next game, do whatever I can to help the team," he said. "You've got to put your individual stuff to the side... Of course, you want to produce, you want to score... but I think the little things lead through the locker room just as much as the big things do."
However, Berube noted a lack of execution in those very "little things," especially after two recent games were lost due to flat performances in the third period. In response, he has shuffled his lines ahead of the game against the Chicago Blackhawks. William Nylander has been promoted to play alongside Matthews and Matthew Knies, while Max Domi moves down the order.
"I'm not seeing enough from that line in general, offensively or defensively," Berube explained regarding the change. "So I'm going to move Willie up there. It could be a real good line."
The Search for Team-Wide Consistency
The core issue, as identified by both the coach and the players, is a lack of sustained performance. Matthews accepted that the leadership group must shoulder the responsibility for recent frustrations. Berube, meanwhile, stressed that the problem is systemic.
"It's not just on one guy," Berube asserted. "Our consistency's been up and down a lot this year. And it just bleeds through everybody on the team... Consistency is important in this league. You look around the standings and how tight it is, you got to be consistent, and we've got to be better."
As the Maple Leafs strive to climb the standings, all eyes will be on whether the new line combination can ignite a spark and whether their captain can rediscover the rhythm that once made him the most feared goal-scorer in the league.
