Matthews placed on IR

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1056875713188442113

Poop.

 

[herman]

Perfectly timed to return with Nylander signing at the 11th hour.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Crappy, but not the end of the world. Most important thing is healing properly.

Would be better if Nylander was playing though.

 

[Zee]

With the Leafs, they always underestimate these injuries.  Watch 4 weeks turn into 8

 

[Bullfrog]

With the Leafs, they always underestimate these injuries.  Watch 4 weeks turn into 8

It says minimum 4 weeks, not exactly 4 weeks.

 

[Foreign Corresppondent]

Perfectly timed to return with Nylander signing at the 11th hour.

If it takes that long, he's not going to be a Leaf. Daddy Nylander's views aside, this is a grown man who can make his own decisions. The Leafs were clear, then clearer, and the absence of Matthews will not help either side make a point. Nylander should be back by now, no matter who is in whose ear.

I know that wasn't your point i just addressed, but it's a frustrating situation that has less frustrating realities than the ones we're currently faced with, namely, is Matthews injury prone or just not getting the Gretzky/Crosby treatment because he's a Leaf?

*adjusts tinfoil hat*

 

[sickbeast]

Perfectly timed to return with Nylander signing at the 11th hour.

If it takes that long, he's not going to be a Leaf. Daddy Nylander's views aside, this is a grown man who can make his own decisions. The Leafs were clear, then clearer, and the absence of Matthews will not help either side make a point. Nylander should be back by now, no matter who is in whose ear.

I know that wasn't your point i just addressed, but it's a frustrating situation that has less frustrating realities than the ones we're currently faced with, namely, is Matthews injury prone or just not getting the Gretzky/Crosby treatment because he's a Leaf?

*adjusts tinfoil hat*

Nylander does have real leverage (not that I want to hijack this thread).  Imagine if the Leafs let him sit out all year and then they go to the Stanley Cup finals and lose.  Nylander would have been the difference, and Dubas would take some major heat for that.

It's going to be interesting to see how this one plays out.  I have never seen something like this happen as a Leafs fan.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I know that wasn't your point i just addressed, but it's a frustrating situation that has less frustrating realities than the ones we're currently faced with, namely, is Matthews injury prone or just not getting the Gretzky/Crosby treatment because he's a Leaf?

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/1056340247909462016

I have a hard time thinking anybody would have came away from that exact hit unscathed. Just two big bodies colliding and Trouba got him in the worst spot at the worst angle. Freeze it right at the point of contact and you could tell right away his shoulder probably separated or something. If I was gonna say thing, I'd say Matthews could have braced for the hit a little better. Not sure he even saw Trouba coming.

 

[Zee]

With the Leafs, they always underestimate these injuries.  Watch 4 weeks turn into 8

It says minimum 4 weeks, not exactly 4 weeks.

Which scares the hell out of me cause past history shows when the Leafs say "day to day" it turns into 2 weeks, I can only imagine what "minimum 4 weeks" means...hell it could be 6 months, still fits the minimum 4 weeks!

 

[Foreign Corresppondent]

Nylander does have real leverage (not that I want to hijack this thread).  Imagine if the Leafs let him sit out all year and then they go to the Stanley Cup finals and lose.  Nylander would have been the difference, and Dubas would take some major heat for that.

It's going to be interesting to see how this one plays out.  I have never seen something like this happen as a Leafs fan.

My signature might help with this. There is no way to determine what benefit a non-contributing player would have in a hypothetical Cup final. The reality is this team is doing fine one way or the other. That is what gets addressed. Even if we were in an arbitration scenario (which i wish we were), you can't project the weight of future Cp finals, you have to take the numbers as they are. Dubas is playing this the right way.

 

[Foreign Corresppondent]

I know that wasn't your point i just addressed, but it's a frustrating situation that has less frustrating realities than the ones we're currently faced with, namely, is Matthews injury prone or just not getting the Gretzky/Crosby treatment because he's a Leaf?

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/1056340247909462016

I have a hard time thinking anybody would have came away from that exact hit unscathed. Just two big bodies colliding and Trouba got him in the worst spot at the worst angle. Freeze it right at the point of contact and you could tell right away his shoulder probably separated or something. If I was gonna say thing, I'd say Matthews could have braced for the hit a little better. Not sure he even saw Trouba coming.

I agree on this hit completely, but the fact that we're under three years into his Career and this deep into injury concerns has me, well, concerned. Getting blindsided by a tank will hurt. It was a clean hit. I didn't intend to distort that.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Well this sucks.  Was really hoping for a 50 goal season.  His start was ridiculous.  I would say look for Kadri too step it up.  Tavares, Marner, and Kapenen to also keep providing the offence.

 

[Bullfrog]

With the Leafs, they always underestimate these injuries.  Watch 4 weeks turn into 8

It says minimum 4 weeks, not exactly 4 weeks.

Which scares the hell out of me cause past history shows when the Leafs say "day to day" it turns into 2 weeks, I can only imagine what "minimum 4 weeks" means...hell it could be 6 months, still fits the minimum 4 weeks!

Look on the bright side, they didn't say minimum 4 months!  :-X

 

[Zee]

With the Leafs, they always underestimate these injuries.  Watch 4 weeks turn into 8

It says minimum 4 weeks, not exactly 4 weeks.

Which scares the hell out of me cause past history shows when the Leafs say "day to day" it turns into 2 weeks, I can only imagine what "minimum 4 weeks" means...hell it could be 6 months, still fits the minimum 4 weeks!

Look on the bright side, they didn't say minimum 4 months!  :-X

I don't like the word "minimum" at all.  I want to hear maximum.

 

[ZBBM]

So, is Matthews "injury prone"?

Although it's pretty meaningless, you'll hear that hot take more and more from now on.*  And, in its wake, questions like:

* Will he ever realize his full potential?
* Is he worth more than JT if he's only playing (say) 60 games a year?
* Will other teams intentionally pinball him, especially in the playoffs?
* And, most immediately, how much additional leverage does this give to Nylander?

Those are all valid questions, unfortunately.  But what I want to ask you all is, do you think he'll need to change his style of play?  All that close-quarters stick handling in "heavy areas," his world-class calling card, seems to leave him open to getting hit while he's not looking at defenders.  Does he need to dial it back a bit?  Play more on the perimeter?

* tsn.ca's current headline: Should there be concern with Matthews? shoulders?

 

[herman]

Look on the bright side, they didn't say minimum 4 months!  :-X

Yes, let's look at the bright side:
- Babcock forced to not yo-yo Johnsson
- chance to see one of Moore, Grundstrom, Timashov, Marchment for parts of a month
- we basically have one entire line missing now (Matthews-Nylander + their passenger), so the other lines can get into a nice, reasonably stable combination together during this stretch
- Matthews' injury should not affect conditioning (but it will affect his shot)

 

[Zee]

Look on the bright side, they didn't say minimum 4 months!  :-X

Yes, let's look at the bright side:
- Babcock forced to not yo-yo Johnsson
- chance to see one of Moore, Grundstrom, Timashov, Marchment for parts of a month
- we basically have one entire line missing now (Matthews-Nylander + their passenger), so the other lines can get into a nice, reasonably stable combination together during this stretch
- Matthews' injury should not affect conditioning (but it will affect his shot)

I actually hope Johnsson can find a groove finally with some increased minutes.  Kapanen has been doing well so far (although it remains to be see how he performs sans Matthews)

Hopefully if both Johnsson and Kapanen can play during these 4 weeks and be effective we'll have our 3rd line of Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen ready to rock when Matthews (and Nylander) are back.

 

[herman]

Look on the bright side, they didn't say minimum 4 months!  :-X

Yes, let's look at the bright side:
- Babcock forced to not yo-yo Johnsson
- chance to see one of Moore, Grundstrom, Timashov, Marchment for parts of a month
- we basically have one entire line missing now (Matthews-Nylander + their passenger), so the other lines can get into a nice, reasonably stable combination together during this stretch
- Matthews' injury should not affect conditioning (but it will affect his shot)

I actually hope Johnsson can find a groove finally with some increased minutes.  Kapanen has been doing well so far (although it remains to be see how he performs sans Matthews)

Hopefully if both Johnsson and Kapanen can play during these 4 weeks and be effective we'll have our 3rd line of Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen ready to rock when Matthews (and Nylander) are back.

I don't think we'll be deviating form Marleau-Kadri-Marner, as both Marleau and Kadri were kind of languishing until then. Johnsson-centre-Kapanen intrigues me, and maybe that with Tavares as they're both fast and can play that heavier style that helps Tavares keep the puck down low where he's most dangerous.

 

[Zee]

Look on the bright side, they didn't say minimum 4 months!  :-X

Yes, let's look at the bright side:
- Babcock forced to not yo-yo Johnsson
- chance to see one of Moore, Grundstrom, Timashov, Marchment for parts of a month
- we basically have one entire line missing now (Matthews-Nylander + their passenger), so the other lines can get into a nice, reasonably stable combination together during this stretch
- Matthews' injury should not affect conditioning (but it will affect his shot)

I actually hope Johnsson can find a groove finally with some increased minutes.  Kapanen has been doing well so far (although it remains to be see how he performs sans Matthews)

Hopefully if both Johnsson and Kapanen can play during these 4 weeks and be effective we'll have our 3rd line of Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen ready to rock when Matthews (and Nylander) are back.

I don't think we'll be deviating form Marleau-Kadri-Marner, as both Marleau and Kadri were kind of languishing until then. Johnsson-centre-Kapanen intrigues me, and maybe that with Tavares as they're both fast and can play that heavier style that helps Tavares keep the puck down low where he's most dangerous.

Yeah I know Kadri will most likely play with Marner for now, I meant after Matthews gets back, the lines will still be Matthews-Nylander, Tavares-Marner..but if Johnsson can prove he's a good 3rd line option than maybe just maybe our future 3rd line could be Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen

 

[herman]

Yeah I know Kadri will most likely play with Marner for now, I meant after Matthews gets back, the lines will still be Matthews-Nylander, Tavares-Marner..but if Johnsson can prove he's a good 3rd line option than maybe just maybe our future 3rd line could be Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen

I think even when Matthews and Nylander join the team again, Marleau-Kadri-Marner will continue to be a group. Sure we semi-promised Tavares would get to play with Marner (and Marner works with just about anybody who can put his stick on the ice), but the better playstyle fit for Tavares is a group that cycles around the goal line with speed.