Matthews growing in glare of spotlight
Last year’s rookie sensation has evolved into a two-way player and team leader
Everywhere on the Maple Leafs’ Western Canada road trip were Auston Matthews sweaters, in the crowd, on the streets even.
Nowhere will those who bought one be seeking a refund any time soon. Sure, it wasn’t the greatest week for the young phenom on paper. His record shots on goal streak was cut in Calgary, while a head cold dogged him in Edmonton where he and Connor McDavid fought to a one-goal draw. Toronto lost its final game of the swing 2-1 to the Canucks in Vancouver, where he was blanked to end a four-game points streak.
But look beyond the numbers and it was another significant step for the 20-year-old’s development.
When he first came west a year ago, he was still very much a curiosity to the rest of the country, barely 21 games into his NHL life and still riding the wave of being the first overall pick and a fourgoal debut in Ottawa.
As the Leafs made their way to the coast this time, Matthews was much more engaged in the whole process, conscious of seizing the moment. Such as when the Leafs were trying to come back from a tepid start in Vancouver. Down 2-0, Matthews and linemates Zach Hyman and Connor Brown were on a mission of puck retrieval and driving the net, though ultimately denied by the Canucks in a photo finish.
With Tyler Bozak out, Matthews won nine of 14 faceoffs versus Vancouver, making him 31 of 48 on the three-game trek. Though he didn’t score at Rogers Arena with the Leafs’ net empty, he stayed back to swat down the Canucks’ insurance goal, underlining how much attention to detail on the flip side of the puck has been a part of the success for the 17-10-1 team through 28 games.
In civilian clothes, Matthews was in high demand every day, with a media blob just as big as what he faces daily at home. The Calder Trophy winner feels more at ease speaking for the team, for himself and being critical of both.
“We’re past those ‘lesson’ games,” Matthews declared when asked about a trend of slow starts this season.
With 100 points in 112 games (counting the playoffs against Washington), it’s obvious the Leafs aren’t stuck with another Alexandre Daigle to name a prominent first overall flop. Veteran Leafs have seen the subtle changes in Matthews as Year 2 gets to the meat of the schedule.
“He’s just a smart player, an adaptable player,” said James van Riemsdyk. “So even when he’s not feeling his best physically, he finds a way to contribute and be an impact player. That’s what the best players do. His consistency has been pretty impressive game in and game out, to see the things he does out there.”
Nazem Kadri thought the duel with McDavid, to shadow Edmonton’s captain as well as try and outscore him, was significant.
“That’s a challenge you can live up to,” Kadri said. “He’s becoming more and more responsible in understanding that playing on the defensive side of pucks translates to offensive chances. He’s well beyond his years.”
This is not to beat the drum that Matthews is ready to take the Leafs vacant captaincy. The decision not to give anyone that letter was the right one based on how Matthews and other young Leafs have excelled without such distractions. Minus Matthews with a suspected back ailment last month, the Leafs still won all four games.
Much is still to be absorbed by Matthews, who has come so far from a half-rink hockey school in Arizona. As noted earlier, the office demands, including those of his own team’s specialty TV channel and the Sportsnet broadcast rights holder, sometimes aren’t his favourite part of the day. But he’s used the platform to praise teammates, respect opponents, take a stand now and then on issues such as the U.S. national anthem controversy and to have fun with teammates.
“You get used to it,” he said. “When you have good people around you, a good family, teammates, staff, coaches and everything, it helps to have people who have been through all this stuff before.
“You go to a market like this, you never really know what to expect, but it’s special to play for a team such as the Leafs, with such a passionate fan base. It’s something that I don’t take for granted. You get recognized a lot going around town and it’s a lot different atmosphere than where I’m from in Arizona. I can walk around and do my thing there. Once I walk into a hockey rink in Toronto, it’s a little bit different, but you kind of embrace it.”