Leafs on guard for off-ice Matthews
Mike Babcock can coach and cajole Auston Matthews all he wants, but the coach knows he only has the young star’s attention part of a 24-hour day.
So for those hours when the team is off on its own, such as the past week’s road trip, the club wants to make sure Matthews is getting proper direction. With eight points in five games to lead all NHL rookies, there’s not a lot Matthews needs to be taught about offence, but there are many nuances that go into DNA of a well rounded pro, one who could indeed be the face of the franchise the club has sought since Mats Sundin moved on.
“Absolutely, we’ve been very conscious of the people we keep around him,” Babcock said. “He’ l l be surrounded by lots of people in his lifetime. He has to make good decisions. There are lots of people who will want to get to know him. But you have to decide who you are going to let into your immediate circle.
“Those people end up having an influence on you, who end up tightening you when you step out of line. It’s real important he makes good choices. But he’s a smart guy.”
During the Leafs’ stop in Winnipeg, Jets coach Paul Maurice was discussing the same thing regarding his boy wonder, Patrik Laine, who followed Matthews to the podium last June as the second overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft.
“I’m careful about talking to him too much,” Maurice said. “I want to make sure the players are talking to him as much as the coach does.”
While Babcock won’t go into detail about who the Matthews mafia might be, 27- year- old winger Matt Martin is on one side of him in the practice rink dressing room, as well as on the road.
“I don’t know if that’s by design, but I obviously spend a lot of time with him,” Martin said. “He’s a good kid and I enjoy talking to him — other than when the media comes in.”
Martin was joking about the large crowd awaiting Matthews after every practice and game day skates. But getting caught in the crush does make Martin a keen observer of how Matthews handles himself.
“I’ve said all along, he’s a mature kid,” Martin said. “He’s played some pretty important hockey in his career in Switzerland, in the world championships and t he World Cup.
“There will come a time when his ( 82- game) season gets a little long. He’s off to a good start now, but if he ever goes through a slump it’s up to everyone to be there for one another. Right now, we’re blowing a lot of leads ( four times in five games in the third period). So this is a time we have to stay positive and be a family. He’s in this and we’re in all this together.”
Winger James van Riemsdyk was also ready to offer Matthews any guidance necessary upon meeting him in the summer, but is guessing that he’ ll learn just as much by watching the elder Leafs in their day-to-day travails.
“‘ Well done’ is always better than ‘ well said’, that’s the best way I’ ve found ,” van Riemsdyk recalled of his early days as the NHL’s second overall pick in 2007. “Just looking around to older guys who have some experience. Different guys have different things you can pick up on.
“All our younger guys (Mitch Marner and defenceman Nikita Zaitsev are also brand new to the NHL), they’re like sponges right now and want to do everything they can to get better. It’s our job as older players to do what we can to set an example.”
Leo Komarov is one of four alternate captains on the team also keeping an eye on Matthews and the new group.
“I’m trying to help him, but he’s doing well so far,” laughed Komarov. “Probably, it has helped him a lot that he already played with men in Switzerland and he’s not coming up from a junior league.
“Life has changed ( since Matthews arrived), but everybody is getting used to it. It’s not bad for us.”
A few more wins would make it even better. Three road losses, two with points, puts Toronto at 1-1- 3. The Leafs host Tampa Bay on Tuesday night and the Florida Panthers Thursday.