Leafs’ Matthews is feeling more up to speed
Underhill has shown Toronto’s star centre how to be much faster
TORONTO — Great players measure themselves against great players, and Auston Matthews is no different.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs centre talked Tuesday about improving his skating over the summer, he was asked who in the National Hockey League he’d like to skate like most.
“You’d like to skate like (Connor) McDavid, but I don’t think that’s going to happen overnight,” Matthews said.
No one quite skates with the fluidity, agility and speed of the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, but Matthews is pleased to hear people say that he looks much faster skating this year than last. That’s the big thing he worked on, getting quicker, with skating coach Barb Underhill.
“I think I made progress in the summer,” said Matthews, who had 34 goals and 63 points across 62 games during his second NHL season. “I was here for a week in July working with Barb on mechanics. Over the course of the summer, that was the focus. Being more explosive, getting a step on the opponent, getting that quicker step.
“I think it paid off for me. I feel good. I’ve got to keep pushing and go into the season with a full head of steam.”
Matthews led a practice at the MasterCard Centre on Tuesday of the players who will most likely play Wednesday in Ottawa.
John Tavares and Nazem Kadri led the rest in the first preseason game against the Senators in Lucan, Ont.
“I feel like I’m in pretty good shape,” Matthews said. “You get these games under you in preseason to get rolling for the regular season. It’s really important we use these to the best of our advantage.”
Matthews is generally considered the Maple Leafs’ best forward. He’s not the fastest, however. That would likely be Kasperi Kapanen, with Andreas Johnsson probably not too far off.
But it’s a testament to Matthews that he is driven to get better, rather than resting on the accolades that came his way during his first two seasons in the NHL.
“It shows we haven’t achieved anything we want to do yet,” said goalie Frederik Andersen. “It’s on everyone in the room to keep bettering themselves, and find ways to bring the standard up and keep developing individually.”
Matthews had worked with Underhill before, particularly the summer after he was drafted. Underhill has also worked extensively with Tavares, whose weak spot is his speed.
“She’ll record you skating, and see maybe you not doing something right, or she wants you to do something different,” Matthews said. “It’s first step. Mechanics. Skating up and down making sure everything is symmetrical and you’re getting the maximum push.”
Matthews said this was the first time he worked this intensively with Underhill, a former Olympian as well as well as world champion pairs skater with Paul Martini. She has worked as the Leafs’ skating consultant since 2012.
“Just working on my mechanics,” Matthews said. “Barb helped with that, broke it down on video so I could get a clear perspective on what she’s seeing and what I can work on. It’s mechanical things. It’s little things but they make a big difference.
“She’s really smart. She does it better than anyone else. She knows what she’s talking about. It’s a pleasure working with her.”
Andersen said he sees a difference in Matthews.
“He looks powerful in his stride,” Andersen said.
“He’s fast. He’s a great player already. It’s awesome to see he’s focused on his own game, trying to get better and keep trying to improve every day.”
Barring any last-minute surprises, Matthews will play an exhibition game in Ottawa with Patrick Marleau and Tyler Ennis. Both are fast. Marleau can score. Ennis is shifty. Matthews has played mostly with Zach Hyman, who now skates with Tavares, and William Nylander, who remains without a contract.
“It feels good,” Matthews said. “Every day getting to know each other more and more on the ice. Getting a feel for each other’s tendencies. It’s going well.”