Auston Matthews Slapped with a Harsh Reality by Respected Toronto Radio Host
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Toronto Maple Leafs radio host Bryan Hayes recently debated Dave Feschuk about Auston Matthews and the viability of the captain having a bounce-back season.
Auston Matthews had injury issues last season, which forced him to have a lackluster season that many fans felt disappointed by.
The season prior, the captain had a grand total of 69 goals, which is incredible. However, in 2024-25, he only managed 33, which has some wondering whether or not he can ever get back to his old ways.
Will Auston Matthews have a big year with the Maple Leafs?
TSN 1050 recently entered the debate, with Dave Feschuk and Bryan Hayes giving their hot takes on what Matthews is going to accomplish.
When it came to Hayes, he tried to be realistic, and unfortunately for Matthews, that reality isn't super flattering.
Guys get 10 years into their career -- it doesn't mean they still aren't great, it means they usually focus on different areas of their game. They've kind of done it all and seen it all. They've chased points. I think as players mature, they don't look at the game the same way. I think he should still be known as the best goal-scorer in the game and the best goal-scorer in the world. I do think it is reasonable to expect that he is going to hover around 40 the rest of his career and there is going to be a few years where he gets to 50, 52, 53, but 60-plus... He's done that twice. It's so tough to score 60. Ovechkin did it once. Stamkos did it once. McDavid did it and Auston's done it twice. To expect him to do it a third time... is asking way too much.
Matthews is by no means old, and there is a world in which he bounces back to have a great season.
But without
Mitch Marner, it is true that things are about to get a whole lot tougher for the captain, and we have no idea how he will respond.
If he does have a big season, then there is no doubt that fans are going to be very impressed.
Previously on TorontoLeafsInsider
POLL |
AOUT 15 | 141 ANSWERS Auston Matthews Slapped with a Harsh Reality by Respected Toronto Radio Host Do you believe Auston Matthews can get back to having 50 goals in a season? |
YES | 105 | 74.5 % |
NO | 36 | 25.5 % |
List of polls |