Auston Matthews' Struggles Linked to One Very Bad Decision by Craig Berube
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is struggling this season and as it turns out, his problems can be linked back to head coach Craig Berube.
Despite having 56 points in 50 games this season, fans cannot help but notice that Auston Matthews has had his fair share of issues throughout the season.
He only has 23 goals which is well below his usual production and while we all know he is dealing with an injury, fans cannot help but feel like there is something else at play here.
One fan on Twitter recently compiled some statistics that point to the idea that a lot of this has to do with one stubborn decision from Craig Berube.
Auston Matthews is playing too much on the penalty kill
Matthews has consistently been the best player in the entire league at 5-on-5, however, he is averaging the lowest amount of ice time at 5-on-5 in his entire career.
Why is this the case? Because Berube has him playing two minutes per game on the penalty kill.
Essentially, Auston Matthews is being forced into a role he is not particularly good at while being taken away from the role he is the best at.
He is currently averaging the lowest amount of TOI at 5v5 since his rookie season to make up for a career high in PK mins.
There is 117 plsyers that have played 75min + on the PK:
CF% - 77th
FF% - 75th
SF% - 68th
xGF% - 84th
HDCF% - 84th
Takeaways/60 - 111th (Kampf is 1st)
There is 117 plsyers that have played 75min + on the PK:
CF% - 77th
FF% - 75th
SF% - 68th
xGF% - 84th
HDCF% - 84th
Takeaways/60 - 111th (Kampf is 1st)
If the Leafs want to see more production from their captain, Berube is going to have to change his philosophy when it comes to these lineup moves.
They simply aren't working and Matthews is suffering as a direct result. Perhaps this is something to fix with the playoffs on the horizon.
For the Maple Leafs to be successful, they need the captain to be their best goal-scorer.
| POLL | ||
MARS 15 | 165 ANSWERS Auston Matthews' Struggles Linked to One Very Bad Decision by Craig Berube Do you believe Auston Matthews should be taken off of the penalty kill? | ||
| YES | 134 | 81.2 % |
| NO | 31 | 18.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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