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"A disgrace to hockey:" Controversial Maple Leafs reporter goes off on the team & Auston Matthews
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is someone who has struggled at times this season, and Steve Simmons believes it is all because of one simple reason.
In 22 games this season, Auston Matthews has 11 goals, eight assists, and 19 points, which is nowhere near the pace you expect for the captain.
Under head coach Craig Berube, Matthews has struggled to get his offense going. While he is better defensively, the offensive effort just hasn't been what it used to be.
This is especially true on the power play, where Matthews has just one goal this season. For a guy who used to score loads of goals on the man advantage, this is just pitiful.
If you have been paying attention, you would know that Matthews has been the quarterback of the power play, which has not worked in his favor.
Thankfully, going into last night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, they finally changed that, and ended up putting Matthews on the flank.
Steve Simmons calls out Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs
However, that has not stopped Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons from weighing in on the Auston Matthews situation.
In fact, while speaking to Leafs Morning Take, Simmons argued that the way the Leafs are handling their captain right now is a complete disgrace to hockey.
We've seen in our lifetime, what I would say are 4 or 5 absolute elite goal scorers, and Auston Matthews is one of those guys. What in [God's name] he's doing at the point of the power play is a disgrace to hockey. We're talking about a top-3 shooter in the NHL and he's not in position, he has one power play goal.
Thankfully for the Leafs, they are playing a lot better right now, and have even earned three straight wins, with a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes putting the Leafs within striking distance of a playoff spot.
Whether or not Matthews can start scoring goals at his previous clip is something that still very much remains to be seen.
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