The departure of Mitch Marner, a key offensive leader with 102 points last season, has left a noticeable void in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup. In the wake of Marner’s exit, Auston Matthews has been spotlighted as a potential chief offensive force, yet his recent performance slump has drawn pointed criticism from former Maple Leafs enforcer Jay Rosehill.
Last season, Matthews produced an impressive 78 points, combining 33 goals with 45 assists, ranking just behind Marner and William Nylander on the team. However, as the season closed, Matthews’ effectiveness appeared to diminish, especially reflected in a noticeable decline in shooting accuracy and only three goals during the playoffs.
Analysis of Matthews’ Shooting Struggles and Playoff Performance
On a recent episode of the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast, Jay Rosehill, who played for Toronto between 2009 and 2012, shared his observations about Matthews’ current form. Rosehill emphasized Matthews’ importance to the team but voiced concerns about his recent shooting difficulties.
“Obviously, he’s the big dog on this roster. A lot of buzz about Marner and everything recently, but he’s gone quiet a little bit,”
Rosehill said, underscoring Matthews’ reduced impact compared to expectations. Reflecting on Matthews’ playoff performance, Rosehill added,
“When you’re thinking about this season, I just can’t help but think back to the end of the season and the playoffs.”
Rosehill specifically highlighted Matthews’ struggle to find the net:
“His shot wasn’t there. I wouldn’t normally say that about a player — his shot’s not there. What are you talking about?”
He noted a troubling statistic showing Matthews’ missed shots outpaced his successful attempts, stating,
“He was missing the net at a percentage higher than anyone else in the league. That’s a bit of a problem.”
Despite these critical observations, Rosehill remains interested to see how Matthews will perform moving forward.
“I’m really curious to see how he looks. How dynamic does he look?”
and added,
“As the season starts, I want to see if that guy’s healthy.”
Matthews’ health and ability to regain his prior form are seen as crucial.
Expectations for Matthews’ Recovery and Future Contributions
While Matthews’ recent numbers have dipped from his peak performance of 107 points two seasons ago, Rosehill believes the Toronto center has the capability to return to that elite scoring level, assuming he stays healthy. Matthews has already reached 100+ point seasons twice, demonstrating his potential to lead the Maple Leafs offensively in the current post-Marner lineup.
With the Maple Leafs seeking to fill the offensive gap left by Marner’s departure, Matthews’ ability to overcome his recent slump will be pivotal. The outcome of this challenge may well shape Toronto’s offensive prospects and their chances in upcoming playoff campaigns.