Auston Matthews' Response to the Media After a Big Loss Highlights His Growing Leadership
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped another winnable game on Thursday, but after the defeat, Auston Matthews took the blame upon himself in surprising fashion.
Through eight games this season, Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs sit at 4-4-0, and after their second straight defeat by four goals, frustrations could begin to boil over. During their Thursday night loss to the St. Louis Blues, Head Coach Craig Berube showed plenty of frustration, as he unleashed on Matthews following a lazy giveaway that defined how poor their entire night was.
Even without that play, the overall play on the ice from Toronto was dreadful. Still, after the game, Matthews showed his growth in leadership since being named captain, accepting responsibility for how the team played.
A year ago, it wouldn't be the responsibility of Matthews to take the fall for a poor performance, but in 2024/25 he is happily stepping in front of the criticism for his team. While he hasn't been at his best this season, he's far from the only reason this Maple Leafs team has lost three of their past four games, including two straight on home ice.
For most people, scoring three goals and having five points through eight games is nothing to worry about, but given that Matthews has averaged 46 goals per game in his career, including 60+ in two of his last three years, this could be concerning.
One other veteran that has struggled is Morgan Rielly, who has posted a -3 in all eight games played this season, and with several defensemen stepping up around him, questions are now being asked about Rielly's cold start to the year.
The play on the ice got so bad at one point that the annual tradition of a Maple Leafs fan throwing a jersey onto the ice came to fruition once more, showing that even at .500 with a 4-4-0 record, they are the toughest fans in the NHL to please.
Sure, a 5-1 defeat to St. Louis just days after falling 6-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets is a cause for concern, but one positive to take away from this is the way that Matthews has developed as a leader, and the early season is the best way to deal with any pressure. Fans would like his play to improve on the ice so he doesn't need to do this, it's a step forward for the team's new captain as he figures out how he's going to lead this team in the regular season, and beyond.
