TORONTO – Hockey insiders are starting to raise alarm bells about Auston Matthews inability to put up assists early in the 2023-2024 NHL season.
“Yeah yeah it’s early, but 0 assists in two games when your team scored a combined 12 goals is brutal!” said TSN director of scouting Craig Button. “So much for Matthews having a bounce back year.”
“Until Matthews proves he can pass to a guy who passes to a guy who eventually scores a goal he’ll never be in the same league as McDavid or Draisaitl,” Button added.
Matthews downplayed any concern during his media availability, noting that if he just stuck to his game he was sure to eventually break the goose egg.
“I just need to be patient. Maybe tonight a single one of my shots will be stopped for a change and Marner can tap in the rebound.”
Still that hasn’t stopped nervous Leafs fans from speculating that signing Matthews to a lucrative contract extension was a mistake, and has limited the team’s ability to sign gritty third liners who score as many as 30 assists a season.
At press time Sens fans were still claiming they’d rather have Stutzle.
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