What the Leafs Learned Without Matthews | JD Bunkis Podcast

[@stevenp3957]

Marner is getting hot right when the contract is coming up. 😂

[@MosquitoMurderer]

Don't worry he will take an ice bath during playoffs

[@papahenry744]

Yall acting like this guy hasnt been hurt before or sat out a game....😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@davearmstrong137]

One thing i noticed last night when nick shot the puck and Willy was going g to the net. He hit the post then he kept looking at Willy to see if he was mad that he didn’t pass.

[@oliverquach9614]

The fact AHL guys like Minten already have more points than Robo can’t feel good either. If Alex outplays him I can see them putting him on waivers or trading him.

[@chrisdohaney545]

Now Matthews isn't a consistent player? Lol wtf? Come on JD...

[@darrenmacniel5481]

minton is Jacked too

[@rozzer6501]

Dude is bigger than marner and he’s only 20 years old 😂

[@biglemoncoke4095]

I realize that I missed that time when Kris said "We hit taco bell before the game"

[@dagger4442]

There are many undersized players who made the NHL and are in HOF. As far as Robertson goes its more team chemistry. Guy looks like he's lost confidence abit. If he gets traded to a non playoff team he prob will get more ice time and feel more part of the team..maybe score you 20-25 goals. In my opinion Leafs have too many guys who are prima dona. Teams with too many star players usually don't succeed. MLSE always wants to oversell the players. Leafs have depth and some good players but not like a Mackinnon or Makar type. Kucherov. Many guys ranked higher then the players on the leafs. I will say though Nylander is under ranked. I think he's the best player on the leafs. The guy always seems to score at the right time for the team. Yes Matthews scored 69 but I want to see him producing his own goals more and driving the net. I have noticed him more this year doing that before his injury.

[@PaulaBruce-n9v]

Marner is the best leaf hands down. Willy is a great goal scorer same as Mathews. Mitch makes both of them better.

[@johnsummerhill8323]

There are no players who I would say are prima donnas. They all work hard and I have never heard any of them telling people how good they consider themselves to be.

[@jordanrobinson-t5o]

@@PaulaBruce-n9v willy needs no one to make him better thats the difference hes a solo act mitch needs players to play with cause hes a smarter player that uses his linemates properly

[@PaulaBruce-n9v]

@@jordanrobinson-t5o if you think so

[@ryanlarsen5965]

Why do we care about a 3rd line winger who thinks he’s better than he actually is? Honestly… he’s a mid tier player who’ll end up signing a contract somewhere else that ends up hamstringing a team. He’s not quick, he’s a terrible skater, and his scoring touch is dubious at best. There’s a reason he hasn’t been traded yet… NO ONE WANTS HIM

[@PaulaBruce-n9v]

Mitch has always been the glue and the guy who has helped Austin thrive. Mitch is an Adam Oates type of guy and Austin is a Brett Hull. Austin needs Mitch were Mitch can make anyone he plays with look great. Not trying to take anything away from Mathew’s, he is a goal scoring machine. Just saying Mitch is the drink stirring guy on any line he plays on.

[@rozzer6501]

Auston does not need Mitch. He just needs a playmaker. We saw how good the Domi-Matthews-Bertuzzi line was.

[@PaulaBruce-n9v]

@ you are insane to compare those guys to Mitch but w/e

[@MosquitoMurderer]

You're honestly an idiot and out of touch. Matthews played his best hockey last year without Marner. Stop playing into the hype

[@rozzer6501]

@ I don’t get how’s it’s insane when we had a late sample size last season. The team is better when Marner, Willy and Auston are on separate lines

[@peacebringer8]

Matthews does not need Marner though. Maybe at the start of his career, but he has seen success with multiple different linemates. Domi, Nylander, etc. It's the first line, you're supposed to have high end talent there. Just doesn't need to be Mitchy, although he's playing insane in this contract year.

[@MutedKills]

I don’t think nick is “too small” there have been smaller with more success. I think he just needs to ease up on himself and get into his flow. He’s putting too much pressure on himself and I think that goes back to the negotiations. He should have added security in term to his contract, but instead he fought tooth and nail for as much as he could get and in the end, he didn’t get that much and only for one year, which puts an amount of pressure on yourself. I think he shot himself in the foot with those negotiations and you’re seeing it on the ice, this kid has potential for sure. 30+ goal potential. He just needs to start playing his game.

[@o0TwistedByDesign0o]

I disagree. Robertson is too tiny. This is the big league. In fact, he’s in one of the top 3 teams; if not the very top one in this league. Perhaps you’re right. Maybe he simply needs to play bigger. He’s already had a few years to do so, and he’s unfortunately hasn’t. With all due respect to Nick and his efforts for the past few seasons, Tre should indeed move on from him. The only thing that’s beneficial for keeping him around is his cap hit. I know it seems far out cuz of his stellar shot, but perhaps Berube can find another role for him. If not, however, Robertson needs to go.

[@MutedKills]

@@o0TwistedByDesign0o I also disagree but see your view for sure. I’d just preach patience with a player like this at that age. I personally think he has more to offer, and his work ethic and drive is what I like about him most. He’s hard on the back check, he’s relentless on pucks, he killed penalties for the peats, marlies, and keefe. He has good playmaking ability and vision. I haven’t even mentioned his shot which I believe is being under utilized right now by the team due to the lack of quality line mates, the 2nd pp unit hasn’t got a fair shake for years let alone real structure it feels like. Also he’s been stapled to Holmberg for a majority of his shifts and personally I think Holmberg is killing his offensive production. Now he has some opportunities with other players I think it might bounce his way. But we’ll see. He’s definitely the new whipping boy for now so there’s always a road where the pressure drives him out of Toronto.

[@o0TwistedByDesign0o]

@@MutedKills, see his ping off the iron last game? Geeeez eh lol This kid can’t even buy one 😂 I know, I know: They’ll enevitably go in for him, but as the Buds’ current scapegoat……

[@neoyokvio]

Matthews needs to be with Domi, last season they were cooking together

[@johnsummerhill8323]

They did for a bit then it stopped working.

[@ryanlarsen5965]

Hard disagree. Knies And Nylander would be his best linemates.

[@neoyokvio]

@@ryanlarsen5965 i agree with this as well if they don’t put him with domi and knies

[@Taylod1]

He's tradable

[@willgren1504]

The team doesn't need #34 to win 😂

[@Hjkkgg6788]

Leafs arent that good there good but in the playoffs not really matthews really helps there team they would want to sign him

[@FlightdeckJohnny]

Put him somewhere he does not slow down the intensity and speed. Leg practice maybe

[@kevin-ze7zd]

Mathews shouldn't get full ice time in his first couple of games. Ease him back in on a third line

[@kevin-ze7zd]

Play him with Lawrence and Dewar until Domi returns.

[@kevin-ze7zd]

If they're winning they can de-emphasize his return.

[@lgc_opc959]

Macklin > Bedard!!

[@JohnjrF]

They need to trade mathews

[@o0TwistedByDesign0o]

@JohnjrF: Please explain/justify this bold statement. Floor’s all yours……,

[@lmpoole4934]

I agree with John!

[@austinfrykas6696]

when did we start picking team Canada rosters off of projected talent. Bedard has done nothing to prove he deserves to be on this team. Love you JD but and L take on this one. Way too many Canadian forwards playing their ways into the spot that are mature role players. I like the kid alot, from my neck of the woods but Bedard should not be admitted on merit ( what little merit at this point) alone.

[@5fingershufflegaming]

marner has been more consistent?? marner has had a good 2 weeks after a year and a half of a struggle for him.... cmon, are you new?

[@rickyrichards1294]

He literally got the point streak record last year.. he a regular season merchant.

[@o0TwistedByDesign0o]

@5finger: DUMB comment 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@MichaelB1979]

Too small? Has nothing to do with it man. This host has said a few things that are a bit odd. I can't listen to this dude

[@MosquitoMurderer]

JD sounds like AI - tries so hard to speak quickly and clearly. It's robotic