"Decline of Matthews": Auston Matthews’ body language and performance lead to speculation about a potential decline

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Mar 6, 2025, 11:26 IST

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Auston Matthews' recent performance for the Toronto Maple Leafs has sparked controversy among fans, with hosts from Sportsnet’s Leafs Talk and supporters questioning his body language and possible injury. Despite his status as captain, there’s speculation about his decline and impact on the team’s success, especially after a loss to the San Jose Sharks.

"Decline of Matthews": Auston Matthews’ body language and performance lead to speculation about a potential decline

Image via Paige Taylor White/CP

Auston Matthews, one of the most talented players in the NHL and the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been in the centre of controversy as fans believe he has not been able to perform well in this season. Recently, hosts of Sportsnet’s Leafs Talk, JD Bunkis and Sam McKee, discussed about Auston Matthews’ performance, and fans have certain opinions about it.

Auston Matthews’ “Poor” Performance Sparks Speculation Among Fans Regarding His “Decline”

In the recent episode of Sportsnet’s Leafs Talk, JD Bunkis says, “The big thing for me in this game…a big takeaway..there is just something about Matthews’ body language that’s not there for me this year”. His co-host, Sam McKee, seems to agree with this and says, “Yeah we talk about this a lot…I’m out of theories”.

JD Bunkis then does acknowledge how Auston Matthews is injured and that might play a big role in his “poor performance” this season but he also questions the reason for Auston Matthews to be playing if “he is that injured”.
JD Bunkis says, “...the aura is not the same” and it seems like fans agree with this opinion.
A fan wrote, “Body language is horrible. Showed up Nylander twice when he didn’t feed him on the PP. He’s barely bending his knees while skating and he’s just stick checking instead of taking the body. If this is what we’re gonna get come April, see you on the golf course May 8th.”

Another fan wrote, “Look at all the different guesses in this thread as to what’s wrong with him. Could it be that we are seeing the decline of Matthews and it’s happening faster than we imagined? I really hope it’s just an off year but my guess is it’s not. He’s definitely a shell of himself.”
A third fan wrote, “The only difference from this year to last year is him wearing the C. Is his attention being pulled in too many directions that he has no time to think about the game? Is he checked out because he scored 69 goals last year but fans still shit on him for the playoff outcome?”
Recently, the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a devastating loss against the San Jose Sharks and also against the Vegas Golden Knights. Auston Matthews has not addressed all the speculations around him and has maintained silence. Even at the 4 Nations Face Off, Matthews' team could not win so fans are a bit disappointed in him.
Many believe the star player wont be able to improve his performance anymore.
Also Read: Auston Matthews' words for J.T. Miller spark frustration among fans amid New York Rangers' loss and trade regrets

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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