@@Toronto Maple Leafs

[Alter] Sheldon Keefe on Auston Matthews getting his 69th goal and the reaction every time he touched the puck: Yeah, I mean, obviously, that’s a major distraction. It doesn’t help us, what we’re trying to accomplish on the ice. But it’s exciting. I get it. And it’s– especially when he gets to 69

  • April 14, 2024


[Alter] Sheldon Keefe on Auston Matthews getting his 69th goal and the reaction every time he touched the puck: Yeah, I mean, obviously, that’s a major distraction. It doesn’t help us, what we’re trying to accomplish on the ice. But it’s exciting. I get it. And it’s– especially when he gets to 69

12 comments

  1. Full quote that didn’t fit in the title

    >Yeah, I mean, obviously, that’s a major distraction. It doesn’t help us, what we’re trying to accomplish on the ice. But it’s exciting. I get it. And it’s– especially when he gets to 69, you can see it. It’s really– it’s growing, anticipating. And now you’re feeding it. I’m feeding it. I want it to happen. But I wanted it for the fans. But I’m glad the game’s over. Let’s move on.”

  2. Tough spot for Keefe.

    Should always be playing to win but people want 70.

    These last games truly don’t matter but you want the right attitude and momentum going into playoffs. Would the team really be happy if Matthews pots 70 but loses 10-1?

    Tough calls all around.

  6. Rough spot for Keefe. If Auston pots 70 but the leafs lose in R1 he’s probably cooked as HC. If Auston plays and gets injured he’s probably cooked. But 70 means a tonne to Auston. If Auston sits and then has a rough playoffs there will be questions on if Keefe created a riff by sitting his superstar in games that were extremely meaningful to him.

    Keefe stands to take blame however things go wrong but get no credit of anything short of a deep playoff run. I don’t envy him. Plus if you play Matty you need to play other guys to give him a good shot at potting one. Matthews probably can score with the marlies but why play him if you don’t go all in on getting him 70? Which probably means playing all of PP1 plus Domi and Bert.

  9. It’s a huge distraction. You can tell the team is torn between trying to score and feeding Auston for 70. It’s why the last two games the goals came out of nowhere

  10. Let him dress for the last two games and only stick him out there on the PP. Easy

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