"There's a lot of things that impressed me about him, but I was most impressed with his team-first attitude and the fact that he plays a 200-foot game," Lambert said. "I think he unfairly doesn't get considered in certain defensive categories or defensive awards in the National Hockey League. I just think that, as we go forward here, he's going to get more and more recognition. Very responsible."
"The reality is, when you play in a market like Toronto, where you've got a well-populated fanbase mixed with a lack of success in half a century, the microscope is always going to zoom in a little further."
"While the heat is turned up higher than ever on Matthews right now, who has missed time with injuries and has produced well below his average clip when he's been healthy, it's important to remember that what we see on TV only takes us so far."
Auston Matthews faces intensified scrutiny in Toronto due to a large fanbase and the Maple Leafs' long history without recent playoff success. Matthews is the highest-paid player and now the team captain, which amplifies attention on his negatives after early postseason exits. He has missed time with injuries and has produced below his usual scoring pace when healthy. Former assistant coach Lane Lambert praised Matthews' team-first attitude and comprehensive 200-foot game and argued that Matthews is underappreciated in defensive categories and awards. Greater recognition for his defensive responsibility is expected, and televised impressions do not capture his full impact.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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