Mike Babcock shared his thoughts on whether Matthews will kill penalties this season

BarDown Staff

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Auston Matthews' ice time in the playoffs the last two seasons have been one of the main points of frustrations among those in Leafs nation whenever those postseason losses to the Bruins are brought up.

Not killing penalties certainly contributed to his ice time average being under 20 minutes per game against Boston, but this season he may be forced into that role with Nazem Kadri in Colorado. Monday, Mike Babcock was asked whether Matthews would start killing penalties, to which he responded with this answer:

Mike Babcock on whether Auston Matthews is going to start penalty killing: "I talked to him about that two years ago. His basic thought was, I never done it, and I don’t plan on doing it."

With Kadri gone, Babcock said Tavares and Matthews will get lots of touches.
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) September 15, 2019

Not all of the NHL's best players kill penalties and on a team that was as deep as Toronto's last year, Matthews didn't need to expand his role. With Kadri gone, however, Matthews' role could expand to include being featured on the PK.

Don't want AM PKing. He already blocks more shots than almost any other forward in the game. Doesn't need to risk injury blocking more when a league min guy can do it.

If the Leafs are down by a goal late in the game. Sure send him out there like the Pens do with Sid & Geno.
— Miles Stockdale (@Biotk2) September 15, 2019

I wouldn't use him or even Marner killing penalties. I don't want those guys blocking shots if I don't have to.. if we are down a goal then maybe otherwise I wouldn't use $11 million players to do that ? [🤔]
— Mike [🏒] #Leafs [💙] (@mikev527) September 15, 2019

If he’s not good at penalty killing way waste his time. Save him for 5v5 where he’s the best goalscorer in the league.
— Kaprizov Cult [🔰] (@YeetgorKorshkov) September 15, 2019

(H/T: Kristen Shilton)