Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews has become a better player despite team struggles

Maybe more was expected from Auston Matthews before the season started, but the forward has managed to evolve into a more complete player with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This change has reduced his offensive volume but reinforced Toronto's competitive identity. He went from pure scorer to a two-way center with responsibility in all three zones, which comes in a tough context for the Maple Leafs and after a string of injuries for Matthews. His impact could be more valuable in the spring than on the November box score.

Under former Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, Matthews reached his peak as a scorer. He posted two 60-goal seasons, a Hart Trophy and three Rocket Richards. His offensive freedom was total; he averaged nearly five shots per game and dominated in the offensive zone at an elite percentile.

Auston Matthews evolved into a more complete forward as scoring declined

Now Craig Berube asks him to win board battles, sustain the forecheck and take matchups against rival top lines. The experiment, on the one hand, would seem not to have gone well because his shots per game have dropped, and he no longer generates such an evident impact in the offensive zone. In October, Matthews registered 46 shots in 11 games, which is 4.18 per game. In contrast, in November, he registered 19 shots in 6 games, which is 3.17 per game.

Berube understood that with so many changes in the squad and after the departure of Mitch Marner, he had to bet on a new leader. That is why this change does not come out of nowhere. 

Toronto needed a more mature version of Matthews, who could withstand difficult and high-pressure games. The result is a more complete forward who prioritizes his structure, physicality and responsibility without the puck.

Berube was already saying in October that he saw Matthews in good form not only in scoring, but in all aspects. 

"Yeah, a lot of what we saw last year. I think he's been pretty solid... I look at the whole game, but he is scoring. He's healthy, feels good. He's been a good player in all aspects of the game for me," Berube said, via The Hockey News.