Multi-sport crossovers are fun to imagine, aren’t they? Think Usain Bolt’s stint as a footballer. Now, while not every sportsman or woman will actually look to make these fantasies a reality, they are good for a little indulgence now and then. And with the Toronto Maple Leafs flying high this season, captain Auston Matthews found himself with a little time to do some indulging. Ahead of the upcoming mad dash to the playoffs, Matthews was involved in a lighthearted and casual interview.
During a practice session, he was doing an on-ice interview with Jonny Lazarus of Bleacher Report Open Ice where he was asked, “If you can add a non-hockey player to the Leafs for a night, who would it be?” Taking no time to reveal his pick, Matthews chose Tiger Woods over other renowned sporting superstars. Subsequently, the interviewer remarked that Woods was quite the popular choice for many.
And it’s true. In a similarly conducted 2023 interview with Lazarus, the one and only Sidney Crosby was asked the same question. His response? “I think I gotta go with Tiger Woods. Just been so dominant. His work ethic, just love his mindset.” In a sport like hockey where discipline is just as important as skill, it’s no wonder Woods, renowned for his dedication and drive, is a popular pick.
The Auston Matthews x @justinbieber karaoke collab is gonna go triple platinum
(w/ @JLazzy23) pic.twitter.com/SjGKg9oerl
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 15, 2025
But let’s not forget the skill component either. Lazarus chimed in, saying, “Put him on the point in the power play, let him rip it?” Crosby was indeed in agreement with this assessment. “He’s got the hands; I think he can work the half-wall maybe too, you know?” With the NHL record for the hardest shot standing at 106 mph recorded by Tage Thompson, it’s no wonder Woods’ arms would be an asset. After all, conceptually, the two sports operate on a similar level, and the golf phenom did use to hit the ball over 180 mph during his peak and 129 mph during his last comeback.
Meanwhile, Woods hasn’t shied away from expressing his love for hockey. In an interview once, he revealed, “I love the sport. I love watching it, but I don’t like watching it on TV. In person, it’s absolutely incredible, what they’re able to do and what they can do. TV doesn’t do justice to that. But then, a lot of sports are the same way.” Thus, it was no surprise that Matthews and even Crosby picked Woods in their team for a day.
Now onto league affairs. Even as the Leafs are playing well, Matthews has struggled on the ice for a major part of this season. Additionally, there are also reports circulating that Matthews is suffering from an injury. As a result, an expert shared some firm advice for the Leafs captain.
An NHL expert has a piece of advice for Auston Matthews
Over the course of this season, Matthews has managed just 23 goals and 33 assists, with a plus-minus of just +2. A marked decrease in production from past seasons. For instance, just last season, he had already scored 42 by this point. The fact that he has less than half of that number right now is a cause for concern considering how high his ceiling is.
Furthermore, there were also speculations that Matthews has been suffering from a hidden injury that is slowing him down this year. Even with the eye test, Matthews doesn’t look quite the dominant force he has been in the past. After all, it was only in January when the 27-year-old wondered if he would fully get past his (undisclosed) injury this season. And clearly his production numbers seem to support this hypothesis. Now amidst this, TSN host Bryan Hayes urged Matthews to consider his options ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He said, “For me, it’s very simple. If he’s injured, if he is hurt, then stop playing. Get out of the lineup and take care of yourself. You’ve got about five weeks to figure this out. If you’re going to play, like he has been, you better play better than this. It’s that simple.
Here’s a guy who’s the highest-paid player in the league, the captain of the team… he’s having the worst season of his career,” Hayes said. “He’s not seeking out contact. He looks uncomfortable when it comes to a tightly checked game. He’s not using his body a lot.”
Furthermore, Auston Matthews also missed today’s morning skate but is set to play against the Ottawa Senators tonight. Can Matthews shrug off his injury concerns and come back strong ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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