Anthony Matthews

Anthony Matthews Toronto +4

1. The draft lottery results were just released and Toronto drafts fifth. It's a pretty high native pick, are you excited that your team gets a good pick and made the playoffs? It's a happy coincidence, but I didn't get into hockey to be happy to have a high draft pick and make the playoffs...I came to win. 2. How are you enjoying the off season so far? You mean retirement? I'm just sitting back and looking at what my next steps will be (not in character - I haven't really been online much in the last week or so, so I haven't looked into recreating or whatnot) 3. What are you doing to prepare for next season? Nothing. 4. Expansion draft could hurt the Toronto Legion -- among other teams -- so which team do you think expansion will hurt the most? Don't know, don't care. All I know is that I don't have to worry about playing on a team that shouldn't be competing for the cup. 5. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi 6. Burrito or Taco? Neither. Not a huge fan of either one, nor do I eat them enough to have a preference.

Here's our standings for whenever it is sorted out. I'm DirtierPlatypus

What is going on with this?

If these are completed after the season, do I save claiming the points for when I recreate?

1. So those last eleven games before the victory... what do you think went wrong? Backup games. Plain and simple.2. Would you say it was poetic we won against the team chasing us to end the free fall? It just goes to show who the better team is when it's crunch time.3. Do you think we remain in a playoff position with our lead over Vancouver just a single point now? Yes we will. HHH loves to disappear when his team needs him. Playoffs, hunt for a playoff spot...it's his MO4. How disappointed are you in TOR G? 2-8-0 in his ten games he gets credit for... Very. You are a professional goalie. You get paid to stop more pucks than the other team's goalie does. It very nearly cost us a playoff spot. It's not that we are a bad team, he's just very bad at stopping the puck.5. Do you think we go on a winning streak now after gaining some confidence against Vancouver? Yes. but not because we are gaining confidence, because we are doing what needs to be done.6. If we make the playoffs (we will!) how do you think Toronto fares against Calgary? It'll be a back and forth series...they will win two, we will win two, then we'll finish them off in games 5 and 6.

anthony matthews toronto +4

1. Toronto is currently sitting in the final playoff spot. Vancouver trails behind the Legion -- and even after selling most of their core -- they still have a decent lineup. Do you think Toronto will remain in a playoff position, or do you think there is a slight chance of Vancouver catching them with twenty games left? Vancouver doesn't stand a chance. They moved an important piece of any playoff run at the draft this past off-season. 2. TOR G still needs to start four more games for the Legion -- how do you think that'll impact the position we're in? He'll need to stand on his head. We are used to playing with Stud in net for us. Those are some big skates to fill. We have to buckle down on defense and light the arena up to make sure we can allow TOR G (Stud wannabe) a chance to win something.3. Toronto sits seven out of twelve in offense, and despite a negative goal differential, we still have more wins than losses. What do you think has contributed in this somewhat intriguing stat? It means we don't believe in blowing out the opposition. We care about their feelings, not like some teams. So we make sure we keep the games close. When we lose, the opposition isn't as kind. The players are just out for themselves, trying to score as many points as they can. It's not about scoring points, it's about winning. And last time i checked a 2-1 win worth as many points as a 10-2 win.4. In a similar light, Toronto's forward-to-defense core sits sixth best in the league in goals against. What are your thoughts on that? It just means we know what we need to do to get the job done. We don't run a flashy system here, we are in it for the team, not independent glory *cough HHH cough*5. Jaxx Hextall Stud is keeping up with his competition despite facing nearly two hundred more shots than some of the leading goalies. He's been a key piece in Toronto's current successes, so do you think he has a shot at winning an individual award? You bet your arse he does. The general public are all about fancy numbers (goals, assists, shutouts) and not the grinding numbers (shots blocked, shots saved, hits, FO percentage). We need to change that mindset to show that we can have a good player who focuses on something other than scoring goals.6. GM Rylan Peace didn't make any moves at the trade deadline, and it was actually extremely quiet. Did you expect that, or did you expect more splashes? You can't stray from your plan. Going in he didn't believe in us. We showed him we could compete. He furthered his belief by thinking we weren't 'there' yet by not going out and getting that piece or two that could push us over the top.

Anthony Matthews Toronto +4

Anthony matthews Toronto +4

After flying to the top of the league last week, the Legion have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games and sit at 13-9-2. How has the team handled the up and down start to the season so far? These things happen, what we need to take away from this is that when the puck wasn't going our way, we managed to put up a .500 record. While the team-defense has been the focus of the off-season, Goalie Jaxx Hextall has continued to be a shining light for the team. His .930 save percentage is 2nd in the country, despite nearly leading the league in shot attempts against. How does the team feel about how he's playing right now? That Hextall, he's so hot right now Newcomers Teemu Lehtinen Jr. and Anthony Matthews are on pace for career years. How has their play shaped the team on offense, thus far? By grinding it out, and showing that you are never too old to have a career year. Plus it makes you think what would have happened if other GMs had given them a chance earlier...instead of burying them on the 2nd line. Chad Magnum is also having his best start to a season after being selected as team captain. How would you describe Magnum's leadership? I have always walked to the beat of my own drum. I may not wear the "C", but I act like it...Maggie's been a great counterpart for when I got nothing. Erik Killinger and the Gutzwiler twins all three made the switch to defense this season and the team has seen an improvement. What can you say about their progression so far? They are Killing it and playing their Gutz out. Before the season, Toronto had modest expectations for S72. How has the start of the year changed the mindset around the year, if any? I'd like to say I walked in and turned the radio up, but that is a lame reason to be seen as a leader. My mindset was always to win, so for me it's never changed. We have just made a our lovely GMs job a little bit harder.

Anthony Matthews Toronto +4

Anthony Matthews +4 Toronto

The Legion have started the season 3-4-0. How do you feel about the start of the season? For me it was a bit of a feeling out part. Being new in town, I needed to see who needed my guidance and needed a push to perform better. There was only a few minor tweaks needed (they won't even notice I was pushing them), but it seems to have turned things around now (7-4-1) What do you believe will be the team's strength this season? The will and determination to win. To show that we can beat the #1 goalies and not just the backup everyone 'has' to play. What do you believe will be the team's weakness this season? Trading for HHH. What are your goals for this season? To win the cup. The team just announced it's captains last week. What are your thoughts in the picks? Should have been me...but I guess I don't go around fluffing all the boys before games, so I didn't get votes. I'll just do what I do every other stop in my career, lead by example...and stitch my own 'C' on my jersey somewhere. There are a lot of new faces in the locker room. How has that experience been so far? I am one of the new faces. There is a real 'Major League' vibe here... I don't know if it was the GM wanting to sell the team or threatening to trade anyone to Davos...but it seems to work and the team just wants to win. To show they can compete and no one should write them off.