Auston Matthews on NHL 22, Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff bust and Justin Bieber’s posse
In this week’s studio, Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs center, looks at the future of the sport of hockey with 2K Sports’ NHL video game series. The 19-year-old talks about the NHL 2K franchise, how his team is playing, and the Justin Bieber’s posse.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had high hopes for the 2015-16 season, but their playoff predictions were shattered after a dreadful start to the campaign. They suffered through a six-game losing streak after losing 3-1 to the Florida Panthers in their season opener, and finished the year with the second worst record in the NHL.
When asked about his “X-Factor” in EA Sports’ new NHL 22 game, Auston Matthews remained tight-lipped.
“I’m going to take a wild guess and think I have a decent chance of winning. Perhaps some goal-scoring prowess, “added the Toronto Maple Leafs center, who for the first time in his five-year career led the NHL in goals last season.
Matthews is the cover athlete for NHL 22, marking the second time he has graced the front of an EA Sports box after appearing on the cover of NHL 20. It’s only fitting that a game aimed at distinguishing the league’s superstars from the rest of the pack features one of the league’s top young prospects, who has only 41 goals in 52 games.
“It’s an excellent cover, in my opinion. It’s not every day that you get to be on the cover of a video game. I consider myself to be very fortunate “He told ESPN about it. “I believe it will be a really enjoyable game.”
2 Related
EA Sports has transformed the league’s top players into something more than their ability ratings with NHL 22. It divided talents into two categories: “zone” and “superstar.” The “zone” skills are given to exceptional players who have game-changing talents; since they are so strong, only one is given to each qualified player. The “superstar” skills are less strong, and each participant in the game is given several of them. They vary from improved shooting and passing skills to the ability to sneak a puck past goalie screens.
NHL 22 producer Clement Kwong stated, “We’re attempting to re-create superstars in a manner that’s true to hockey.”
Matthews’ zone ability is called “Shock & Awe.” It seeks to mimic his exceptional power and accuracy when shooting out of a deke move, using his curl and drag shot. Much like in the real world, digital defenders will have to be more aware when Matthews is on the ice.
The same can be said about Leon Draisaitl’s video game doppelganger, who possesses the “Tape To Tape” zone ability, which allows him to make incredible passes inside his field of vision. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning possesses the “Contortionist” zone ability, which allows him to make “impossible” saves throughout the game.
“I see [Connor] McDavid gliding past everyone in this game with ease. That excites me, and I’m looking forward to seeing it “Matthews said.
We recently talked with the NHL 22 cover athlete about gaming on Nintendo and chess, another Maple Leafs playoff catastrophe, and whether he’s in Justin Bieber’s gang or the other way around.
ESPN: You’ve always been interested in finding new methods to expand the NHL’s fan base. Is one of these ways video games? Were you one of those men who got into soccer through playing FIFA, for example?
Matthews: Quite a bunch. I’ve always enjoyed playing video games on occasion. I’ve never considered myself a super-gamer, but I do like playing them. [EA Sports’] [EA Sports’] [EA Sports’] [ NHL is a game I’ve always loved and looked forward to receiving every Christmas. But every now and then, I’ll play a little FIFA, which gives you the itch to play the sport itself. However, I’m not sure whether the Leafs want me doing too much of it. [Laughs].
On the trip, I’ll carry my Nintendo Switch, as will a few of the other men. On the aircraft this year, I actually started playing chess. I’m attempting to learn a little bit about it. It appeals to me much. For some reason, I’ve been bitten by the chess bug this year.
ESPN: Did you binge-watch “Queen’s Gambit”?
Matthews: [laughs] That’s the reason. I’m now watching the program. It’s interesting how it works. So that’s how I got into it. You go through periods when you just want to play video games, and then you only want to play chess. I did a little amount of playing against the guys. We used to hang around a lot, and [former Leafs goalkeeper] Freddie Andersen and I used to play against each other a lot. I wouldn’t play [center Alex] Kerfoot because I’m aware that he attended Harvard and would undoubtedly defeat me.
• Free-agency tracker » • Free-agent grades »
• Draft recap: All 224 picks » • Winners, losers of the draft » • Expansion draft results » • Expansion takeaways » More NHL content »
ESPN: I’d want to inquire about your offseason. At UFC 264, were you in Justin Bieber’s entourage or was he in yours?
[Laughs] Matthews: Certainly, I was in his company. When he arrived to Phoenix, though, I’d have to say he was more in my. He came down, stayed with me, and visited my home. My friends and I were present. I’m speechless when it comes to him. He’s a straight-A student, and we had a great time together.ESPN: Where do you store the Rocket Richard Trophy after you win it for the first time, like you did last season?
Matthews: I’ll store it with my folks. They have a little area containing jerseys from all of the teams I’ve played on, as well as small trophies. They also have my sister’s golf equipment in there. I’ll give it to them and let them do whatever they want with it. It’s as though there’s something fresh in that room every time I walk over there.
All of my belongings used to be in my father’s office, but when I returned home one summer, my father had removed all of my belongings from his office and replaced them with his own. He loves to hunt, so he stuffed all of his hunting gear in there and set aside another room in the home for my belongings. That was something I let them do. It seems to have made them happy.
ESPN: Have you ever done a father-son bonding activity like going hunting?
Matthews: Yeah, I used to go a lot when I was younger. When I went out there, though, I did see a few of snakes. That was the end of it for me.
ESPN: That seems like an issue related to “growing up in Arizona.”
Matthews: Yes, it was.
For Matthews and the Leafs, postseason success remains elusive. Getty Images/Minas Panagiotakis
ESPN: For a second, let’s talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was another another unsatisfactory playoff outcome. The Montreal Canadiens, who knocked you out in seven games, made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. You lost John Tavares to a frightening injury during this series. Was it any easier to move over this one than prior defeats, considering the circumstances?
Matthews: In that way, it was certainly more difficult. It’s difficult… and clearly aggravating. It’s not looking good right now. People have views, and they have the right to express them, but I believe in the team, and I believe in all of the players on the squad, particularly the core group. I’m certain that we’ll be able to complete it. We’ll be stronger as a result of our losses and the challenges we encountered.
The only option is to go ahead. [The playoff defeat] was a disaster. There are no other words to describe it. It was a huge letdown. But when we finally make it to the top, it’ll feel even better.
ESPN: Kyle Dubas, your general manager, has echoed that view. He’s said that he’d “bet everything” that the Leafs’ core can find out how to win a Stanley Cup. What does it mean to you when your general manager says that?
Matthews: I don’t believe that is breaking news to us. That’s how we know he feels. When he says it again, it gives us hope for the future. All you can hope for is that your general manager and your whole team trust in each other.
ESPN: As a hockey player and a fashion icon, would you rather be on the cover of a sports video game or GQ?
Matthews: Oh, I’d love to be on the video game’s cover. I don’t read publications very often.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews are about to enter their third season together, but the team is only just beginning to realize the potential of their budding superstar. The first couple of years were mostly about proving to management just what they had gotten themselves into. The Leafs were a rebuilding team that needed their future captain to be an instant savior. Matthews had the talent, but he needed to take his game to the next level and prove he was a franchise player.. Read more about auston matthews and let us know what you think.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- auston matthews
- toronto maple leafs roster
- toronto maple leafs
- toronto leafs
- toronto maple leafs stats
