Fans blast Auston Matthews for lacking personal responsibility in comment on Leafs' current form - "You have zero leadership qualities"

Fans on social media blasted Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews for his comments on the team’s recent run of results.

The Maple Leafs had been on a positive run heading into the matchup against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, but they were outplayed, resulting in a 6-3 thrashing at home.

When asked about his own performance and the team’s struggles in tight situations, Auston Matthews said something along the lines of:

"We can all be better, obviously… Rightfully so, it’s going to fall on the leaders, and that’s fine. We’ve got to be better in that area and make sure that in tight games we keep grinding and doing what made us successful in the first two periods."

One tweeted:

"What a joke. You have zero leadership qualities. ZERO!!!!"

Another chimed in:

"Pisses me off that our captain doesn’t get upset and it’s all about finding positives. Say you’re gonna do better and you expect more outta yourself and the others. All the big guys got their big money so they’re good."

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

"All people want for now is to hear him take accountability and say “I need to be better.” It’s so simple. You’d think he’d learn from Marner’s mistake. But nope," a third fan wrote. "Please trade him. Terrible captain," one disgruntled fan wrote. "Nothing about his game has been fine. Insane answer tbh. He’s having a catastrophic season, his worst since he entered the league. Calling it “fine” is insulting to the fans," another posted. "Everything's fine according to Auston Matthews. 23rd in the league is fine," another chimed in.

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube calls out Auston Matthews and leaders after loss to Oilers

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube expressed his frustration post-game, calling out the team's leaders for a lack of urgency and mindset in loss to the Oilers.

He said:

“I talked to the team after the game, our leaders got to take control of it a lot more than they are right now,” he said. “To me, it’s all a mindset. Whether you’re down a goal or up in the San Jose game, you just got to have more urgency and being more direct on how we want to play. We didn’t do it in the third period, two games in a row.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs are seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 14-12-5 record. They host the Chicago Blackhawks (13-13-6) at Scotiabank Arena next on Tuesday.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta