NHL analyst doesn't mince words about Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews' leadership skills after dismal playoff exit 

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is facing criticism after another playoff loss. The team lost Game 7 to the Florida Panthers in round 2 on Sunday, eliminating them from the playoffs. NHL analyst Nick Kypreos spoke on Sportsnet’s "Real Kyper and Bourne" questioning Matthews’ leadership.

Kypreos said Matthews might be a great goal scorer but not a strong leader. He compared Matthews to Evgeni Malkin from Pittsburgh, saying Malkin never had to lead alone.

"Maybe we're just — maybe he's just not the guy that everybody envisioned, Auston," Kypreos said. "Maybe he's just a really good goal scorer, but the rest of it, maybe not. Like, I'm watching this last night, and... See, for me, Auston Matthews is Malkin in Pittsburgh — is very talented."

Auston Matthews failed to score for the Leafs in the elimination game and finished with minus 2 rating in Game 7, which ended in a 6-1 loss. He took only two shots and played 17 minutes and 27 seconds.

"Can show that he can play the game as well as anybody," Kypreos said. "Has the talent to be the best player on the ice. But Malkin’s nothing if there's no 87. Matthews needs a Crosby. He needs something. He can't do it being the number one guy.

"But he (Matthews) can't lead. He's not a leader," he added.

The Maple Leafs seemed to be breaking their playoff struggles after beating Ottawa Senators in the first round. They also started well against Florida with a 2-0 lead. But they lost four of the next five games. Two of those losses were 6-1 defeats at home in Games 5 and 7.

Auston Matthews' comments after playoff exit in Game 7 loss

Auston Matthews, in his first year as Maple Leafs captain, said postgame the team was not on the same page.

"I don't know how it really got away from us. I think just not on the same page in different areas of the game," Matthews said via NHL.com. "I thought the first 10 minutes they came out strong, and the next 10 minutes I thought we controlled play, and then I just thought we had too many passengers throughout the rest of the game.”

Matthews has scored 11 points in 13 playoff games this season, with three goals and eight assists. His performances were up and down, with a few games where he had no points, scoring only once in the second-round series against Florida.

Even with talented players like Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares, the Leafs are 0-6 in Game 7s with this group. The Maple Leafs have now not reached the Eastern Conference Finals in nearly 20 years.