Nick Foligno Gives Four Reasons Auston Matthews Should Be Respected

Nick Foligno is getting to know Auston Matthews both from the inside and from the outside. And, in an interview after Monday’s practice – ironically in preparation for the game in which he was hurt against the Montreal Canadiens, newcomer, veteran, and former captain for seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets chatted with the media about Matthews.

The first word from Foligno about Matthews is that he’s having fun watching Matthews ‘work.’ For Foligno, he’s come to appreciate being around elite players; and, that’s exactly what Matthews is – an elite NHL player.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Coach Keefe Seeks Tough Balance Between Rest & Ready

Foligno’s Time with the Maple Leafs

As it happened, Foligno’s first game with his new team coincided with Zach Hyman’s injury. So, while Hyman healed, Foligno filled his spot in the lineup. At the time of the interview, Foligno had played four games as a first-line partner with center Matthews and his regular winger Mitch Marner for the four games he had played with the Maple Leafs.

Four Reasons Why Matthews Deserves Everyone’s Respect

In summarizing Foligno’s discussion about Matthews, this is what he had to say about the young center. He outlined four reasons why Matthews deserves respect.

Reason One: Auston Matthews is a hard worker.

As Foligno notes, Matthews “works at it!” Then Foligno went on the say the the “players in this league – Austin being one of them – they’re working at their craft constantly.”

Moving back to Matthews, Foligno wrapped up his point by saying “You know when you watch him how he prepares for games and how he prepares for practice. The skill work that he does.”

Reason Two: Auston Matthews is a leader.

Foligno turned to the type of guy Matthews “is in the room.” Foligno described that Matthews “has this aura around him where you can tell that he expects greatness out of himself. It’s fun to be around people like that. It’s neat to watch.”

Foligno then admitted his age by noted that “as an older player, you appreciate guys who are good their craft. Auston takes it very seriously … (but) He also has a ton of fun. He’s a great guy.”

Reason Three: Auston Matthews has become a mature player.

Foligno then briefly recalled meeting Matthews “when he was an undrafted 18-year-old kid.” Now he gets “to see how he’s matured into a man – and a confident one in his abilities and who he is in this league.”

Reason Four: Auston Matthews won’t stop improving.

As Foligno notes, Matthews is “still learning.” He hasn’t stopped improving as a player and a leader.

About his time with the team, Foligno reports that it’s been really fun to be around Matthews again and “try to just gain that chemistry together.”

However, Foligno also gets to watch Matthews (from a distance) and he’s come to respect what “he’s done here in this league, and how he’s commanded this room.” [You get a sense of listening to Foligno on the video, that he’s watching Matthews assume a leadership role with the team on the ice AND in the dressing room.]

Watching the Video

In the video below, newest Maple Leafs’ player Foligno discusses what’s impressed him most about hanging around with Matthews, the work that Matthews puts in to be the elite player he is, and how much fun it’s been to watch Matthews command both the ice and the room.

The bottom line is that Foligno respects Matthews greatly and is happy to be playing with him with the Maple Leafs.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Joe Thornton on Auston Matthews: He Has Everything!