Auston Matthews faces nonstop Olympics heat, and the “captain material” debate won’t quit
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Jonathan Ouimet
Feb 16, 2026 (8:25)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Auston Matthews, Team USA, and Olympic hockey pressure just hit a problem, the noise is loud, unfair, and it follows him like Maple Leafs baggage.
Matthews travelled more than 6,600 km from Toronto to Milan to represent the United States.
One week into the tournament, he still can’t escape the same old storyline.
Before the Olympics even began, one American reporter said Matthews lacks the “big game gene.”
After two games, a Boston writer said it is “painfully obvious” that the Maple Leafs captain is not captain material.
And when the U.S. had to claw back in a 6-3 win over Denmark, the noise shifted again, not toward the opponent, but toward the captaincy.
A Chicago writer went as far as to argue Brady Tkachuk should be wearing the “C,” calling him America’s clear on-ice leader.
That’s a brutal charge when the sample size is tiny and the stakes are gold-or-bust.
Team USA beat Latvia 5-1, but it wasn’t clean enough to calm the critics.
A win like that should be a relief, yet it became more fuel.
Then Sunday arrived, and Matthews flipped the script.
He scored twice and added an assist in a 5-1 win over Germany, and suddenly the hometown haters had nothing to say.
At least for the moment.
Auston Matthews carries Team USA’s heaviest expectations
You can feel the fan mood turning into a weird mix of pride and anxiety, because everyone knows one quiet night will bring the knives back out.
Jake Guentzel said it straight: “You guys put a lot of heat on him for no reason.”
Matthew Tkachuk backed it up with captain talk, not fluff. “He was awesome, he’s our captain, we’re following his lead,” said the Florida Panthers winger.
The heat exists for a reason, though, because Matthews is viewed as the best American player the sport has produced.
That label comes with a demand, not a compliment.
If the U.S. wants gold, Matthews has to score, defend, and change games, not just float through highlight reels.
It’s a lot to ask in a short tournament where one mistake becomes a headline.
Still, after going 3-0 in the round robin, Matthews leads all American scorers with three goals and five points.
Despite the chatter, he’s giving real reasons why he’s wearing the “C.”
The next stage will decide everything, because knockout hockey doesn’t care about pre-tournament takes.
If Team USA falls short, the blame will land on Matthews first, fair or not, and that’s exactly why his response against Germany mattered.
Also read on Sunrise Hockey Insider :
Brad Marchand’s Olympic gold bonus highlights Team Canada’s real motivation
Brad Marchand’s Olympic gold bonus highlights Team Canada’s real motivation
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 16|45 ANSWERS Auston Matthews faces nonstop Olympics heat, and the “captain material” debate won’t quit Is the criticism of Auston Matthews at the Olympics unfair? | ||
| Yes | 20 | 44.4 % |
| No | 25 | 55.6 % |
| List of polls | ||