Avsblitzkrieg
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I don't aggree. Matthews might be good but there has been some really good players selected over the last ten years
World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team North America (Part II)
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I don't aggree. Matthews might be good but there has been some really good players selected over the last ten years
In hindsight, sure there are great players who are better than what Matthews realistically projects to be.
But at the time of drafting the only player that is close to Matthews level as a prospect was Tavares. Obviously McDavid is ahead. You can make an argument that if Eichel was not in McDavid's year he would be in competition with Matthews but Matthews has outscored Eichel at every comparable level so it's unlikely that Eichel would go ahead of him if they were the same age in their draft year.
When using hindsight you can easily say "Oh, I'd take Karlsson ahead of Matthews!" like yeah, obviously, but Karlsson was not near the level of prospect Matthews was at the time of their respective drafts.
Edit: also it's "there have been" not "there has been" fyi.
Sky04
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- Jan 8, 2009
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Tavares was easily a better prospect, not even close....but outside of him and Tavares, as a prospect Matthews probably ranks 3rd or 4th.
AS A PROSPECT, I know it's a hard concept to understand but as a prospect (meaning before the guy is 25 and we know what he is like how we know what Toews is now), Matthews is a far better prospect than Toews was. Which is why Toews went 4th overall in an only okay draft year and Matthews went first overall in a fantastic draft year.
As for his closest comparable if he ends up living up to his potential I'd say Matthews is most similar in playing style as Malkin so far, imo.
Obviously, with knowing what Toews has become, if you gave me the option to trade Matthews for a 19 year old Toews right now I would do it, because potential is just potential. Matthews potential right now is most similar to Malkin / Tavares / Stamkos when they were drafted. He would however have been taken ahead of the aforementioned three if all of them were eligible in the same year as 18 year olds.
And if I get one response to this from someone saying "SO YOU MEAN MATTHEWS IS BETTER THAN TAVARES?! haha IDIOT" i'm going to never visit this site again. use your ****ing intelligence please, I know you have it somewhere, that's obviously not what i'm saying.
Sky04
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To be honest, I don't even think he's playing at his best yet, with Drouin and Nuge, Mackinnon is the finisher on that line and he could easily have 2-3 more goals if he capitalized on some golden chances, still think all 3 of them have yet to hit their groove yet, that line is ridiculously fun to watch.
Tavares was not a better prospect than Matthews. They are very similar in terms of potential as an 18 year old.
If you are ever on reddit hockey you know that I am literally the last person to hype people because of who I am a fan of.
Then again the reason why I spend way more time on reddit than HFBoards is ******** fanboys can be downvoted and you actually get realistic and more unbiased conversation about things like this.
Sens of Anarchy
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- Jul 9, 2013
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Team NA has a lot of goof players to talk about.
This thread does not need to deteriorate into a pissing contest centered around Matthews
This thread does not need to deteriorate into a pissing contest centered around Matthews
Its all kewl. Im just trying to get some opinions on Matthews in relation to past first over alls. So far Mathews is looking to be a type 3 generational player from the reaction Ive gotten so far. Not a type 1 which would be a Lemieux/Gretzky type player and not a type 2 which would be a Crosby/Ovechkin type. Still type 3 is more than most can hope to get.
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Have they mentioned who is sitting in the next game on Wednesday vs the Czechs? I really think Parayko needs to be in the lineup as he's just too darn good to sit, but I'd like to see Trouba there as well, perhaps on the left side.
The team has a lot of guys on defense capable of jumping up in the play, and Trouba is no stranger to that, but he plays a very steady and physical game too which is something the other defenders don't necessarily all bring. I think they'll need him against the tournaments top teams. I don't think the defense on this team need to be all that active either on the rush with how speedy the forwards are. Good break out passes will be more important than jumping up in the play.
The team has a lot of guys on defense capable of jumping up in the play, and Trouba is no stranger to that, but he plays a very steady and physical game too which is something the other defenders don't necessarily all bring. I think they'll need him against the tournaments top teams. I don't think the defense on this team need to be all that active either on the rush with how speedy the forwards are. Good break out passes will be more important than jumping up in the play.
So far Mathews is looking to be a type 3 generational player from the reaction Ive gotten so far. Not a type 1 which would be a Lemieux/Gretzky type player and not a type 2 which would be a Crosby/Ovechkin type. Still type 3 is more than most can hope to get.
Type 2 and 3 generational? Where do people get this stuff?
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
Albus Dumbledore
Master of Death
- Mar 28, 2015
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Sakic did, and matthews shot is near that level
But seriously too much matthews talk...ughh
Everyone's generational. Just have to classify by Type.
Let's go with Roman numerals to give it some flair. John Scott, Type CCC.
Ok so does anyone think trouba should get a shot in terms next game? I think they should put him in with ekblad and take out Reilly a game. I honestly think he played pretty bad last game and Trouba was great in his showing. They could take out ghost but he brings the speed and dangerous scoring this team oozes I think testing out trouba for Reilly just makes the most sense for a game to test out.
Dbrownss
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- Jan 5, 2014
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Cursed Lemon
Registered Bruiser
How was this team ever underrated, imo they are up against the US and Sweden for a spot in the final.
1.Canada
--------
2.Sweden
3.USA
4.NA
5.Russia
6.Finland
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7.Europe
8.Czechs
1.Canada
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2.Sweden
3.USA
4.NA
5.Russia
6.Finland
--------
7.Europe
8.Czechs
- Apr 27, 2005
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Some people are just stuck in a very old way of thinking, and moving away from that is uncomfortable.
Anyone with half a brain and at least one functioning eyeball knew this team would not be a pushover.
Fourier
Registered User
You do realise that Gretzky had 92 goals and 212 points playing with a group of kids that a year before no one even knew. He also had 137 points as an 18 year old playing with BJ MacDonald and Brett Callighen. But the bottom line is that with the outside possibility of McDavid none of the players on this team are in the same stratosphere as either Lemieux or Gretzky.
well, some people (not me) questioned their motivation, they highly doubted a team of americans and canadian could come together as a team and play motivated and with their best. They were wrong. Obviously and it's been nonsense for me everytime I hear that. They are flying out there like if it was Stanley Cup finals. think even Team Europe is gonna susprise, and I think the surprise may come as soon as their next game against Sweden. Not saying they will win, but they're gonna be one tough opponent. People need to realize that Europe has players from 7 or 8 countries, whereas Team NA has players from US and Canada, coutries that player very similar system and style of game. Europe needs a bit time to get going. Nothing would give me as much pleasure as watching those HF experts be in shock if Europe actually beat Sweden with a real great game, haha.
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- Apr 27, 2005
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Eichel needs to be moved off the top line, he's the type of player that needs the puck. I think he'd be much better off playing with Scheifele and Saad, where he can be the go to puck carrier and playmaker.
Reward Matthews, who has been arguably the teams best forward behind Gaudreau and Mackinnon, and is a much quicker puck mover than Eichel and might have the best hands in tight on the team. He's been forcing turnovers and making plays all over the place, you want a guy like that with a duo like McJohnny
Gaudreau - McDavid - Matthews
Drouin - RNH - Mackinnon
Saad - Eichel - Scheifele
Larkin - Couturier - Trochek
I'd also sit Gostisbehere. He made a lot of individual plays where he tried to beat guys 1v1 or 1v2 instead of passing off to the open man. The team has enough offense, and while I believe he's actually decent in his own end, he hasn't played as much of a team game that this tournament will demand. The D need to stay committed to the philosophy of giving it to the forwards as quickly as possible.
Reward Matthews, who has been arguably the teams best forward behind Gaudreau and Mackinnon, and is a much quicker puck mover than Eichel and might have the best hands in tight on the team. He's been forcing turnovers and making plays all over the place, you want a guy like that with a duo like McJohnny
Gaudreau - McDavid - Matthews
Drouin - RNH - Mackinnon
Saad - Eichel - Scheifele
Larkin - Couturier - Trochek
I'd also sit Gostisbehere. He made a lot of individual plays where he tried to beat guys 1v1 or 1v2 instead of passing off to the open man. The team has enough offense, and while I believe he's actually decent in his own end, he hasn't played as much of a team game that this tournament will demand. The D need to stay committed to the philosophy of giving it to the forwards as quickly as possible.
- Apr 27, 2005
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Yeah agreed. I think 30 years ago, a mixed team like this could have been harder to pull off. But the kids coming into the league these days are so polished and have grown up with teammates from all over the world. A lot of these kids have played against each other a ton as well, and have gained a mutual respect.
And like you said, people vastly underestimated how much these kids felt like they had to prove. These are all young type A's who have excelled at every level. Being talked about as a joke for the better part of a year was going to get a motivated response. They want to win as badly as everybody else, maybe more so, to raise their generation's flag.
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