His wrist shot is world class. Whoever wrote that comment is ignorant to the point that they likely have never even seen him play.
C Auston Matthews (2016, 1st, TOR) VII
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His wrist shot is world class. Whoever wrote that comment is ignorant to the point that they likely have never even seen him play.
Randy Randerson
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I think the original comment may have meant "he might not have the best wrist shot" in the draft class, meaning second to Laine
Liminality
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You guys are all looking too deep in the comment, he has a hell of a good wrister.
My point was he's got a multitude of shots and dekes at his disposal that are high quality.
I just meant in general when it comes to his wrister. Maybe it's not as good as some others in the NHL but his will be quite good still.
Sundinisagod
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IIRC Sundin was 6'3.5" and 187lbs when drafted, compared to Matthews who is 6'2.5" and 216lbs.
Sundinisagod
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I can't even wait that long. Looking forward to the WC starting Sept 17. It will be interested to see how he fares in this tourney.
Randy Randerson
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Ya, I think the original comment meant "not the best in the draft class", as in second to Laine, which is huge praise, not a knock. With that context, it entirely changes the intent of the original comment, was my point.
If you read the early scouting reports on Matthews from this season or the end of last, many say he has the best wrist shot in the draft...then Laine emerged with Ovechkin comparisons. Either way, huge praise for the wrist shot as a tool for Matthews: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gotta-see-it-auston-matthews-obliterates-water-bottle/
WTFMAN99
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Back then they were very strict on enforcing the curves and I think after the first lock out they didn't care as much.
Either way, I do see Matthews producing at a good pace and being a strong 2-way #1C for the Leafs for years to come, but like Sundin, he's not flashy...but he'll produce.
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I honestly think Matthews will outscore Laine as well as being elite defensively.
TDK67
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If people were referring to my original comment, then yes, that's exactly what I meant. I intentionally did not want to mention Laine and turn this into another Matthews vs Laine cluster****, so I tried skating around that by saying he might not have the best shot (in this draft class) but he's better (than other 2016 picks) in almost every other category.
I have no idea why people took that as "Matthews has a mediocre wrist shot" since NO ONE said that anywhere. He clearly has a fantastic wrist shot.
Randy Randerson
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that's what I figured....so many people out to pick fights on these boards and persecute other posters. Don't get it...
TDK67
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Yea, it's like they missed the part where I went through the trouble of finding and listing 15 sources with 40 scouts polled to prove that Matthews was overwhelmingly considered the BPA in this draft.
Randy Randerson
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Yea, it's like they missed the part where I went through the trouble of finding and listing 15 sources with 40 scouts polled to prove that Matthews was overwhelmingly considered the BPA in this draft.
It's hard to catch all that when you're looking for one tidbit that could be interpreted differently than you meant it to flame you on...And I agree, this was never anything but the Matthews draft, even if there was no position value disparity
I have no idea about draft day but that seems wrong. The height okay I'll give you but going from 187 to 230 is a huge difference. When he finished he was 6'5 230. I can see him gaining an inche and a half throughout his career but 40 pounds? I know smaller players it's common but for bigger guys gaining 40 pounds usually hinders them
EDIT: that is what he was. Weird. He looked taller then 6'3.5
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Sundinisagod
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Well he didn't play in the NHL straight out of the draft, so he may have got to a good 6'4" by the time he arrived...plus he was a bit of a beanpole and less bulky equipment back then, added to the perceived height. I don't think did reach a true 6'5" either, I think it was rounded up from 6'4.5". Matthews apparently has grown 3/4" in the last year or so, so still possible he's not done growing...could see him as a legit 6'3" and 230lb in a few years. Much like Sundin he really knows how to use his size to advantage. I personally deem Matthews worthy of filling the void that Sundin has left
Sundin at 18 and Sundin at 35 looked like completely different people. Mats hit the gym hard throughout his career, and it showed. He was a gazelle at the draft and a bull 15 years later
Randy Randerson
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I think this type of weight gain is what we're hoping for/expecting for Yegor Korshkov, who's currently listed at 179lbs and thought to fill out around 220-230lbs.
Adding this sort of weight for a tall skinny frame really isn't that extreme for a professional athlete over the course of years. A guy I know who was a professional body builder and I think 5'9"ish won a contest by gaining 40lbs in 4 days : http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wnso12.htm
That being said, I don't think Matthews plays heavier than about 230lbs as a ceiling, he already looks filled out
Randy Randerson
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He's a good guy, trying to get into baseball media/broadcasting now. Crazy will power, he said he hated himself for a while after that weekend of gluttony
Matthews is one special talent. Potentially generational. Cannot wait to see him in the big show... 2 months and counting.
WTFMAN99
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Generational is something I kind of reserve for Crosby/McDavid....and I'd probably stick Ovechkin in there too.
If Matthews proves he belongs in there too then great but imo he's likely in the "franchise centre" category versus generational, that is my 2 cents though.
ViewsFromThe6ix
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He needs one more tool in his toolbox. Maybe a one timer. Doesn't need to be an Ovechkin style one timer, but something like Giroux would help him and that should be a relatively easy skill to learn with his frame and work ethic. He's got the skating, hands/puck skills, wrist shot and slapper down to great or elite levels already.
Liminality
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Randy Randerson
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I think Matthews slots in with Eichel, Malkin, Tavares in terms of draft day hype. He's a guy we knew about for a long time leading up to his draft, was challenged by a couple of guys who really popped up (Chychrun at one point, Laine/Puljujarvi at others) but never really lost the expectation that he would go first
Personally I think his upside hits that border on generational, like could be a top 5 player in the league his whole career...Jagr level maybe?
Both Hall and Seguin were considered to be real deal #1 picks in their year, franchise type guys, and I think if you put Matthews in that draft he goes #1....thoughts?
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