C Auston Matthews (2016, 1st, TOR) VII

[Center Ice Scrum*]

Patrik Laine is a finisher and his golden ticket to the NHL is his shot. Auston Matthews while being a prolific goal scorer (arguably on par if not better than Laine) offers a much well rounded game and works as an effective puck carrier and distributor while showing very good defensive awareness.

If you look at players like Kopitar, Toews, Crosby, Benn, McDavid, E. Staal (when he didn't suck) and Tavares, majority of their goals are generated below the dots and a lot of that has to do with their positional play. All these players are good on the boards and are not afraid to control the play down low, much like Auston Matthews. Perhaps part of the reason why he shoots in tight is because that's where he sets up shop. No?

 

[Randy Randerson]

Patrik Laine is a finisher and his golden ticket to the NHL is his shot. Auston Matthews while being a prolific goal scorer (arguably on par if not better than Laine) offers a much well rounded game and works as an effective puck carrier and distributor while showing very good defensive awareness.

If you look at players like Kopitar, Toews, Crosby, Benn, McDavid, E. Staal (when he didn't suck) and Tavares, majority of their goals are generated below the dots and a lot of that has to do with their positional play. All these players are good on the boards and are not afraid to control the play down low, much like Auston Matthews. Perhaps part of the reason why he shoots in tight is because that's where he sets up shop. No?

Nylander and Marner both like to cycle the perimeter and look for a pass inside the defense too, Matthews has great hand/eye coordination and can get the puck off his stick very quickly from in tight. I think he's set up for success with his potential linemates - Even JVR and Kadri are very good at drawing defenders and hitting the guy streaking to the net. Seems like there's lots of reasons that Matthews propensity to get in tight is a good thing

 

[goblin3]

Patrik Laine is a finisher and his golden ticket to the NHL is his shot. Auston Matthews while being a prolific goal scorer (arguably on par if not better than Laine) offers a much well rounded game and works as an effective puck carrier and distributor while showing very good defensive awareness.

If you look at players like Kopitar, Toews, Crosby, Benn, McDavid, E. Staal (when he didn't suck) and Tavares, majority of their goals are generated below the dots and a lot of that has to do with their positional play. All these players are good on the boards and are not afraid to control the play down low, much like Auston Matthews. Perhaps part of the reason why he shoots in tight is because that's where he sets up shop. No?

It's not like Laine only has his shot either though. Elite hands, IQ and size. Great playmaking and physical play. Good skating for his size and good 2way play for a scoring winger. With an average shot he would still be a first rounder no doubt.

About their shots, Matthews, while having an elite wrister, doesn't have the feeling that no matter where he is in the OZ he can take a dangerous shot like Laine has.

 

[Blitzago*]

It's not like Laine only has his shot either though. Elite hands, IQ and size. Great playmaking and physical play. Good skating for his size and good 2way play for a scoring winger. With an average shot he would still be a first rounder no doubt.

About their shots, Matthews, while having an elite wrister, doesn't have the feeling that no matter where he is in the OZ he can take a dangerous shot like Laine has.

I don't know about that, Matthews has a pretty lethal shot and release.

 

[Randy Randerson]

It's not like Laine only has his shot either though. Elite hands, IQ and size. Great playmaking and physical play. Good skating for his size and good 2way play for a scoring winger. With an average shot he would still be a first rounder no doubt.

About their shots, Matthews, while having an elite wrister, doesn't have the feeling that no matter where he is in the OZ he can take a dangerous shot like Laine has.

I don't know about that, Matthews has a pretty lethal shot and release.

I think it's not Matthews' go-to tool, doubt you'll ever see him take a lot of unscreened 30+ foot wrist shots like Laine does. Most players don't do that though, even elite ones, just a handful of pure "shooters" like Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Kessel when he's on his game, maybe Semin in his prime, etc.

I think regardless of his ability that probably won't be his M.O., Nylander moreso maybe

 

[Blitzago*]

I think it's not Matthews' go-to tool, doubt you'll ever see him take a lot of unscreened 30+ foot wrist shots like Laine does. Most players don't do that though, even elite ones, just a handful of pure "shooters" like Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Kessel when he's on his game, maybe Semin in his prime, etc.

I think regardless of his ability that probably won't be his M.O., Nylander moreso maybe

Probably cause he's a better all around player than Laine, so he wont need to resort to those kind of shots.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Probably cause he's a better all around player than Laine, so he wont need to resort to those kind of shots.

Has a cannon in his own right but I like how many tools he comes with, it's not like Ovechkin in the play-offs where your goalie just needs to anticipate the pass across and get the one timer....

I love Ovechkin but it frustrates me how one-dimensional he is at times or how they force that play in the play-offs.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Probably cause he's a better all around player than Laine, so he wont need to resort to those kind of shots.

I think Laine is pretty good in his own right, but definitely likes to use his best weapon. I don't think it's because he's falling back on his shot because he can't do other things, he just opts for the shot whenever he can - Ovechkinlike.

I agree that Matthews is more complete, and I think every tool he's got translates well to the NHL, so I don't expect a big stylistic adjustment for him

Has a cannon in his own right but I like how many tools he comes with, it's not like Ovechkin in the play-offs where your goalie just needs to anticipate the pass across and get the one timer....

I love Ovechkin but it frustrates me how one-dimensional he is at times or how they force that play in the play-offs.

Sorry, was this in reference to Matthews or Laine? I think Laine has a bit of Ovechkin in him, maybe a little risk of becoming sort of Ovi-like in shooting at every opportunity

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

Their shots are really really similar, and Matthews brings so much more. I don't understand how there has been such a debate.

I'm going to save my opinion till I get a glimpse of them in the WC and the NHL. I get where the Leafs fans are coming from, in that it would be a tough pill to swallow should your 1st o.a. become second fiddle to the 2nd o.a. Jets fan get off easy, in that if Matthews ends up being the superior player its cool cuz the Jets didn't have the option of drafting him anyway.

 

[Auston Marlander]

I'm going to save my opinion till I get a glimpse of them in the WC and the NHL. I get where the Leafs fans are coming from, in that it would be a tough pill to swallow should your 1st o.a. become second fiddle to the 2nd o.a. Jets fan get off easy, in that if Matthews ends up being the superior player its cool cuz the Jets didn't have the option of drafting him anyway.

One is a very good player with a great shot the other is a great player. You can guess who is who.

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

One is a very good player with a great shot the other is a great player. You can guess who is who.

So a "good player" outplayed a "great player" and won tournament MVP in both their first taste in NHLish waters? Like I said....I'll reserve my opinion till I get a bigger glimpse of them with the big boys. Don't wanna look like a fool.

 

[Auston Marlander]

So a "good player" outplayed a "great player" and won tournament MVP in both their first taste in NHLish waters? Like I said....I'll reserve my opinion till I get a bigger glimpse of them with the big boys. Don't wanna look like a fool.

If that's your takeaway then sure run with it, but you'll find few outside of Finland who agree with you.

Also I said very good player.

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

If that's your takeaway then sure run with it, but you'll find few outside of Finland who agree with you.

Also I said very good player.

There were 750,000 outside of Finland praying the Leafs chose Matthews. After watching both Laine and Matthews in a few key tournaments leading up to the draft, not one Pegger I spoke with or heard about would have chosen Matthews over Laine. But perhaps people from Winnipeg don't know their hockey. Lets face it, it is minus a billion degrees here half the year. The cold has probably gone to our heads (lol love that emoticon). Regardless...both teams got the player they NEEDED.

 

[Center Ice Scrum*]

There were 750,000 outside of Finland praying the Leafs chose Matthews. After watching both Laine and Matthews in a few key tournaments leading up to the draft, not one Pegger I spoke with or heard about would have chosen Matthews over Laine. But perhaps people from Winnipeg don't know their hockey. Lets face it, it is minus a billion degrees here half the year. The cold has probably gone to our heads (lol love that emoticon). Either way...both teams got the player the NEEDED.

LOL, only a fool would pick a winger over a franchise calibre #1C. Are you calling the peg'ers fools?

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

LOL, only a fool would pick a winger over a franchise calibre #1C. Are you calling the peg'ers fools?

Nope, I just said that Most people from Winnipeg would have picked Laine over Matthews. You're the one who just called us fools. Its ok though. We're not as sensitive over here in the Prairies. The cold has numbed it out of us

 

[Center Ice Scrum*]

Nope, I just said that Most people from Winnipeg would have picked Laine over Matthews. You're the one who just called us fools. Its ok though. We're not as sensitive over here in the Prairies. The cold has numbed it out of us

I apologise for the insensitive fool comment, but honestly, who on gods green earth would pass up a franchise center for any other position player. It makes no sense. Last I checked, the winning formula for any cup winning team is an elite/ franchise #1C, #1D and #1G. Wingers are nice but they are complimentary pieces in today's game.

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

I apologise for the insensitive fool comment, but honestly, who on gods green earth would pass up a franchise center for any other position player. It makes no sense. Last I checked, the winning formula for any cup winning team is an elite/ franchise #1C, #1D and #1G. Wingers are nice but they are complimentary pieces in today's game.

No no, don't apologize bro. Just a friendly debate is all. That's not at all my argument. All I'm saying is neither of them have proved jack squat in the bigs. The closest we have seen is the WHC and Laine won MVP even though they both played well. Projected 1st line centre and actual 1st line centre are two different things *cough Daigle cough*. Time will tell...

 

[Center Ice Scrum*]

No no, don't apologize bro. Just a friendly debate is all. That's not at all my argument. All I'm saying is neither of them have proved jack squat in the bigs. The closest we have seen is the WHC and Laine won MVP even though they both played well. Time will tell...

agreed

 

[Semantics]

Nope, I just said that Most people from Winnipeg would have picked Laine over Matthews. You're the one who just called us fools. Its ok though. We're not as sensitive over here in the Prairies. The cold has numbed it out of us

Yeah, after the lottery, smh. I wonder who they'd have picked if the Jets had the #1, I really wonder.

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

Yeah, after the lottery, smh. I wonder who they'd have picked if the Jets had the #1, I really wonder.

Jets have been lacking an elite goal scorer since we got the team. Lots of good play makers. Just need that go to guy (especially on the PP). Still would have picked Laine IMO.

 

[Kelly]

Jets have been lacking an elite goal scorer since we got the team. Lots of good play makers. Just need that go to guy (especially on the PP). Still would have picked Laine IMO.

Lets be honest, you don't know who the Jets would've picked.

I would guess it'd be Matthews tho, he was BPA. Really good goal scorer as well.

 

[ItchyScratchy77]

Lets be honest, you don't know who the Jets would've picked.

I would guess it'd be Matthews tho, he was BPA. Really good goal scorer as well.

Lets be honest, you don't know who the Jets would have picked either.

Hence the IMO.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Lets be honest, you don't know who the Jets would have picked either.

Hence the IMO.

Well you'd hope your management would pick the BPA when drafting 1st overall which was Matthews but..

 

[leafsfan54]

So a "good player" outplayed a "great player" and won tournament MVP in both their first taste in NHLish waters? Like I said....I'll reserve my opinion till I get a bigger glimpse of them with the big boys. Don't wanna look like a fool.

Laine played two tournaments in that World Championship "MVP" win. The first one was against all the bottom feeding teams, where he put up 7 goals and 4 assists in 6 games against SVK, BEL, FRA, HUN, GER, and DEN. The second tournament where he played good teams he put up 0 goals 1 assists in 4 game against USA, CAN x2, and RUS.

 

[goblin3]

Laine played two tournaments in that World Championship "MVP" win. The first one was against all the bottom feeding teams, where he put up 7 goals and 4 assists in 6 games against SVK, BEL, FRA, HUN, GER, and DEN. The second tournament where he played good teams he put up 0 goals 1 assists in 4 game against USA, CAN x2, and RUS.

Can't wait for the world cup. Matthews with capable linemates and Laine (hopefully) on the left wing.