Matthews plays really well along the boards and uses his legs and frame to protect the puck. Great hands and shot. Also really likes to drive the net. I definitely see the nash comparison...maybe even some bobby ryan
C Auston Matthews - USNTDP, USHL (2016 Draft)
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AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
I would say 80-20 he goes there.....hard to believe he doesn't have a college commit yet...that kind of shows me this kid is leaning more towards the WHL. Next Mike Modano!! #1 overall American out of the WHL..
canuck2010
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- Dec 21, 2010
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Not to cast aspersions on the NCAA but the CHL more closely resembles the NHL in terms of player development.
If I'm a top notch pro prospect I want to play in the CHL. Likely the NHL team that drafts me would prefer me to do that as well.
Just my opnion not any kind of knock aimed at the NCAA.
AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
Matthews has no ties to the college hockey tradition like prospects from the North East and Minnesota area, so I see him in the WHL no doubt.
I will agree though, for the super tip top prospects, the more games in the CHL is likely better for showcasing players than the NCAA. Not getting into which is the better development league though.
I will agree though, for the super tip top prospects, the more games in the CHL is likely better for showcasing players than the NCAA. Not getting into which is the better development league though.
Captain Clutch
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- May 2, 2012
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There is no doubt that this is true, look no further than the fact that they allow fighting in the CHL......Now whether or not its a BETTER league for NHL development, well that is kind of like comparing apples and oranges but there is pretty clear evidence that both provide a pretty good opportunity, albeit in different ways, to get ready for the NHL.
Agreed. But something can also be said for the overall physical maturity of NCAA players as opposed to CHL. Both routes definitely have their advantages. Can't really go wrong either way
I'm sure Matthews will be fine whichever route he goes
lawrence
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- May 19, 2012
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what are the advantages of playing in college? I still don't see it to this day. Sure the players are older, but these older players consisted of players not good enough to make the CHL (if Canadian born, from the BCHL or the leauge a step below the CHL)
(if professional hockey is out of the question, a free scholarship) ok free school. sounds good...
they play a little more then half of what they play in the CHL, 40 games or so? Its 70 in the CHL, (huge advantage for the CHL right here, 40% more games, more games = more ice time = better developement) CHL goes by NHL rules, and a NHL rink, 99% of the rinks in the CHL have their own state of the art or near state of the art, gym, so what are the advantages of playing in college?
thank you kindly.
Clearly if you have first round pick potential the "best" route to go is through the CHL. It gets you the most exposure. No one is going to argue that. But, some players have a preference of playing for a school they've always wanted to go to, or maybe they want to stay close to family. Who knows. A free education from some of the best schools in the country is pretty enticing, especially if you're not sure this hockey thing is going to work out.
Fact is that there's always going to be great NHL talent that comes through NCAA. I don't know why people continue to discuss this as if it's an issue. With Matthews probably going #1 overall next year he can pretty much play in any league that he wants. It wouldn't be surprising if he goes the NCAA route.
Yeah toews would of never been able to cut it in the CHL.
The one advantage the NCAA has over the CHL is that the players aren't trapped until they are 20 if their NHL team doesn't want to rush them to the NHL. This doesn't matter for a guy like Matthews, but outside the top 3 picks, most drafted prospects would be better served in the AHL than overage seasons in the CHL. The biggest problem with the NCAA is the NCAA itself and its stupid rules against taking kids from certain junior hockey leagues.
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As previous posters said, it will be shocking if he's not in the WHL.
NCAA hockey has far less prestige in the rest of the US aside from Minnesota, New England and probably Wisconsin.
I know from my area (Phila, NJ, NYC) college hockey is a goal, but if the right OHL opportunity arises, its usually taken. (DeAngelo, Milano, Lodge, LaBanc, Ebert, Stolarz, etc.)
Plus I think if Eichel was from either NYC, Chicago or LA, he'd be in the CHL.
NCAA hockey has far less prestige in the rest of the US aside from Minnesota, New England and probably Wisconsin.
I know from my area (Phila, NJ, NYC) college hockey is a goal, but if the right OHL opportunity arises, its usually taken. (DeAngelo, Milano, Lodge, LaBanc, Ebert, Stolarz, etc.)
Plus I think if Eichel was from either NYC, Chicago or LA, he'd be in the CHL.
I'm not going to get into this because that's not what this thread is about. But you're completely, completely off base
I'm not going to get into this because that's not what this thread is about. But you're completely, completely off base
no ,i don't believe he is at all.
i believe one advantage the CHL has over the ncaa is the length of the season and the harsher travel.
chl is a much closer reflection of life in the nhl in many ways
i can't see how that does not aid in the transition phase and the overall mental conditioning and the seasonal life planning to deal with the grind that the nhl is.
no offence to our friends to the south , they have made great strides over the years and will continue to do so
but the hockey factory has been up and running and honing for a long time here , it's one of the reasons why we churn out so many players.
Schedule-wise, yes. Again, I even agreed that there many reasons to go the CHL route. But the I was just stating the main benefit of the NCAA is the physical maturity of a lot of the players. There is a huge difference between a 22 year old and an 18 year old. I'm not saying NCAA is any better or worse than CHL. Both have their advantages. It's just comical that the poster said the only reason a lot of players play in the NCAA is because they cannot make the CHL.
CraigsList
RIP #13
I wonder if he'd play for ASU, a school that becomes a D1 team soon.
My guess is that he will play in the CHL though.
My guess is that he will play in the CHL though.
WaltWhitman
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2010
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Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
This is the only post in the NCAA vs. CHL debate happening in literally every prospect thread that matters.
I'm an American and I know for god damn sure I'd rather play in the CHL than NCAA if I want to make the NHL. Sure, the NCAA route is definitely more fun, college is the best, but still.
Spade
Resident Tool
He's in Grade 11 this year, so while it seems like it'd be cool it's not likely as ASU won't be going to D1 until 2016-17 and he'll be drafted into the NHL by then.
It'll be interesting to see how he does in the WHL if he does choose that route, because a prospect of his caliber decided to go the NCAA route the previous year and they're very similar in terms of frame and skill.
That being said, it's nice that the Americans have 2 elite centers coming up, because that's probably the one area they kind of lack in comparison to other top hockey countries. Good depth but that franchise center-caliber gamebreaker is something they haven't had since Mike Modano, Doug Weight and Jeremy Roenick were in their primes. And that's a long time ago.
If Everett gets him, they are immediately one of the top teams in the WHL next year.
CraigsList
RIP #13
I didn't know he was in grade 11... Jeez. Yeah, the CHL is definitely the best way to go.
It's super, super rare to find a local AZ kid this good at hockey. I hope the Coyotes do everything they can to land him. He'd have a much bigger impact on hockey here than Shane Doan (nothing against Doan).
William H Bonney
Registered User
Matthews is accelerating his schooling (just as Eichel, Hanifin and Werenski did) and he'll be done with high school this year. It's NCAA or WHL next year for him.
sabresEH
Registered User
Lmao 99% of CHL rinks have state of the art gyms? Really? Yeah I'm sure the arena in Medicine Hat has a better gym facility than NCAA div 1 programs. Kelowna is one of the biggest programs in the CHL and the last thing I would call their training facilities is state of the art.
Also while the length of schedule can be an advantage for the CHL the NCAA schedule allows for more gym time. What's the point of having great training facilities if the players are too tired to use them regularly. CHLers usually don't have as big of a problem with the NHL's long schedule as the college kids do but the college kids are usually more prepared to battle with the NHLers.
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