C Auston Matthews - USNTDP, USHL (2016 Draft)

[William H Bonney]

I meant the other 2

Ah, convienently left off the potential top 10 pick and his most frequent line mate for your argument.

Bracco is as good or better than both Milano and Tuch at the same age.

 

[dwanmaster*]

Ah, convienently left off the potential top 10 pick and his most frequent line mate for your argument.

Bracco is as good or better than both Milano and Tuch at the same age.

Hey don't you understand how this works, were supposed to pimp American prospects

 

[Rekus]

He might be number one right now, but next year I really think it's a battle of 4 players with Sokolov, Chychrun and Puljujarvi, and he certainly won't be pulling ahead of the pack ala McDavid or Eichel. It's going to be an insane top 5.

I doubt that Sokolov get picked that high due to the Russian factor.

 

[arsmaster*]

I doubt that Sokolov get picked that high due to the Russian factor.

Yakupov went 1st 3 drafts ago. If you're considered the best prospect, nationality doesn't matter.

That said, I think there is enough competition for the #1 spot, that his country of birth will be a factor. I can almost guarantee Tarasenko doesn't get to 15th in his draft year in a re-draft.

He might even be in the conversation for 1st overall, definitely 3rd or 4th.

 

[CoachBadkitten]

Hope he comes to DU. Would be a lot of fun to see him with Heinen and Moore.

 

[Stats01]

Matthews is from AZ...

I meant through the draft...Matthews(1st overall), Strome(4th overall), Kadri (7th overall), Gauthier (21st overall)

 

[Anchor Town*]

Yakupov went 1st 3 drafts ago. If you're considered the best prospect, nationality doesn't matter.

Lol this is a pretty poor argument. Hindsight says he doesn't get drafted there in a re-draft.

 

[TJL48]

That wasn't his point. His point was if you are the best prospect at draft time, which Yakupov arguably was, it doesn't matter where you are from. If they say they want to play in the NHL, and are the best prospect, your going to get picked 1st.

 

[Halfy]

REALLY want him to go to Everett next year. The battles between him, Patrick, Benson, and the rest of a talented new crop of young talent in the Dub would be awesome.

 

[William H Bonney]

Matthews had 3 goals and 5 assists in Team USA's two exhibition matches at the U18 against Germany and Finland, 2g and 3a which came against Finland today.

That also means he's tied Patrick Kane for the NTDP single season point record (mind you when Kane was with the NTDP they played in the weaker NAHL).

 

[snizzbone*]

Any chance he is invited to play for USA at the WCs?

 

[AD1066]

Matthews had 3 goals and 5 assists in Team USA's two exhibition matches at the U18 against Germany and Finland, 2g and 3a which came against Finland today.

That also means he's tied Patrick Kane for the NTDP single season point record (mind you when Kane was with the NTDP they played in the weaker NAHL).

Thanks for the update, it's exciting to have promising center prospects for once.

 

[hockey38]

Ah, convienently left off the potential top 10 pick and his most frequent line mate for your argument.

Bracco is as good or better than both Milano and Tuch at the same age.

I think Braccos year this year is more impressive than his u17 year as he has done it without a top producer on his line.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Matthews breaks Kane's record. 2g 3a in 10-0 lead over Slovaks after 2. Ridiculous awareness. Most of his points off takeaways or backchecks to catch Slovaks in a line change.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

This kid is going to tear apart the WHL next season. Has the potential to post one of the most dominant draft eligible seasons from a WHL player in recent memory

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Any chance he is invited to play for USA at the WCs?

That's an interesting question . . . there's no age restriction right? Given his performance at the WJCs and Under 18's (and on the NTDP team in general) you'd have to think he would likely be one of the team's top forwards . . . Our roster isn't exactly loaded up front:

http://mensworlds.usahockey.com/page/show/1742480-2015-u-s-men-s-national-team

 

[jmart21]

What's his ceiling?

Is he on par with eichel

 

[wings5]

What's his ceiling?

Is he on par with eichel

I would still take Eichel without hesitating but that's no shot at Matthews.

 

[Dr.Sens(e)]

What's his ceiling?

Is he on par with eichel

Well, Eichel is the bird in the hand when you compare them, in that Matthews is certainly on par at the same age with Eichel, but he has to take the next step in his development like Eichel did this year. But it wouldn't shock me to see him lead the WHL next year in scoring and be a slam dunk first overall pick on par with Eichel. But he has a full season of work to do, to make that happen.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Well, Eichel is the bird in the hand when you compare them, in that Matthews is certainly on par at the same age with Eichel, but he has to take the next step in his development like Eichel did this year. But it wouldn't shock me to see him lead the WHL next year in scoring and be a slam dunk first overall pick on par with Eichel. But he has a full season of work to do, to make that happen.

Eichel is a slam dunk second overall. Matthews might be the same or even third.

Now now, don't forget Sokolov and Puljujarvi, who are both 98's also unlike Matthews.

Unlike this year, 2016 is a three horse race

 

[BakedBuffalo]

Eichel is a slam dunk second overall. Matthews might be the same or even third.

Now now, don't forget Sokolov and Puljujarvi, who are both 98's also unlike Matthews.

Unlike this year, 2016 is a three horse race

Chychrun

 

[91Kadri91*]

Eichel is a slam dunk second overall. Matthews might be the same or even third.

Now now, don't forget Sokolov and Puljujarvi, who are both 98's also unlike Matthews.

Unlike this year, 2016 is a three horse race

There are scouts who believe Chychrun is ahead of where Ekblad was at the same age.

I'd say it's a four horse race.

 

[jdatb]

Matthews is my #2 right after Pulj

 

[Paxon]

There are scouts who believe Chychrun is ahead of where Ekblad was at the same age.

I'd say it's a four horse race.

I think most everyone sees Chychrun as ahead of where Ekblad was at the same age. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll remain ahead, but I don't think there's too much debate about that point. For me he has the inside track as the top pick.

 

[91Kadri91*]

I think most everyone sees Chychrun as ahead of where Ekblad was at the same age. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll remain ahead, but I don't think there's too much debate about that point. For me he has the inside track as the top pick.

Yeah, I wanted to be more definitive, but I also didn't want to derail the thread. I know there's at least one poster on the Leafs board that would vehemently disagree with the assertion that Chychrun is the superior prospect.

Whatever the case, I think 2016 looks like a pretty good draft at the top with Matthews, Puljujarvi, Chychrun, and Sokolov, as well as guys like Grundstrom, Asplund, Brown, Jones, Tkachuk, etc.