C Auston Matthews - ZSC Lions, NLA (2016 Draft) II

[Spade]

It's still too early to say, but atm Matthews isn't the best player of the tournament

He doesn't need to be, his sample size over a year and a half is better than anyone else's.

Matthews will never stand out by making a highlight reel play, so in a short tournament like this he won't look as dynamic as a Puljujarvi or a Laine or a Nylander, but he's by far the most consistent player out of the group not only in the last 4 games, but the entire season to date. That counts a lot for teams who are looking for players who will be able to step into their lineup for 80+ games in a season.

Matthews has been good enough to be the best player on his team, and it's a team that is winning games. That's good enough to solidify his hold on 1st overall.

 

[ginopuck]

Matthews is not a flashy player but he can score highlight reel goals and make highlight reel passes, he just doesn't do it a lot and he doesn't need to. He is just very consistent at giving his team the chance to win. He's like another Steve Yzerman but with the grit of Shane Doan.

 

[DJB]

Absolutely destroying Eichel's WJC performance last year. I said it before the draft, Matthews > Eichel, that Matthews would have gone 2nd if he'd been in last year's draft, and was ridiculed for it on here (heck, I was ridiculed for saying McDavid was significantly ahead of Eichel... a certain Devils fan was absolutely obsessed with calling me a Canadian homer, even though I'd always been high on Matthews).

You are bang on and I have echoed the same thoughts for a while around here.

 

[Hardyvan123]

Not to take anything away from Matthews, but both Laine and Pulju have been far more impressive in this tournament.

That isn't going to change the draft order Mathews is still going to go first.

 

[VictorLustig]

He doesn't need to be, his sample size over a year and a half is better than anyone else's.

Matthews will never stand out by making a highlight reel play, so in a short tournament like this he won't look as dynamic as a Puljujarvi or a Laine or a Nylander, but he's by far the most consistent player out of the group not only in the last 4 games, but the entire season to date. That counts a lot for teams who are looking for players who will be able to step into their lineup for 80+ games in a season.

Matthews has been good enough to be the best player on his team, and it's a team that is winning games. That's good enough to solidify his hold on 1st overall.

Yeah he will.

 

[CBJx614]

Kid would look really good in union blue. . .

 

[behemolari]

He doesn't need to be, his sample size over a year and a half is better than anyone else's.

Matthews will never stand out by making a highlight reel play, so in a short tournament like this he won't look as dynamic as a Puljujarvi or a Laine or a Nylander, but he's by far the most consistent player out of the group not only in the last 4 games, but the entire season to date. That counts a lot for teams who are looking for players who will be able to step into their lineup for 80+ games in a season.

Matthews has been good enough to be the best player on his team, and it's a team that is winning games. That's good enough to solidify his hold on 1st overall.

His sample size is from crappy level-C league without a proper competition where he plays in the best team centering first line. Doesn't need to be even best player of the tournament because is playing along best team!

Sounds like a no brainer

 

[ponder]

Button just made the Forsberg comparison too. This kid is really, really damn good, so smart and so skilled. Of course he probably won't be as good, but he really does play a lot like Forsberg.

 

[CBJx614]

Hat trick so far. Tied Gaudreau for USA record for goals in the tourney

 

[Jaykay]

Hat trick so far. Tied Gaudreau for USA record for goals in the tourney

Still one behind Roenick.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Solidifying his #1 ranking.

One of 3 draft eligible players leading their teams in scoring, and all 3 teams are in the Semis. Impressive.

 

[mouser]

Doing everything required to cement his status as the #1 pick this summer.

 

[Breakers]

His sample size is from crappy level-C league without a proper competition where he plays in the best team centering first line. Doesn't need to be even best player of the tournament because is playing along best team!

Sounds like a no brainer

Playing against men at 18 and having success > Playing against 16-19 year olds and having success

 

[Super Cake]

Amazing player.

Hope the Sens draft him.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's very good, but I think he has competition for the #1 spot from Laine. Matthews has done an excellent job with his play at this tournament and this season in Switzerland, but if someone just prefers Laine's skill-set, what can he do? I'm a big fan of Matthews, but I think Laine might be just as good and have a rarer skill-set.

 

[Thebesthockey]

size matters
will see how draft goes

 

[canwincup]

He's very good, but I think he has competition for the #1 spot from Laine. Matthews has done an excellent job with his play at this tournament and this season in Switzerland, but if someone just prefers Laine's skill-set, what can he do? I'm a big fan of Matthews, but I think Laine might be just as good and have a rarer skill-set.

i don't think so I think it always comes down too Centre > winger, Laine is an insane talent though.

 

[Anardil]

He is almost guaranteed to go 1st over all. Nothing he has done in this tournament so far should change the consensus opinion IMHO.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He's very good, but I think he has competition for the #1 spot from Laine. Matthews has done an excellent job with his play at this tournament and this season in Switzerland, but if someone just prefers Laine's skill-set, what can he do? I'm a big fan of Matthews, but I think Laine might be just as good and have a rarer skill-set.

Button in all his hand-wringing mentioned that you take the all-around center every time and I think that's true in the case as well and is how most if not all NHL teams see it. Matthews has all of the tools to be a top all-around center at the NHL level and you just don't pass up them. Matthews isn't what I call "flashy" but the results speak for themselves.

 

[rduck1]

Button in all his hand-wringing mentioned that you take the all-around center every time and I think that's true in the case as well and is how most if not all NHL teams see it. Matthews has all of the tools to be a top all-around center at the NHL level and you just don't pass up them. Matthews isn't what I call "flashy" but the results speak for themselves.

Pretty much. Matthews looks like a guaranteed quality player in the NHL, and is likely able to play there right away. Puljujärvi and Laine could turn out better in the end, but they still have some (small) degree of boom/bust to them at this point, and might need to spend time in the AHL or Liiga before they're able to make an impact in the NHL. When you have that choice(and you might lose your job for getting it wrong), you take the safe bet.

 

[Jonas1235]

Is he Jeremy Roenick 2.0? Only a centre. I think he will get that grit at the pro level.

 

[paragon]

i don't think so I think it always comes down too Centre > winger, Laine is an insane talent though.

I agree. Only team in a position to pass up on Matthews is Oilers, because they have McDavid, Dreisaitl and RNH. And even then it's questionable.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't think you should always take a center over a winger. Skill-sets should be considered. Would you rather have a potential 50 goal scorer or 80-90 point two way center? Its a tough question.

 

[doncherrysgrill]

His sample size is from crappy level-C league without a proper competition where he plays in the best team centering first line. Doesn't need to be even best player of the tournament because is playing along best team!

Sounds like a no brainer

let's ignore the fact that he scored 116 points (most ever) in his draft -1 year for the NTDP

 

[Jussi]

I don't think you should always take a center over a winger. Skill-sets should be considered. Would you rather have a potential 50 goal scorer or 80-90 point two way center? Its a tough question.

Well Craig Button did say in the TSN video that if a team is set at centre, like the Oilers as he mentioned, then they'd probably go with Puljujärvi or Laine.