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

[Rabid Ranger]

I don't know if he'll be able to generate offense on his own the way Malkin does, but with the right linemates he would be really dangerous. He needs something like a prime Holmstrom on his line, he generates a crazy amount of rebound/tip attempts.

This is nonsense. Of course he can generate offense on his own. That's what playmaking centers do. He can't will the likes of Vartrano to finish though. What are people expecting? 1 on 5 goals each time he goes down the ice?

 

[BWDude]

Is it bad that even though I'm paying attention to Matthews, what still catches my attention most is how bad his team is playing? It's like he's the only sane player on the team(line), it's quite unfair for him while players like Kane are off golfing.

That is exactly what I thought and why I am not at all thinking of jumping on the Laine #1 Overall best player hype train. Matthews has looked REAL freaking good the whole tournament without having the luxury of playing with the absolute beast that is Barkov and the rest of the Finnish team.

It's honestly not falsifications, we (at least me as a Leafs fan) have no reason to be biased at all when judging either of these players as they haven't been chosen yet, but people see it as such when you remark on how Matthews has been way more noticeable as a player. I have watched all but one of the Matthews games and all but one of the Laine games, and have to agree with Ferraro in saying that Laine has an absolute bullet, but Matthews has large fraction of that but so much more as well.

I am at least, definitely not trying to crap on Laine- in fact I was a huge supporter watching him throughout the Liiga playoffs to a point where I was actually swinging towards him more. But after I actually watched games of Matthews (last time was WJC) I actually see why he's so freaking good and I would take him.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Is it bad that even though I'm paying attention to Matthews, what still catches my attention most is how bad his team is playing? It's like he's the only sane player on the team(line), it's quite unfair for him while players like Kane are off golfing.

It's a very mediocre lineup that aside from the Canada game has competed pretty well. Just not a lot of talent unfortunately.

 

[Edgelord]

Is it bad that even though I'm paying attention to Matthews, what still catches my attention most is how bad his team is playing? It's like he's the only sane player on the team(line), it's quite unfair for him while players like Kane are off golfing.

that clip didn't even have the numerous give and go set ups that Matthews started only to be killed by the other American player not being able to make a simple pass back.
5 times for sure I saw Matthews beat a defender then pass it off to a linemate who either takes a dumb shot or essentially freezes only to pass it into a German.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

This is nonsense. Of course he can generate offense on his own. That's what playmaking centers do. He can't will the likes of Vartrano to finish though. What are people expecting? 1 on 5 goals each time he goes down the ice?

Did you miss the part where s/he said "the way Malkin does"? Why don't you wait until you see how he does in the NHL before calling a question like that "nonsense."

 

[Mad Brills*]

USA Hockey sends young players instead of veterans for this tourney recently

 

[Future]

Other than Matthews' talent. I absolutely love how he wins most of his battles. He works his ass off and he's so consistent with that. I haven't seen him play a bad game yet. He's always working, always creating.

 

[The Sweetness]

This guy is incredible. He looks like Malkin out there.

 

[The Thin White Duke]

This is nonsense. Of course he can generate offense on his own. That's what playmaking centers do. He can't will the likes of Vartrano to finish though. What are people expecting? 1 on 5 goals each time he goes down the ice?

His shot is good but not enough to be a constant threat to score. What makes him dangerous is how often he can get it off by using his great puck retrieval/protection skills. With the right linemates he should get a large amount of his points by generating rebounds and tips for them. If he has bad linemates like he does in this tournament, his offensive impact becomes limited by their inability to take advantage of the situations he creates for them.

Maybe generating offense is the wrong term to use, he doesn't create as many individual chances for himself I guess. He will make the right linemates look much better than they are though.

 

[ijuka]

This guy is incredible. He looks like Malkin out there.

Yep. I'd expect him to be pretty similar to Malkin in the end. Malkin is the #2 center in the world in my eyes so that's quite a comparison.

He seems to be better with physicality and loose pucks along the boards however. His defense might also be stronger. But I doubt he can have all those and have Malkin's production so it's likely a slightly more balanced version of Malkin.

 

[TheStorm]

that clip didn't even have the numerous give and go set ups that Matthews started only to be killed by the other American player not being able to make a simple pass back.
5 times for sure I saw Matthews beat a defender then pass it off to a linemate who either takes a dumb shot or essentially freezes only to pass it into a German.

This is what it's been like to watch Eichel on the Sabres for most of the year. I feel your pain.

 

[ijuka]

Seriously. Offence dies on the stick of Vatrano.

Vatrano is who I immediately noticed. His shot seems week and seems to home in on the goalie at a perfect height where it's easy to catch without a rebound and there isn't even a threat that it goes through the five hole. Even the goal vs Finland was Koskinen's fault and a weak shot.

 

[Future]

Yep. I'd expect him to be pretty similar to Malkin in the end. Malkin is the #2 center in the world in my eyes so that's quite a comparison.

He seems to be better with physicality and loose pucks along the boards however. His defense might also be stronger. But I doubt he can have all those and have Malkin's production so it's likely a slightly more balanced version of Malkin.

Yeah Matthews is such a rare player. He's got that elite skillset that a lot of the top scorers in the NHL seem to have but he also brings a competitiveness in the dirty areas and defensive zone that a lot of those guys lack. It'll be interesting to watch his development over the next couple of years.

 

[Beukeboom]

So how do you guys rank this guy?

I loved the way Eichel played before NHL and I watched so many of his games in the beginning of this NHL season. But I didn't fully realize how good of a prospect Matthews was until I checked his stats from UNDP. I mean I saw him in last years WJC but I kind of focused on McDavid and Eichel there so he flew under the radar.

Given the benefit of hindsight for the NHL players and just predictions for the non drafted, I'd rank the last 10 years prospects like this:

1. Crosby - Had many injuries but his second season winning the Art Ross like that. Only Gretzky has done that before him.
2. McDavid - I don't really know. Can he be as good as Crosby? If he stays healthy he can definately top Crosby's silverware. But will his peak superiority be as high?
3. Matthews - I actually think he is a tier above both Eichel, Tavares and Kane. I just feel he is the most underrated #1 in a long time. The complete package in a way I haven't seen before. He is like the epitome of the perfect modern player. All in one.
4. Eichel, Tavares, Stamkos (before the injury), Toews (probably one down but I'm Chicago biased), Kane (been a beast this season and always really good but stlll only one season).
5. Hall, Ekblad, Marner (perhaps a level down), Seguin, Doughty,Backstrom, Price, Barkov (maybe Barkov deserves to be one tier up)
6. Nugent Hopkins, Mckinnon,Kessel, Landeskog etc
7. Reinhart, Scheifiele and similar guys

So yeah, I mean it is a weird list since I have 10 years worth of results for many of them and just predictions for others. But all in good fun. Any comments?

 

[vaiski]

When I watch him play, he reminds me a lot of a more refined Puljujärvi. He has the shot from the rush and the puckhandling Pulju currently lacks. But his play style and skating remind me of Puljujärvi quite a bit.

 

[Riellyfan04]

When I watch him play, he reminds me a lot of a more refined Puljujärvi. He has the shot from the rush and the puckhandling Pulju currently lacks. But his play style and skating remind me of Puljujärvi quite a bit.

Hmmm, I've watched them both play in this tourney(matthews) and Pujl in Finland U20 Liiga i don't think they look anything alike.. Skating sure but the way Matthews is strong on the puck down low on the boards but the way he just reads plays is much better than Pulj.. The defensive plays this guy makes are awesome too.. Thats nothing taking away from Pulj, he's awesome but they are totally different, and play different position.

 

[weems]

So how do you guys rank this guy?

I loved the way Eichel played before NHL and I watched so many of his games in the beginning of this NHL season. But I didn't fully realize how good of a prospect Matthews was until I checked his stats from UNDP. I mean I saw him in last years WJC but I kind of focused on McDavid and Eichel there so he flew under the radar.

Given the benefit of hindsight for the NHL players and just predictions for the non drafted, I'd rank the last 10 years prospects like this:

1. Crosby - Had many injuries but his second season winning the Art Ross like that. Only Gretzky has done that before him.
2. McDavid - I don't really know. Can he be as good as Crosby? If he stays healthy he can definately top Crosby's silverware. But will his peak superiority be as high?
3. Matthews - I actually think he is a tier above both Eichel, Tavares and Kane. I just feel he is the most underrated #1 in a long time. The complete package in a way I haven't seen before. He is like the epitome of the perfect modern player. All in one.
4. Eichel, Tavares, Stamkos (before the injury), Toews (probably one down but I'm Chicago biased), Kane (been a beast this season and always really good but stlll only one season).
5. Hall, Ekblad, Marner (perhaps a level down), Seguin, Doughty,Backstrom, Price, Barkov (maybe Barkov deserves to be one tier up)
6. Nugent Hopkins, Mckinnon,Kessel, Landeskog etc
7. Reinhart, Scheifiele and similar guys

So yeah, I mean it is a weird list since I have 10 years worth of results for many of them and just predictions for others. But all in good fun. Any comments?

Good post.
Like you I watched him the past 2 WJC's and knew he was good but after watching this tournament I'm extremely shocked just how strong his all around game is. I was expecting to see a big talented kid who was a bit raw in certain areas but I havent seen one thing that is a glaring weakness. He skates well, has good agility, Very creative with the puck, is basically a 1 man zone entry. Is strong on the puck, battles well, Has a very good shot and competes really good for a big talented C. I agree with him being a modern player in that he can skate, great offence and very refined defensively. I would definitely take him over Eichel as I think he's got a higher offensive ceiling.

 

[Kamal007]

Cleared up.

 

[Riellyfan04]

I don't think Pulji is in this torney.

meant under 20 and Liiga haha. sorry i corrected right after:p i proof read it

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Indeed any respectable #1 pick dominates the WC pre-draft. Especially willing their team to victory in defining moments is expected if you want anything more than a solid player.

For example, I wasn't sold on Patrick Kane being more than a solid NHLer until his exceptional pre-draft WC sold me on him.

I suppose if Laine fans keep repeating their dialog about, "Matthews grabbing this tournament by the horns", thag maybe other hockey fans will start to follow along or believe that it will somehow change the fact Matthews is not the #1 prospect in the draft. The WHC tournament won't change a thing.

 

[dlawong]

I believe He is one heck of prospect just like Laine. I do not even like compare these two head to head because they both are so good and serve a different purpose. I almost hope Winnipeg can land Matthews because it is not easy to sign players to play there and Toronto will have an easier time to land player in the UFA market and they have the money, cap space and management staff to do that. Laine would need a top line centre to play with to bring out the best of him and not sure Winnipeg currently have one who can pass in a phone booth or can land one easily in the free agent market. Almost fee like it may be perfect for both players if Matthews goes to Winnipeg (where there is less pressure) and Laine to go to Toronto but I personally like Matthews a bit more.

 

[Cotton]

Thought I'd share the draft previews prospect report on him.

Auston Matthews, C, 6'2 194. ISS#1 THN #1

"When we compile these rankings and bios for draft preview, we consult with scouts who have spent decades assessing teenaged talent and identifying those they think will be the best. When someone who has been scouting that long talks about Matthews and says, "He's one of the favourite players I've ever scouted," that's lofty praise.
Matthews has put up numbers superior to those of Patrick Kane and Jack Eichel at the same age, but scouts see him as a less dynamic, more well-rounded player than the two American stars. "You can say he won't put up points of a McDavid or an Eichel, and that's perhaps true," said one scout. "But I think he's a Jonathan Toews-type of player. He's the kind of guy you win with."
Connor McDavid and Eichel have been described as generational talents, while Matthews is perhaps a touch below that. "He's a player that comes along not all that often," said another scout. "He's on the heels of those two guys, so people think one of these players is coming every year, but they're not. He's that good."

"NHL Projection: Franchise Center."

They also think there is a big gap between #1 and #2 and that Laine and Pulju are on the same level.

 

[NarcoPolo]

Hmmm, I've watched them both play in this tourney(matthews) and Pujl in Finland U20 Liiga i don't think they look anything alike.. Skating sure but the way Matthews is strong on the puck down low on the boards but the way he just reads plays is much better than Pulj.. The defensive plays this guy makes are awesome too.. Thats nothing taking away from Pulj, he's awesome but they are totally different, and play different position.

Puljujarvi is quite strong the puck, especially along the boards. Not really a knock of his.

 

[Ippenator]

Seriously. Offence dies on the stick of Vatrano.

How come Vatrano suddenly sucks so badly? He won the best rookie of the season award in AHL together with Mikko Rantanen. When I saw him play he was quite ok in this tournament. Not missing chances much more than Matthews. Matthews has been really missing a lot of great chances himself. Sure three nice goals for him. But he could have easily at least three more without his own sloppy finishing. Well everyone misses some great chances sometimes. But Matthews fans are here dissing his linemates like Matthews was mister perfect. He has played well altogether in my opinion. But it can also be seen that he is still only 18 years old.

 

[vaiski]

F

Hmmm, I've watched them both play in this tourney(matthews) and Pujl in Finland U20 Liiga i don't think they look anything alike.. Skating sure but the way Matthews is strong on the puck down low on the boards but the way he just reads plays is much better than Pulj.. The defensive plays this guy makes are awesome too.. Thats nothing taking away from Pulj, he's awesome but they are totally different, and play different position.

That is just my observation, I'm not a scout. And if you didn't catch it, I meant that what I see in Matthews is most of what Pulju is but adding maturity and poise. And the way Matthews is strong on the puck is part of the what Pulju is lacking. Or rather that in high speeds the puck seems to avoid Pulju and conversely seems to stick to Matthews. Matthews might have better vision than Pulju but he is no slouch either. The bottom line is that, to me, Matthews looks like what Pulju should look like in 5 years. I hope that makes any sense.