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

[Ippenator]

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.

I agree with this quite much. Especially his wrister from difficult situations in the crowd with quick release is exceptional. He is the best of the top three prospects in that definitely. But he lacks the slapshot and the onetimer that both Laine and Pulju have. Wrister is almost the class that Laine has, and clearly better than Pulju's.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

His linemates are definitely bringing his totals down, guys like Vatrano and Schroeder have a serious case of tunnel vision whenever the puck is on their sticks.
Oh well, US is more focused on developing the young guys at this level. Matthews has been great for USA.

 

[IFK]

I agree with this quite much. Especially his wrister from difficult situations in the crowd with quick release is exceptional. He is the best of the top three prospects in that definitely. But he lacks the slapshot and the onetimer that both Laine and Pulju have. Wrister is almost the class that Laine has, and clearly better than Pulju's.

I disagree. Laine's wrister is deadly just after blue line (watch his goal youtube if you didn't know this), it's just so hard and accurate that Matthews don't match that even closely. Matthews have good and accurate wrister too, but it's deadly just some meters close to goal and he need to be better place to get that goal (also watch Matthews goals in youtube if you didn't know this either). Puljujärvi otherwise have harder wrister too than Matthews, but it's not that accurate.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

Matthews skates and puck handles like Malkin.

 

[NarcoPolo]

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.

Hes a great ahl player at this point in time, in the NHL its a different story. Certainly no Barkov by any means

 

[FrozenJagrt]

I disagree. Laine's wrister is deadly just after blue line (watch his goal youtube if you didn't know this), it's just so hard and accurate that Matthews don't match that even closely. Matthews have good and accurate wrister too, but it's deadly just some meters close to goal and he need to be better place to get that goal (also watch Matthews goals in youtube if you didn't know this either). Puljujärvi otherwise have harder wrister too than Matthews, but it's not that accurate.

I think the reason Matthews' wrister only seems good in close is because he spends most of his time there. Not a lot of opportunities for long wrist shots when you're always driving to the net

 

[NiL8r87]

Laine's wrister is deadly just after blue line (watch his goal youtube if you didn't know this), it's just so hard and accurate that Matthews don't match that even closely. Matthews have good and accurate wrister too, but it's deadly just some meters close to goal and he need to be better place to get that goal (also watch Matthews goals in youtube if you didn't know this either). Puljujärvi otherwise have harder wrister too than Matthews, but it's not that accurate.

Disagree. Their wristers both look around the same to me, just a tier below world-class compared to guys like Kessel, Ovechkin and Kovalchuk.

 

[IronHalen]

Are you kidding, i think he can skate whit puck and after blueline just score wrister? But he can't cause it's not that hard and accurate, you Matthews fans find so much so awkward explanations that i don't know should i laugh or cry.

Have you even watched Matthews play and shoot? His wrist shot is lethal from everywhere. Please stop spitting out blind false facts.

 

[BWDude]

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.

Oh simply because I wish Matthews had a winger of Laine's, or heck even Jokinen's calibre. Watch him today, I watched this game and the Finland game very closely today and Matthews looked like American Barkov-lite out there. Creates so much but Vatrano is simply less good than the guys on Finland, and it's awful to see.

Against AHLers, of course Vatrano look good, but being just "ok" isn't good enough when you are a center trying to keep up production wise with guys on that Finnish squad and he is being sht on because of it. Matthews is leading the team in scoring (with Larkin) right now and it's infuriating seeing how Matthews has to drive the powerplay and threading passes through to a guy that just fumbles it (happened like 3-4 times this game) when he could've 1 timed it. In the other hand you just have Laine receiving the pass and just blasting it, when I want Matthews to try much of the same, but he cant because of linemates.

 

[IFK]

Matthews skates and puck handles like Malkin.

I agree, i see him so much Malkin, not elite two-way forward (there is zero evidence for that and he wont go defence first), but elite offensive and scoring center like Malkin. They are so similar.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

There's plenty of evidence of his two way play just from this tournament alone. Also considering him potentially playing for and developing under Babcock.

Pretty excited to have our own Barkov type of centreman, a guy who can get things done at both ends.

 

[YWGinYYZ]

We are not going to resurrect the Matthews vs. Laine mega-thread in the individual player threads. Please stay on topic. OT posts will be deleted without warning.

 

[IFK]

The only thing awkward in this thread is your sentence structure jk, I think you should head over to the Matthews vs Laine thread on the Main Board.

I think you are too much blind like so many Matthews fan here, i have read his two-way game is like Kopitar, Toews, he will score 50 goals and will made 100 points, so that is awkward and laughable. Laine have every scoring aspects better than Matthews, but Matthews is center and he is like Malkin. And after all, i am also Matthews fan, i am also Toronto fan so i will be AM fan next 15 years or so. So don't talk about for me that kind of rubbish.

 

[NarcoPolo]

I think you are too much blind like so many Matthews fan here, i have read his two-way game is like Kopitar, Toews, he will score 50 goals and will made 100 points, so that is awkward and laughable. Laine have every scoring aspects better than Matthews, but Matthews is center and he is like Malkin. And after all, i am also Matthews fan, i am also Toronto fan so i will be AM fan next 15 years or so. So don't talk about for me that kind of rubbish.

no rational fan expects him to put up 100 points. its very rare that it even happens today. Idk why youre calling out his two-way game either, pretty much every scout thats watched him has applauded him for being a complete player with high offensive upside and has compared him to the big strong two way centers in the league.

Again if you want to constantly compare him with Laine there is another thread for that

 

[IFK]

no rational fan expects him to put up 100 points. its very rare that it even happens today. Idk why youre calling out his two-way game either, pretty much every scout thats watched him has applauded him for being a complete player with high offensive upside and has compared him to the big strong two way centers in the league.

Again if you want to constantly compare him with Laine there is another thread for that

He is too sloppy in own end, he wont go defense first (like Kopitar, Toews, Barkov and they did that before they drafted), he make there lot of mistakes. Finnish national team long time coach say that same in studio pre game, when he was asked Matthews weakness and he say two-way game is his serious weakness and they show Matthews sloppy play in some videos.

I have seen Barkov in 16-17 years old and he was another planet in his two-way game than Matthews and now Barkov is one of the best already in NHL at 20 years old. When you look those players in same age, there is just not that in Matthews. I don't know was it first Button who praise his two-way game, but i don't care if all scouts in whole world would say that, he just hasn't that in his game. He is Malkin, not Kopitar.

 

[IronHalen]

He is too sloppy in own end, he wont go defense first (like Kopitar, Toews, Barkov and they did that before they drafted), he make there lot of mistakes. Finnish national team long time coach say that same in studio pre game, when he was asked Matthews weakness and he say two-way game is his serious weakness and they show Matthews sloppy play in some videos.

I have seen Barkov in 16-17 years old and he was another planet in his two-way game than Matthews and now Barkov is one of the best already in NHL at 20 years old. When you look those players in same age, there is just not that it. I don't know was it first Button who praise his two-way game, but i don't care if all scouts in whole world would say that, he just hasn't that in his game. He is Malkin, not Kopitar.

Super-scout IFK reporting for duty. Because why trust people that scout for a living?

 

[Liminality]

He is too sloppy in own end, he wont go defense first (like Kopitar, Toews, Barkov and they did that before they drafted), he make there lot of mistakes. Finnish national team long time coach say that same in studio pre game, when he was asked Matthews weakness and he say two-way game is his serious weakness and they show Matthews sloppy play in some videos.

I have seen Barkov in 16-17 years old and he was another planet in his two-way game than Matthews and now Barkov is one of the best already in NHL at 20 years old. When you look those players in same age, there is just not that in Matthews. I don't know was it first Button who praise his two-way game, but i don't care if all scouts in whole world would say that, he just hasn't that in his game. He is Malkin, not Kopitar.

Are we watching the same game? Are we watching the same person? Are you okay?

 

[DraberlyakMcHallkins*]

that goal was pretty damn nice, takes a lot of skill and poise with the puck to pull that off. very impressed

 

[IFK]

Super-scout IFK reporting for duty. Because why trust people that scout for a living?

Scouts are always right, right? Are Matthews BPA, maybe. Will be Toronto dradt him first, i am pretty sure. Matthews is Malkin type center, not Kopitar just take it. Matthews play this year in Europe, give me one, one scouting report some European scout who see him elite two-way forward, just one?

 

[snizzbone*]

Matthews two-way game has been praised for YEARS. If a Finnish TV station actually had their coach say that was his weakness, and then use random clips of him making bad defensive plays.. just lol.

 

[Willy Styles]

Scouts are always right, right? Are Matthews BPA, maybe. Will be Toronto dradt him first, i am pretty sure. Matthews is Malkin type center, not Kopitar just take it. Matthews play this year in Europe, give me one, one scouting report some European scout who see him elite two-way forward, just one?

But IFK is always right, right?

 

[IFK]

But IFK is always right, right?

No, but he is not the level where Kopitar, Toews and Barkov was in younger age what Matthews is now. I hope i am wrong, cause my favorite team is Toronto, so i hope he come Kopitar with 50 goals and 100 point player every year and win 10 SC to Toronto.

 

[Liminality]

No, but he is not the level where Kopitar, Toews and Barkov was in younger age what Matthews is now. I hope i am wrong, cause my favorite team is Toronto, so i hope he come Kopitar with 50 goals and 100 point player every year and win 10 SC to Toronto.

"He has all the tools to become a world-class, two-way center in the mold of [Chicago Blackhawks captain] Jonathan Toews or [Los Angeles Kings center] Anze Kopitar," said Thomas Roost, who evaluates draft prospects in Switzerland for NHL Central Scouting.

That's what we hear all the time from scouts, of course nobody knows if he'll get to that point but he's clearly shown he's got the potential for it. It's the small details that Matthews does, not everything is tracked so easily for people to gush over like goals and assists.

 

[Future]

I'm not going to speak for anyone but myself but Matthews' two way game has been extremely noticeable for me. He's so advanced for his age it's ridiculous. He forces turnovers, wins battles, steals pucks, comes back deep, and starts the breakout. His positioning is also very good as he keeps his man to the outside all of the time.

I don't know what more you want from him defensively and I have not seen any sloppiness from him at all this tournament, especially in his own zone.

 

[Edgelord]

Scouts are always right, right? Are Matthews BPA, maybe. Will be Toronto dradt him first, i am pretty sure. Matthews is Malkin type center, not Kopitar just take it. Matthews play this year in Europe, give me one, one scouting report some European scout who see him elite two-way forward, just one?

Don't forget European scouts and North American scouts are going to have different priorities. A North American Scout is going to look for qualities that will work in the NHL while a European Scout may focus more on things that work over there.

So usually I will default to a scout/scouts that have a better idea of whats needed to thrive in the NHL.
SO most of the Noth American Scouts liking Matthews more bodes well for the Leafs, the Europen scouts liking Laine bodes well for WHC's