C Auston Matthews - ZSC Lions, NLA (2016 Draft) IV
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FinRanger
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- Jan 15, 2013
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View attachment 90077 TBH this was the game that really mattered and Matthews did not show up big. Also had good linemates. But yeah small sample size and was not apparently that bad or anything.
The comparison is to Jack Eichel, no? Eichel had an excellent end to his season, so that could raise Eichel's stock in comparison to Matthews, right?
To be fair he could have had a couple of assists and at least a couple goals but was robbed two times. His line was putting pressure on Slovakia the whole game but it seemed they had to start from scratch every shift because the other lines weren't able to sustain much pressure. He was also taken off the ice a lot because the U.S. took some bad penalties. I agree though this was not his strongest game but it's still promising that he still looked a cut above the other players on the ice.
Very interested to see how Laine does against a stronger team in Canada. If he has a strong game I'm going to sit back and watch these pages explode ripping Matthews. I would hope people would only comment if they watched this game and had context that a young Matthews lead his team and was one of the only bright spots in the game for the U.S. even though he could have played much better.
Key word "pre-rookie." What he did in the NHL doesn't retroactively change his standing as a prospect before that, if anything it should raise the expectations on Matthews given how closely their careers have paralleled.
Well maybe, but if Eichel had for example scored 100 points, isn't your reaction "Maybe our evaluation of him was incorrect" instead of "Matthews is then going to score 120 points!"? Eichel's pretty different from Matthews, it's unsure whose skill set will be more useful in NHL, but Eichel's now a proven NHLer and with the solid ending(15p in 17gp) to his season his stock would rise.
I'm not saying that Matthews will be worse, just that at this point Eichel's rookie season shouldn't be ignored even when discussing him pre-rookie.
The Winter Soldier
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I don't think he has taken a drastic fall this draft. Matthews is still a great prospect that will be a great pick for either Toronto, Winnipeg or Columbus. But he had zero points against a fairly weak team today for a chance to better quarter final opponent. Let's hope we see his best game against the Czeches.
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Winter soldier we get it you don't like him as much as most people in hockey. Your digging to find ways to bash him. He could have easily had three or four points today and he lead his team in the WJC. Look up any gms or coaches talking about him and they struggle to find a weakness with him.
It's funny how every leafs prospect (or potential prospect) is called out for being bad in big games. Marner was ripped hard for the WJC and Nylander is being ripped now for the AHL playoffs. Matthews, Nylander, Marner are comfortably in the category of top ten best prospects outside the NHL. All three have shown already on other occasions they come up huge in big games and can single handly carry their team.
It's funny how every leafs prospect (or potential prospect) is called out for being bad in big games. Marner was ripped hard for the WJC and Nylander is being ripped now for the AHL playoffs. Matthews, Nylander, Marner are comfortably in the category of top ten best prospects outside the NHL. All three have shown already on other occasions they come up huge in big games and can single handly carry their team.
The Winter Soldier
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Where did I bash him in the post above? Can you specifically show me. And furthermore, we don't know who the Leafs are picking. If it's the other guy, what then. I am pro Leafs all of a sudden. I made a comment that I have seen fans make for other players. Let's not be so defensive. Matthews is a NHL prospect. The only thing we know for sure is he is going to one of 3 teams this draft.
No it is not unfair to expect already great things from Matthews at men's top level. I believe that if he is really worth of being the number one pick and is as special as his fans here all the time claim that he is, he would be already able to contribute even better than he has done in this WHC tournament. Especially against teams like Hungary or Slovakia.
For sure I don't claim that he is not a great prospect. But for him to be really BPA in this draft, he should really be able to be much more impressive. Laine and even Pulju have been that great this year. Matthews is still a great prospect. He just needs much more of intensity and consistency. And he sure needs to improve his passing game and defensive play a lot to be a really great two way center. But he sure has nice offensive instincts. He is already a beast in front of the goal, and his wrister is really good.
I have to say that to me he looks completely like a winger though. Maybe it would be in fact a good move to switch him to the wing? He doesn't seem to be that great in faceoffs either to really keep him as a center. As a winger he could fulfill his obviously very high class offensive talents much better.
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janesy12
Leafs Nation
The fact that you think he could fall to number three tells me all I need to know.
This actually is something I've been thinking for a while. Matthews is much more like a winger than a center. His playmaking isn't all that great especially considering he's projected as a #1 center. Of course, playmaking isn't absolutely required of centers but in my opinon Stamkos is a winger in disguise as well.
janesy12
Leafs Nation
McDavid only has 7 points in the tournament, so are you saying he hasn't been impressive and shouldn't warrant the praise he gets? By your logic Laine > McDavid.
Also Mark Stone has the same amount of points... So Stone >= McDavid?
Matthews is leading the US in scoring with roster that resembles a minor league team. Relax.
This. Everyone is on to him and has been on to him for some time. All of his arguments in this thread are massively flawed and people point out those flaws yet he doesn't acknowledge that. In his head he can't do or say no wrong and thinks everything he has to say is important. Reminds me of Skip Bayless.
Despite Matthews playing very well in every game so far, being the best player on his team, and putting up points at a pace much higher than Eichel last year, as soon as he goes pointless people come in to jump on him. Doesn't make sense. He's the obvious best player on a team with two NHL all stars. What more do you want????
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Foligno skated in the crease = Matthews choked 
The career projections a few posters make on a tiny sample size that are also largely influenced by factors out of Matthews control are baffling.
I was disappointed with Matthews play in the semi-final of the WJC (I thought he was great in the bronze game but that he didn't have any luck luck) but I can't really call him out today. He is an underager at the WC, he had a decent game with no puck luck and on another day could have had 3-4 points.
I think it's similar to if Matthews would have got 3 points today and some posters taking the other argument to hype Matthews to no end.
Edit - the people calling out Matthews after today remind me of the thread created recently titled "Can Ovechkin's career ever recover" after the Caps were eliminated.
The career projections a few posters make on a tiny sample size that are also largely influenced by factors out of Matthews control are baffling.
I was disappointed with Matthews play in the semi-final of the WJC (I thought he was great in the bronze game but that he didn't have any luck luck) but I can't really call him out today. He is an underager at the WC, he had a decent game with no puck luck and on another day could have had 3-4 points.
I think it's similar to if Matthews would have got 3 points today and some posters taking the other argument to hype Matthews to no end.
Edit - the people calling out Matthews after today remind me of the thread created recently titled "Can Ovechkin's career ever recover" after the Caps were eliminated.
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The Winter Soldier
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It should tell you to not post absolutes because in the draft stranger things have happened.
Kelly
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It tells me you either A) dont have a clue or B) only post to cause reactions.
Matthews isn't dropping to 3, thats crazy talk. Hell I'll avatar bet you he doesn't make it past Toronto 1st OA.
Yes your right he could have a career threatening injury before the draft. But if that Doesn't happen he's not falling to number three. The leafs and jets are not brain dead they see a big two way centre that is regularly being compared to the best two way centres in the NHL. That type of player rarely if ever falls to number two.
And the people saying he should be switched to a winger need to just stop. At mid season this guy was a lock at first overall a franchise centre to whoever picked him.
Now the Leafs win the draft he turns into a centre/ winger who's got apparently glaring weaknesses in his game and could fall to number three. I can't wait until draft night when this is all put to bed.
AD1066
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- Sep 30, 2011
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Stamkos should be a winger because he's not very good in his own end. That's really the only thing you base a prospect on when it comes to C vs W. The faceoffs is the last thing you worry about when developing 18-19 year olds. He's D positioning is pretty solid but best of all he's extremely responsible about being the first forward back and covering the 3rd forward in, that's what you look for in a centreman, not whether he's a pass first player or shoot first player. Mats Sundin is the example of another type of Stamkos/Matthews who was shoot a shoot first C but was much more defensively responsible than Stamkos is.
The Winter Soldier
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That's fine. All I am saying is my absolute of him going in the top 3 is a more safe statement that errs on being cautious rather than proclaiming an absolute Matthews is a lock for #1. I have seen many drafts and nothing should be able lock. Barring a Mcdavid once a decade prospect. Saying that, yes, It would not surprise me if Matthews went #1. Nor would it if he didn't. All I know for sure is top 3.
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That's not how I view Matthews at all. He looks like an ideal C, who will probably score at a high rate. He does everything a top C should do. He has great vision and I think you are under-rating his playmaking. He's also very consistent in his positioning as a C.
Stamkos is definitely more of a winger / sniper in disguise. If the Leafs are considering Stamkos, then a Matthews-Stamkos combination makes a lot more sense than a Laine-Stamkos combination. Laine and Stamkos would be bumping into each other all the time looking for the one-timer on the off wing.
