LD Denton Mateychuk - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (2022, 12th, CBJ)

[CBJx614]

 

[57special]

A great pick by CBJ. Makes the Jiricek miss sting less.

 

[Just Linda]

A great pick by CBJ. Makes the Jiricek miss sting less.

While I seem to be pessimist about his upside compared to others, I feel he tops out as a second pairing dman, I did see flashes of what I love about him during that game.

He's got the elite skill of keeping the zone, one of the best I've seen. He keeps the puck in the o zone in a way that few others can, it's absolutely absurd at times.

I saw it a bit during the NHL game he played, kid might be closer to NHL ready than I initially thought.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[CBJWerenski8]

First career goal

 

[DuklaNation]

He'll have a permanent role once Provorov is dumped. Likely at deadline but should be sooner if Columbus GM has a brain.

Since being called up, Columbus is 10-2-1 with him in the lineup. Apparently the GM corrected an earlier mistake. Should have started the season in Columbus. These other crusty dmen aren't needed.

 

[majormajor]

Since being called up, Columbus is 10-2-1 with him in the lineup. Apparently the GM corrected an earlier mistake. Should have started the season in Columbus. These other crusty dmen aren't needed.

Easy there, Mateychuk isn't on the positive side of the ledger yet in terms of goals or expected goals. He'll get there.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

I remember when I was 12

 

[CBJx614]

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Per the athletic, he will be staying with the CBJ for the rest of the year.

Item No. 2: Mateychuk here to stay​

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell is a big believer in young players spending time in the American Hockey League before they make it to the NHL. That’s the only reason defenseman Denton Mateychukstarted the season with AHL Cleveland.

Anybody who watched Blue Jackets training camp would tell you that Mateychuk, the No. 12 pick in 2022, was clearly among the club’s top six defensemen.
Mateychuk played 27 games in Cleveland and made it look easy. He had 9-16-25 and a plus-5 rating, drawing only five minor penalties despite playing about 25 minutes per night in his first pro season.

He’s looked the part in the NHL, too.

The Blue Jackets haven’t had the “get a place” conversation with Mateychuk yet, but Waddell was pretty clear when he spoke with The Athletic before Saturday’s game.

“He’s going to be here (in Columbus),” Waddell said. “We’re really happy with how Denton’s played, and we’re looking forward to keeping him for the rest of the year.”

Mateychuk, 20, has played on the left side of the second pair, with veteran Ivan Provorov switching from left to right to make room. In 13 games, Mateychuk has 1-2-3 and a minus-2 rating, but his average ice time — 18:02 — speaks to the trust he’s built with the coaching staff.

Not bad for the youngest defenseman in the NHL.

“I feel like it’s been good,” Mateychuk said. “I’m just trying to learn every day and get better. I’ve been doing the right things.

“It’s the little details. From juniors to the (AHL) and from the (AHL) to the NHL, the little details become that much more important.”

Like every young player, Mateychuk said lining up next to players you grew up watching on TV can be daunting. His second and third NHL games were against the Boston Bruins and defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who has always been one of Mateychuk’s favorites.

His seventh NHL game was against the Pittsburgh Penguins and legendary forward Sidney Crosby, a Canadian icon.

“You just look over and go, ‘Wow, it’s pretty awesome to go against these guys,'” Mateychuk said. “I’ve always believed I could do it, but going out and proving it is a good feeling.”