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Prospect Info: Matt Finn

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I've been critical of Finn's skating for awhile but its not Luke Schenn bad.

From what I've watched Finn's biggest issue is with oncoming speed in the neutral zone and being able to effective turn/pivot smoothly towards the boards and handle the forwards pace. His feet become really heavy when having to make this subtle turn and thus gets burned fairly frequently. It's good we have such a wonderful skating coach and hopefully she can improve this because I like the rest of his game.
 
weems said:
I've been critical of Finn's skating for awhile but its not Luke Schenn bad.

From what I've watched Finn's biggest issue is with oncoming speed in the neutral zone and being able to effective turn/pivot smoothly towards the boards and handle the forwards pace. His feet become really heavy when having to make this subtle turn and thus gets burned fairly frequently. It's good we have such a wonderful skating coach and hopefully she can improve this because I like the rest of his game.
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I like what you've said here. Finn is obviously a great leader and a stand-up guy with a nose for passing, scoring, and play-making. I am concerned about lack of physicality and his skating. Those two things are obstacles that 99% of the time stops a prospect from going on to the next level. These days - if you have trouble skating at an elite level - you must be super physical and play super pay-the-price hockey - like Mike Weaver for example.
 
Bullseye said:
Sent down today to begin a couple of years learning with the Marlies.
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I am hoping he can pick it up from what he has shown so far. I like parts of his game a bunch. The stuff he is weak at (skating, gap control, strength along the boards) is really going to hurt him in the AHL.
 
sommervr said:
I am hoping he can pick it up from what he has shown so far. I like parts of his game a bunch. The stuff he is weak at (skating, gap control, strength along the boards) is really going to hurt him in the AHL.
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I would say that the storm games I were at that this was one of Finn's greatest strengths. I think having a different defensive partner, trying to make an impression, and the change in style/level of competition made him look worse than he is.

I think he's very good at keeping the gap between him and opposing forwards to the perfect size so he can still check/pokecheck them as well as have enough room that fast forwards don't get around him. He's a smart defensive player that is willing to take the body and I think he'll be a important part of the marlies defense this year.
 
He will be fine in the AHL, he is only 20 and will learn how tot be a pro. I don't think he is going to be a steady top 4 guy over his career, but will be a 4-6, 2nd PP type of guy.
 
He was the only defenseman coming out of junior who was in camp (save for Donaghey who was an invite). Given the names locked up on D, I'm not surprised he didn't make it far. At the same time, you hope he would have been kept around for a game (or even practice), but they have bigger fish to fry at this point.

Maybe it was a kick in the pants that they cut him this soon? He'll have competition with the Marlies to be in the starting six, but also opportunity to rise up the depth chart if he plays to his potential (depending on who the Marlies bring in on D).
 
I didn't think he had any chance to make the team, but I figured they'd let him kick around for a game or two just for the experience. Do the Marlies even have much of a camp operating right now?
 
Nothing unexpected here. Finn needs a few years with the Marlies.
 
Finn must not have been able to keep up if he doesn't even get a preseason game in. If kid has good character, this will make him hungry to improve.
 
Just hope his development didn't peak the game before the M-Cup final last year where he was minus 3 and looked completely outmatched.

He's young and the Leafs are handling him the right way. Get him outa the spotlight - get his fundamentals going in the right direction - teach him how to skate with speed and power. Develop confidence again.
 
We all know Dman take some time to develop. It's his 2nd year after being drafted, if he takes until 23 to come up, but is a complete #4 RHD dman because of it, then this is great.

Still has great potential.
 
Corporal Komarov said:
We all know Dman take some time to develop. It's his 2nd year after being drafted, if he takes until 23 to come up, but is a complete #4 RHD dman because of it, then this is great.

Still has great potential.
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Not saying your wrong but I hear this exact statement a ton from Leaf fans on here. Guys normally show off their top end talent when young but have to work on their consistency and the deficient parts of their game.

But I've rarely seen slow defensemen over come their slowness. Franson is doing that this year. But it is not common... They normally have other truly dominant skills that help them stick.
 
Remember Finn got injured in Marlies training camp. From watching the games, he wasnt 100% yet and Gord Dineen said Matt didnt get off to a great start with the injury and wasnt able to play at a high level because of that.
Has looked very solid at the ECHL and should be back up soon
 
Being sent down to the ECHL is not the worse thing for him. Hopefully he can use it to work on his skating and fundamentals. As someone mentioned he was injured during training camp and it could of played a role in his slow start to the season.


I am hoping he can be brought back up soon though and start working with Barb on a consistent basis. She could really do wonders for the kid.


If he becomes a #4 LHD we would be doing great.
 
Mystifo said:
Being sent down to the ECHL is not the worse thing for him. Hopefully he can use it to work on his skating and fundamentals. As someone mentioned he was injured during training camp and it could of played a role in his slow start to the season.


I am hoping he can be brought back up soon though and start working with Barb on a consistent basis. She could really do wonders for the kid.


If he becomes a #4 LHD we would be doing great.
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Why do people think that a skating instructor is going to change a bad skating player into an NHL skating player...He struggled with the speed of the game at the AHL level....He is a very smart player and because of that he may make the NHL...

I said it before when we drafted him....we selected him to high.
 
I love how people say we selected him too high
I could make the same point about Rielly based on where other d man are in his draft class
 
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