JPT
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- Jul 4, 2024
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Prospect Info: Matthew Wood - RW | 15th Overall | 2023 NHL Draft
- Thread starter Scoresberg
- Start date
Bjornar Moxnes
Fordi fellesskap fungerer
For those who have followed him this season, what exactly caused him to dip in production and what is the expected outlook for him in the future?
Porter Stoutheart
Seen Stamkos?
- Jun 14, 2017
- 16,278
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Well, last season the whole Connecticut team scored a fair bit less. If one wanted to compare his stats to the team...
2022-23: Connecticut 113g/185a/298pts; Wood 11g(9.7%)/23a(12.4%)/34pts(11.4%)
(Team record 20-12-3)
2023-24: Connecticut 90g/141a/231pts; Wood 16g(17.8%)/12a(8.5%)/28pts(12.1%)
(Team record 15-19-2)
... so his total production wasn't necessarily a "dip" relative to the whole team offense dipping and the team being weaker overall. And one could also surmise that his increased goal share and reduced assists is also a reflection on the team around him being less talented (fewer passing options/conversion of his passes).
I guess the hope for next season is to see him flourish in a stronger program at UofMinnesota, surrounded by quite a few more drafted prospects. I would imagine a goal would be around 40+ pts, plus a strong WJC.
What happens with him in the future? I guess we'll see what he does with his skating issues mostly. He seemed to pick up a lot more PIMs last season, I don't know if that is indicative of him playing more aggressively/physically or not, but anything he can add to his game on that front would help. James Neal was pretty chippy for us while not being a great skater... if Wood can bring that sort of game down the road, maybe more as a playmaker than finisher compared to Neal, but something along that level of a player, that'd be alright?
Scoresberg
Perpetual Mediocrity
Wood opens up his season in University of Minnesota with 3 assists and a +5 in a 7-1 win.
AintLifeGrand
Burnin Jet-A
about as agood of a start as we could have hoped for
i like the playmaking version of matt wood more than the 1 dimensional goal scorer
Scoresberg
Perpetual Mediocrity
Wood continuing his strong start in Minnesota. 7 points in 4 games this far.
AintLifeGrand
Burnin Jet-A
Yea hes been looking good. Only 2nd on team scoring though
predfan24
Registered User
- Jul 12, 2006
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He couldnt be a playmaker last season because the other players on his team couldnt score.
fyi -I asked about him on the Wild board
Smart player, finds the right spots on the ice, great shot. Would need to see a lot more, but my impression is he would be a complimentary player at the NHL level, more of a finisher than a driver of possession. Those kinds of guys are harder to project and rely a bit more on their specific situations.
Could he be in the NHL in two years? Maybe if everything went perfectly, but when would he likely be an actually effective NHL player? When he has developed enough physically to overmatch NHLers on net drives and win his puck battles, probably 4-6 years if he has the commitment to get there.
He is a worthy project if you need a shooting winger, but guys without lots of speed haven't been as successful recently. He doesn't have the skating of a Tuch or Raymond and that could limit his top potential. Victor Oloffson is going to sound like a harsh comparison, but I think they are similar in their projected ideal roles on the PP and in more sheltered 5v5 minutes. With a great two way 3C on his line, he could make a big splash.
Another goal and assist through two periods, his goal was a really nice shot.
Cut from the WJC after making the team last year . This sucks as I was looking forward to watching him play . It almost never happens that they cut someone the year after making the team. He must be really disappointed. He did score in the exhibition they played.
Maybe over thinking this, but this cut to me is likely because of how specific of a niche he currently fills. He really seems to be a top line shot that needs other guys creating space so that he can work to get his shot off. Not physical enough to fit the bottom lines and doesn't do enough other things to play in the top 6 with a well-built team. I also wonder if he's able to skate with that higher level of line.
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Bringer of Jollity
Registered User
Scoresberg
Perpetual Mediocrity
Posted this on the prospects thread:
Never a good look when a returnee can't make the team. But I guess Canada had more options this year than they did last year.
They did also cut 2024 3OA Sennecke and WHL points leader Cristall. I figure they had clear roles they wanted to fill with their guys, and Wood's really not a bottom-six guy.
So, not overly concerning when you factor in everything. Hopefully, this decision lights a fire under him and he torches NCAA this year.
Never a good look when a returnee can't make the team. But I guess Canada had more options this year than they did last year.
They did also cut 2024 3OA Sennecke and WHL points leader Cristall. I figure they had clear roles they wanted to fill with their guys, and Wood's really not a bottom-six guy.
So, not overly concerning when you factor in everything. Hopefully, this decision lights a fire under him and he torches NCAA this year.
I don't really see the need to have a negative outlook on the guy. He hasn't played a second of professional hockey yet but he's still over PPG in the NCAA
glenngineer
Registered User
Regarding Wood, I was at the little 3 on 3 tournament after the draft. He looked "thrilled" to be there and by that I mean, he didn't look interested or invested. Surin, Stiga, Gibson, Fink, Lind, and a few others stood out. I don't remember much about Wood except for a good shot now and again, beyond that, looked slow and played like, whatever.
Yup, I watched as well. Struggled to keep up, but if he got his shot off it was nice. Skating has to improve as a shock to absolutely nobody. Just a complete wait and see approach to him as a prospect. Very boom or bust.
Scoresberg
Perpetual Mediocrity
I vividly remember watching Wood at the U18's in 2023. He wasn't a line driver then, he won't be a line driver going forward.
What he did have was that "it" factor. Like when Canada needed a big play, Wood would jump out and provide it to them. With limited opportunities, he made it count time after time.
Jason Robertson is probably the most NHL-comparable player to him. Big guys who don't look or skate fast but get the job done nonetheless. I understand Team Canada's desire to go for the flashier and more "driver" guys in their top line.
Porter Stoutheart
Seen Stamkos?
- Jun 14, 2017
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- 12,947
That U18 is the only time I ever actually watched Wood, so I got pretty excited for him as our pick. He was just walking guys. His speed wasn't as much of an issue. But... 3 years later... he hasn't grown any bigger or gotten any faster. So that's the problem now. What worked amazingly well against 17-year old players isn't quite the same against 20+ guys if you aren't actually getting better.
I'm actually really worried about the Wood pick. I lauded it at the time, mea culpa. But 1 PPG in a junior year in the NCAA for a top NHL pick isn't great at all. And Minnesota is a real powerhouse, almost every player on the team is an NHL draft pick, which is a far cry from the supporting case he had at UConn. For once, this isn't on the Preds in terms of development flat-lining since he hasn't arrived here yet. But I really thought the player would grow more and improve on some of the physical shortcomings from his draft year. It doesn't seem to be happening, and getting cut from Team Canada is a major red flag.
Maybe I'm off base and if I watched him play more I'd see that he's actually standing out and "doing all the little things" despite his very pedestrian production level... but just from the stats-watching armchair perspective, I'd be calling "Bust" on this pick atm. Sorry.
AintLifeGrand
Burnin Jet-A
If you look at his NCAA game though, thats not the case...he is a playmaker not a sniper (although he has a great shot)
