Cotton
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- May 13, 2013
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Not top 25 rookie, or C, or even just amongst forwards, but top 25 in the entire NHL... Atleast according to Ray Ferraro, Pierre McGuire and Bob Mackenzie.
On Tuesday Ray Ferraro was on overdrive and shared that opinion, I couldn't locate the audio and haven't heard the interview myself but they asked Pierre and Bob's reactions to that.
I cant link the audio but it can be found on the TSN site or by googling Matthews top 25.
Pierre on Naylor & Simmons
"Ray Ferraro said yesterday on this station that he's a top 25 player in the NHL, Pierre, your thought?"
"Agree, totally agree. I've been watching him for so long, going back to when Danny Granato invited me to USA hockeys development program to break down tape and meet the players. Watching him in the world juniors, watching him on tape before he was an NHL player... I remember telling Granato that I haven't seen a player more like Ronnie Francis than Auston Matthews, except the difference is Matthews is a better skater... He is definitely a top 25 player, no question."
He went on, and also talked about Marner.
Bob Mackenzie.
"Yesterday on overdrive Ferraro mentioned he thought Auston Matthews was a top 25 player in the NHL, in a league that has roughly 750 players in it that would make you top 3 percent, you agree?"
"Yeah, if he's not right there, sorry, if he's not in that group then he's most certainly very, very close. What I find is these lists tend to fluctuate on a day to day, week to week basis. The funny thing about Matthews is that even when he wasn't scoring he was playing well, never became a defensive liability, it's almost seamless the way he's came in and performed in the roll as a top offensive C in the NHL without going through many of the growing pains. And the same thing can be said with Marner, that's the thing that surprised even me who's been one of Marner biggest boosters coming out of junior hockey was how quickly he adapted, and how quickly he won over Mike Babcock. In terms of being a guy who drives play and is always the first guy back-checking, he breaks up plays defensively, he's always in the right position... So that's pretty remarkable.
For the Leafs to have Matthews, to have Marner, to have Nylander... These guys are not just good players, there not just above average players, they are elite players, and there only going to get better and better as they get older and more experience. Matthews has the physical tools right now to be, and the position gives him the advantage to be in that top percentile (3% - top 25)."
Bob went on and unfortunately I cant link it but someone else can if they wish.
My question is, do you agree with Ferraro, McGuire and Mackenzie? And if so, where exactly on that list would he rank.
On Tuesday Ray Ferraro was on overdrive and shared that opinion, I couldn't locate the audio and haven't heard the interview myself but they asked Pierre and Bob's reactions to that.
I cant link the audio but it can be found on the TSN site or by googling Matthews top 25.
Pierre on Naylor & Simmons
"Ray Ferraro said yesterday on this station that he's a top 25 player in the NHL, Pierre, your thought?"
"Agree, totally agree. I've been watching him for so long, going back to when Danny Granato invited me to USA hockeys development program to break down tape and meet the players. Watching him in the world juniors, watching him on tape before he was an NHL player... I remember telling Granato that I haven't seen a player more like Ronnie Francis than Auston Matthews, except the difference is Matthews is a better skater... He is definitely a top 25 player, no question."
He went on, and also talked about Marner.
Bob Mackenzie.
"Yesterday on overdrive Ferraro mentioned he thought Auston Matthews was a top 25 player in the NHL, in a league that has roughly 750 players in it that would make you top 3 percent, you agree?"
"Yeah, if he's not right there, sorry, if he's not in that group then he's most certainly very, very close. What I find is these lists tend to fluctuate on a day to day, week to week basis. The funny thing about Matthews is that even when he wasn't scoring he was playing well, never became a defensive liability, it's almost seamless the way he's came in and performed in the roll as a top offensive C in the NHL without going through many of the growing pains. And the same thing can be said with Marner, that's the thing that surprised even me who's been one of Marner biggest boosters coming out of junior hockey was how quickly he adapted, and how quickly he won over Mike Babcock. In terms of being a guy who drives play and is always the first guy back-checking, he breaks up plays defensively, he's always in the right position... So that's pretty remarkable.
For the Leafs to have Matthews, to have Marner, to have Nylander... These guys are not just good players, there not just above average players, they are elite players, and there only going to get better and better as they get older and more experience. Matthews has the physical tools right now to be, and the position gives him the advantage to be in that top percentile (3% - top 25)."
Bob went on and unfortunately I cant link it but someone else can if they wish.
My question is, do you agree with Ferraro, McGuire and Mackenzie? And if so, where exactly on that list would he rank.
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