Prospect Info: Matvei Gridin - 2024 Draft #28 Overall

[JeromeHP]

At HockeyProspect.com, we ranked him at 25. He's a bit of a boom/bust type of prospect, but the talent level is high. He interviews well with teams, and some think he will choose the CHL route over the NCAA.

We talked about him in this podcast

 

[Dack]

This one surprised me a lot. I was a little disappointed when a guy who I hadn't heard of was picked shortly after a couple guys I liked (Solberg, Greentree) and before some of the others I liked (Basha, Ritchie). Especially when the scouting consensus seems to be a lot lower on him than the Flames were. However, in the USHL this year he put up points at a high rate and I'm never going to be mad at the Flames for betting on production.

I watched some highlights and shift by shift and I kind of see the vision. He's obviously talented. He's very smooth, has a great shot and seems to have good vision. Most importantly I think he's a fairly high IQ player. But I also can see why some scouts didn't like him. He doesn't seem all that involved in the play at times and can be kind of floaty.

He's going to be fun one to watch develop, his playstyle strikes me as a dead ringer for another NHLers but I can't seem to place who it is.

 

[User1996]

What CHL team owns his rights? If any.

 

[Lunatik]

What CHL team owns his rights? If any.

I don't think any, I remember seeing somewhere that he's expected to be taken in the import draft. I'm hoping either Mississauga or Kingston so he can potentially play on a line with Misa or Battaglia.

 

[User1996]

One of my big criticisms of him in my viewings was blowing the zone and not really supporting the breakout. Now having said that, it was also a criticism I had for Boisvert, so it could very well be a Muskegon systems thing. I think Gridin can be a solid puck carrier through the NZ. Big thing for me is he’s excellent making outlets from on the walls in the DZ, which is a key thing for wingers I look for.

I don't think any, I remember seeing somewhere that he's expected to be taken in the import draft. I'm hoping either Mississauga or Kingston so he can potentially play on a line with Misa or Battaglia.

Thank you! Either of those would be nice. Saginaw probably fits his current playstyle too, but could be nice to see him develop in a tighter, more pro style system.

 

[Kingpin794]

The CHL actually lifted their ban on Russians/Belarussians this year. I wanted to see Gridin develop at Michigan, which is always an offensive powerhouse, but the rumors are that Gridin will be taken in the CHL import draft this year.

Send him to Saginaw to play with Parekh?

 

[Felidae]

I watched some highlights and shift by shift and I kind of see the vision. He's obviously talented. He's very smooth, has a great shot and seems to have good vision. Most importantly I think he's a fairly high IQ player. But I also can see why some scouts didn't like him. He doesn't seem all that involved in the play at times and can be kind of floaty.

He's going to be fun one to watch develop, his playstyle strikes me as a dead ringer for another NHLers but I can't seem to place who it is.

Fortunately, I think the bolded is much easier to teach than the offensive tools he already has.

 

[Lunatik]

Gridin went 1st overall in the import draft to Val'dor

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Gridin went 1st overall in the import draft to Val'dor

Makes sense, apparently he's not going to U Mich anymore due to poor grades.

I saw it on a meme so it must be true.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Apparently, Val d'Or and Rimouski (2025 Mem Cup host) have a deal in place for Gridin.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Playing alongside Cataford and on a memorial cup host team is certainly an exciting scenario. I'd expect him to put up massive offensive numbers this upcoming season in Rimouski

 

[Lunatik]

Apparently, Val d'Or and Rimouski (2025 Mem Cup host) have a deal in place for Gridin.

that would be dope

 

[Rubi]

I think Conroy drafted really well and ended up getting players who, all things being equal, were to some extent a bit of a steal or at worse.. were drafted exactly where they should have been drafted. Except Gridin. Taking him 28th is a bit of a head scratcher to me. Frankly I have higher hopes for our 3rd pick (Basha) than our 2nd.

 

[HighLifeMan]

I think Conroy drafted really well and ended up getting players who, all things being equal, were to some extent a bit of a steal or at worse.. were drafted exactly where they should have been drafted. Except Gridin. Taking him 28th is a bit of a head scratcher to me. Frankly I have higher hopes for our 3rd pick (Basha) than our 2nd.

I always find these concerns funny.

If we drafted Basha at 28, and Gridin at 41 would you be happier? We ended up with both players regardless. He went right in the area he was projected by most (28-37).

 

[User1996]

I think Conroy drafted really well and ended up getting players who, all things being equal, were to some extent a bit of a steal or at worse.. were drafted exactly where they should have been drafted. Except Gridin. Taking him 28th is a bit of a head scratcher to me. Frankly I have higher hopes for our 3rd pick (Basha) than our 2nd.

Gridin’s potential is incredible. Picking him at 28 speaks to that. I think he’ll turn some heads and make some noise in the CHL this year. Both Basha and Gridin should be playing on Memorial Cup teams which is exciting.

 

[Rubi]

I always find these concerns funny.

If we drafted Basha at 28, and Gridin at 41 would you be happier? We ended up with both players regardless. He went right in the area he was projected by most (28-37).

Probably... LOL. I know. Its stupid... but picking him 28th just irks me... probably because I think there were better players still available then.

Griffin’s potential is incredible. Picking him at 28 speaks to that. I think he’ll turn some heads and make some noise in the CHL this year. Both Basha and Gridin should be playing on Memorial Cup teams which is exciting.

I hope you're right.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

It seems like Gridin will be traded, but not to Rimouski.

Moncton? Chicoutimi? Cape Breton?

Those are the contenders that would probably give a good return for Gridin.

 

[joescores]

Think this fella will turn into our own Pastrnak.

Keep this message in mind and call me Mystic Meg later

 

[Michael Farkas]

Hey guys,

I posted a video on Gridin over on the Prospects board - here - but I suppose it's pretty likely that most folks don't venture over to there. In a somewhat rare positive video from me, I broke down some elements of Gridin's game (namely, his playmaking process), if it's of interest...

 

[InfinityIggy]

Probably... LOL. I know. Its stupid... but picking him 28th just irks me... probably because I think there were better players still available then.


I hope you're right.

It's always tricky, it only takes one other team between 28-41 thinking this guys high ceiling is worth the risk to draft him early. Then you've taken the "consensus" guy at your first pick and the guy you really wanted is gone by your second pick.

I like that Conroy is willing to take on these seemingly riskier, but higher upside players. The goal of 1st round picks shouldn't be to find your next 3rd line winger, in my opinion.

 

[JPeeper]

It's always tricky, it only takes one other team between 28-41 thinking this guys high ceiling is worth the risk to draft him early. Then you've taken the "consensus" guy at your first pick and the guy you really wanted is gone by your second pick.

I like that Conroy is willing to take on these seemingly riskier, but higher upside players. The goal of 1st round picks shouldn't be to find your next 3rd line winger, in my opinion.

This screams Gaudreau/Kucherov in 2011. Saw something somewhere (probably bullshit just to further the narrative of Conroy being awesome, but alas) that Conroy was the one who pushed to draft Gaudreau and Kucherov. At worst he was there as an advisor to Feaster so he would have witnessed that draft.

If Conroy keeps drafting these high(er) risk, high reward players and every other draft one pops, Flames will be in very good shape.

Hopefully Gridin pops off this year in the CHL. Is 100+ points a realistic ask, I think it is.

 

[Lunatik]

This screams Gaudreau/Kucherov in 2011. Saw something somewhere (probably bullshit just to further the narrative of Conroy being awesome, but alas) that Conroy was the one who pushed to draft Gaudreau and Kucherov. At worst he was there as an advisor to Feaster so he would have witnessed that draft.

If Conroy keeps drafting these high(er) risk, high reward players and every other draft one pops, Flames will be in very good shape.

Hopefully Gridin pops off this year in the CHL. Is 100+ points a realistic ask, I think it is.

It's rarely 1 person, do I believe Conroy pushed for those guys? Absolutely, but that would have been at the behest of Button, Cummins (discovered Gaudeau) and whomever was scouting Russia for us back then (David Volek, maybe? We didn't have many Euro scouts then)

 

[MakeCgyGreatAgain]

I actually really like this pick. He’s very skilled. He needs to work on his defensive play. But he reads things so well and sets up plays as well as a top shooter. He can be the making of a Pasta. He’s that skilled. I really believe he will be our leading scorer in five years.

 

[Qubax]

This screams Gaudreau/Kucherov in 2011. Saw something somewhere (probably bullshit just to further the narrative of Conroy being awesome, but alas) that Conroy was the one who pushed to draft Gaudreau and Kucherov. At worst he was there as an advisor to Feaster so he would have witnessed that draft.

If Conroy keeps drafting these high(er) risk, high reward players and every other draft one pops, Flames will be in very good shape.

Hopefully Gridin pops off this year in the CHL. Is 100+ points a realistic ask, I think it is.

I very much agree that Gridin was a great pick.

I also think 100+ points in the CHL this year is possible.

Gridin has high end & unique offensive traits

 

[Volica]

Nickname names itself.