RW Matthew Wood – Univ. of Minnesota, NCAA (2023, 15th, NSH)

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Worrying statement regarding the CH and the 2023 draft

With the NHL trade deadline behind us, the focus is now on the 2023 draft for the Montreal Canadiens.

www.habsfanatics.com

Is Wood the player Brian Wilde is talking about?

The physicality part doesn't match but for the rest it could.

Wood has put up impressive numbers for a February born 17/18 yo in the NCAA.

Fantilli's in another stratosphere but Wood has put up numbers you don't see often as a draft year prospect playing in the NCAA. And he's not even a late born.

Skating is a concern but at 6'3" 185/190 pds, he'll certainly add muscles to his legs which could certainly ends up as his acceleration/first steps getting better.

He'd be a reach at Habs draft pick, but if they fall out of the top 5, with his size, skill set + impressive numbers in the NCAA, he'd certainly be a interesting gamble.

Brian Wilde is someone who catches an air for something and, in his quest to be first, extrapolates as if he's Sherlock Holmes and comes out with a shoe in his mouth 90% of the time.

And I think he meant Reinbacher.

 

[majormajor]

I see a lot of Laine in Wood but not the part that makes me want to take him. Laine is maddening to watch.



For me Wood's skating is a big problem. The top speed isn't an issue but it usually isn't the issue with bad skaters. It's not for Laine either. First step quickness and quick pivots are more important. How good of a skater someone is with an airport runway in front of them isn't as relevant for NHL hockey.

I still think this way in general but regarding Wood his skating looks much better to me in recent video. I think he might justifiably go pretty high.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Brian Wilde is someone who catches an air for something and, in his question be first, extrapolates as if he's Sherlock Holmes and comes out with a shoe in his mouth 90% of the time.

And I think he meant Reinbacher.

Wood isn’t really physical from by viewings either, so I doubt it’s Wood he is talking about.

Reinbacher is a player that can be real easy to become Infatuated with if you draft off of size and physicality.

 

[lilidk]

I still think this way in general but regarding Wood his skating looks much better to me in recent video. I think he might justifiably go pretty high.

How high?

 

[montreal]

How high?

I would think he goes top 15 as some team will overlook the skating/speed for the very impressive shot/size combo.

 

[lilidk]

Is he a center or RW?

 

[lilidk]

I would think he goes top 15 as some team will overlook the skating/speed for the very impressive shot/size combo.

Don't know much about skating technic , but for big guy is not as important, hockey IQ and compete is and skating could improve

 

[majormajor]

How high?

Around 10.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

really like this bloke for the 2nd Preds pick (hopefully an early unceremonious exit for the oilers)

This guy got 40 goal upside ??

 

[Cowumbus]

He can’t skate very well. Personally that is a huge concern to me.

Keep in mind, I said that about Kaliyev too but he seems to be doing ok lol

 

[GermanSpitfire]

He can’t skate very well. Personally that is a huge concern to me.

Keep in mind, I said that about Kaliyev too but he seems to be doing ok lol

Wood reminds me a lot of Jason Robertson.

Take that as you will.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Around 10.

His size and skill coupled with a lot of the higher up players being smaller and not Bedard will get him drafted top 10 in my books, too.

I'd be very surprised if he's still on the board past 12

 

[WeThreeKings]

Worrying statement regarding the CH and the 2023 draft

With the NHL trade deadline behind us, the focus is now on the 2023 draft for the Montreal Canadiens.

www.habsfanatics.com

Is Wood the player Brian Wilde is talking about?

The physicality part doesn't match but for the rest it could.

Wood has put up impressive numbers for a February born 17/18 yo in the NCAA.

Fantilli's in another stratosphere but Wood has put up numbers you don't see often as a draft year prospect playing in the NCAA. And he's not even a late born.

Skating is a concern but at 6'3" 185/190 pds, he'll certainly add muscles to his legs which could certainly ends up as his acceleration/first steps getting better.

He'd be a reach at Habs draft pick, but if they fall out of the top 5, with his size, skill set + impressive numbers in the NCAA, he'd certainly be a interesting gamble.

Wilde is talking about Reinbacher and Dvorsky.. that being said, he's extrapolating a lot from internet discussions with guys who have questionable sources at best, or made-up sources at worst.

Don't concern yourself too much with what Wilde is putting out there, nor Montreal Hockey Now.

Is he a center or RW?

He'd have to play RW with his feet.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Would love the Flames to get him.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Wood reminds me a lot of Jason Robertson.

Take that as you will.

That's the hope but Robertson is strong as a mule and gets his nose dirty. That's not really Wood's game. Wood is more of a finesse player. He'll have to amp things up at the next level to make up for his skating issues.

 

[57special]

That's the hope but Robertson is strong as a mule and gets his nose dirty. That's not really Wood's game. Wood is more of a finesse player. He'll have to amp things up at the next level to make up for his skating issues.

Yes, now, but that was not his rep when he was a prospect. Always liked Robertson, though. One of those guys who always seemed to make the right play.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Yes, now, but that was not his rep when he was a prospect. Always liked Robertson, though. One of those guys who always seemed to make the right play.

Robertson was a guy who should have just been scouted by the stats. They all said he was exceptional, but his horrible skating dropped him to the 2nd round. I think a similar case for Wood can be made.

 

[57special]

Robertson was a guy who should have just been scouted by the stats. They all said he was exceptional, but his horrible skating dropped him to the 2nd round. I think a similar case for Wood can be made.

Every time I watched him his hockey sense jumped out at me. I also didn’t see horrible skating. “Scouts” said the same about Lundell’s skating.
Now, if Wood is a big dopey guy with mediocre skating who is only scoring points because he is much bigger than his competition and physically bullying them I can see the hesitation about him, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

 

[Castle8130]

Worrying statement regarding the CH and the 2023 draft

With the NHL trade deadline behind us, the focus is now on the 2023 draft for the Montreal Canadiens.

www.habsfanatics.com

Is Wood the player Brian Wilde is talking about?

The physicality part doesn't match but for the rest it could.

Wood has put up impressive numbers for a February born 17/18 yo in the NCAA.

Fantilli's in another stratosphere but Wood has put up numbers you don't see often as a draft year prospect playing in the NCAA. And he's not even a late born.

Skating is a concern but at 6'3" 185/190 pds, he'll certainly add muscles to his legs which could certainly ends up as his acceleration/first steps getting better.

He'd be a reach at Habs draft pick, but if they fall out of the top 5, with his size, skill set + impressive numbers in the NCAA, he'd certainly be a interesting gamble.

I really don't think so. The guy is likely Danil But or Reinbacher, but they aren't that off the board. If they are talking way off the board, maybe Kasper Halttunen. Wood Isn't physical enough based on how Wilde was describing the players.

 

[Bubbles]

Wood's never played centre and I see some lazy reporting by a few outlets. He's not a C and has never played there!

 

[WeThreeKings]

I really don't think so. The guy is likely Danil But or Reinbacher, but they aren't that off the board. If they are talking way off the board, maybe Kasper Halttunen. Wood Isn't physical enough based on how Wilde was describing the players.

Luckily Wilde's article is all off of baseless conclusions from people on Twitter.

He was referring to Reinbacher and Dvorsky, however.

 

[Bubbles]

U-18 Scouting Report: Matthew Wood

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button profiles one of the top-ranked forwards of the 2023 NHL Draft.

www.tsn.ca

Button: "There's no way teams want to go past a big player that skates so well.."

He has to be trolling at this point, right? It's like his biggest weakness and now we have Button saying he skates so well. Sometimes I don't think he watches hockey at all.

It would be like saying that Bedard has a mediocre shot.

 

[Castle8130]

Luckily Wilde's article is all off of baseless conclusions from people on Twitter.

He was referring to Reinbacher and Dvorsky, however.

Dvorsky makes sense, but I didn't think he was an "off the board" player in my mind.

 

[Hale The Villain]

His skating isn't bad enough to push him out of the top 10-15.

Had the highest scoring 16YR old BCHL season out of any player since the lockout (see this), and followed it up with the highest scoring 17YR old NCAA season out of any player since the lockout (see this).

If he improves his footspeed he could be a star. His offensive skills package combined with his massive frame makes him extremely enticing.

 

[NotProkofievian]

His skating isn't bad enough to push him out of the top 10-15.

Had the highest scoring 16YR old BCHL season out of any player since the lockout (see this), and followed it up with the highest scoring 17YR old NCAA season out of any player since the lockout (see this).

If he improves his footspeed he could be a star. His offensive skills package combined with his massive frame makes him extremely enticing.

His resume is impeccable, and when I watch him play I get the feeling that he can be something special. Like, if he becomes less awkward with age, and gets faster and more coordinated, imagine what he could be. As prospect nerds we all dream of ranking a guy like him top 5 and watching him become a PPG player.

Have to buy the ticket to take the ride.