Confirmed with Link: Shawn Matthias signs for $2.3M/1 Yr

[Cor]

How is this a bad thing? If none of our kids is better then Matthias why should they be in the NHL??

It is a 1yr contract and clearly getting 3rd/4th line players is easy and if thats the best we have in our development then let them develop more.

When did I say it was a bad thing

 

[Lethalsniper007]

This leaf team will be better then last years team

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

So looks like we have a good strategy:

Sign Vancouver rejects
Boost up value
Flip for picks
???
Profit

The flip for picks *is* the profit.

 

[The CyNick]

Big fan of the one year deals

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[rdogg]

This leaf team will be better then last years team

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised.

Although I am hoping for one more good tank year before starting to climb the standings.

 

[KapG]

Reading this kinda stuff makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Need more hometown guys like this.

Always been a Matthias fan too since the wjc days.

 

[Daisy Jane]

this kid is gonna make me like him.

can not get attached to draft pick fodder.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[HOCKEYGOON]

He'll get the chance to with all the ice time available to whoever works hard.

 

[ToneBone03]

This leaf team will be better then last years team

Honestly would not surprise me in the least. LOL

Been a big fan of Matthias since his WJC days.

 

[Bravid Nonahan]

I feel like even if we are a bottom 10 team next year, that the team will be 1000x more likeable because they will work hard.

 

[showtime8]

I feel like even if we are a bottom 10 team next year, that the team will be 1000x more likeable because they will work hard.

Agree.

I think with all the crap that we're expected to face as fans, I'd take a team that shows that they care.

 

[BlueBlood17]

this kid is gonna make me like him.

can not get attached to draft pick fodder.

Don't worry. Even if we fall in love with him, we can still trade him for a pick and then re-sign him next summer a la Winnik.

 

[Bluelines]

Shawn Matthias
LW | 6'4", 223 lbs. | Toronto
Birth Date:February 19, 1988 (27 years old)
Place of Birth:Mississauga, Ont.
Shoots:L Experience:8 years
Drafted: Drafted by Detroit in 2006 (2/47).

SCOUTING REPORT
Assets: Owns good size, two-way acumen, leadership qualities and face-off skills. Isn't a speedster but he does skate well. Versatile, he can play center or wing. Lanky, he has a great reach and is the type of player coaches lean heavily on late in games.

Flaws: Needs to keep working on his passing skills and overall physical strength in order to maximize his potential as a scorer and big pivot at the NHL level. Must also work on his intensity and game-to-game consistency, which may come with time.

Career Potential: Two-way forward with upside.

The bolded points are completely in line with the Detroit model.

 

[Brown Dog]

I feel like even if we are a bottom 10 team next year, that the team will be 1000x more likeable because they will work hard.

Agreed--only on the condition that Phaneuf is not part of it.

Still think there is room for Santorelli to be brought back with this group, even if they have to give him two years.

 

[TheOtherSide]

Don't know if this has been mentioned already or not, but I found this kind of interesting. I was looking at Matthias' trade history and noticed that he was traded from Detroit to Florida along with a 2nd round pick for Todd Bertuzzi. That 2nd round pick ended up turning into......Nick Spaling!

And that is all the usless information I will be sharing with yall today.

 

[Moncherry]

I'm not so sure all of these signings will be draft pick fodder. If Babcock likes them I think they will be convinced to keep some of them around. Be aware of the problems that Edmonton had, kept stockpiling elite talent but couldn't build a proper team. I think they should do the opposite and build from the ground up, establish a tough, hard-working, defensively responsible team and then inject the talent we develop through the draft.

 

[burpsalot]

I'm not so sure all of these signings will be draft pick fodder. If Babcock likes them I think they will be convinced to keep some of them around. Be aware of the problems that Edmonton had, kept stockpiling elite talent but couldn't build a proper team. I think they should do the opposite and build from the ground up, establish a tough, hard-working, defensively responsible team and then inject the talent we develop through the draft.

Yup, they are not just looking to add drafts, but pull out the diamonds in the rough that they find through the various accumulations. He might be a star defensive player, another a puck possession God, another a fantastic forechecker or another a super leader or whatever. Tie them up if it is what is best for the team, flip them if it means more to the team.

Enjoying the off season & looking forward to the season.

 

[hockeywiz542]

“my mindset is to come in and show them how badly i want to be a leaf every night,†said matthias, who visited the air canada centre early last week, presumably passed a sanity test, and had fruitful conversations with president brendan shanahan and head coach mike babcock. “this is where i want to be. It’s kind of like a tryout, i guess."

“i’ve got to go in there and show them how badly i want it. This is a dream come true, and they’re going to get the best out of me.â€

matthias is only 27, but he has been around the nhl for a while – he hit the 400-game mark last season with vancouver. He was relegated to a checking-line role there, but still managed to score 18 goals in only 13 minutes a night for the canucks, which includes time on the penalty kill.

Given all the holes in the leafs lineup, he should be in line for far more playing time than that – and perhaps his first real taste of regular duties on the power play.

Matthias should also get more of a chance on lines with slightly better offensive talents, something that has been an issue in the past. His most frequent linemates in his career include brad richardson, tomas kopecky, jack skille and mike santorelli, the definition of third-line fill-ins.

He has played for other teams in turmoil, but with coaches on hot seats, something that won’t be an issue with babcock in charge in toronto.

“i’ve had a lot of rookie head coaches in my career,†matthias explained. “i think all of them. I’m really excited for the opportunity to play for mike. I think it’s a good opportunity for me to grow as a player; he gets the best out of his players. That was a big reason for e wanting to come here.â€

 

[KapG]

So much gloriousness here.

 

[senor martinez]

This leaf team will be better then last years team

I think so too. Even the coach alone will make it better.

But we have some good new additions like this.

Now get rid of even more of our fool losers. I do not pity them after seeing the last season...

 

[crump]

If Marner becomes the new Gilmour, maybe Mathias will be the new Dave Andreychuck.

Sure looks like him. Dave had some sweet hands around the net.(I know...I am just joking)

 

[MJ65]

Another 2nd round draft pick at the deadline - good signing nevertheless

 

[BooRadley]

Its nice he has some motivation, seriously, who cares what he says. Go back to when Clarkson signed here to see the same script.