@)
arty:
Last season, there was buzz near the bottom of the standings as teams jockeyed for position for the right to pick either Eichel or McDavid.
There hasn’t been as much chatter about the draft this year, but scouts see a player every bit as generational as McDavid or Eichel in Matthews.
One compared the 6-foot-2, 188-pound Matthews to Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar. Another brought up Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. Both players have five Stanley Cups between them. Toews has been a Selke Trophy finalist four times – winning the award once. Kopitar is a two-time Selke finalist.
Said a European amateur scout, “He’s the perfect player ... size, tools, skills, sense, finishing ability, driven personality. It’s tough to find any faults. He wants to be like Toews. Tells a lot and it’s quite accurate.”
Said a North American scout, “He’s your typical franchise centerman who can do everything. He’s a Kopitar type of mold where he’s big and powerful and smooth and can make plays in all different manners and he competes.”
The North American scout added, “He competes at both ends. The impressive part of it is he’s not giving up anything offensively. He drives the bus offensively as much as any of these top guys you talk about.”
Matthews is currently playing with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss League, which has led to some intrigue this year. There’s less noise about him, probably because there are fewer easily viewable highlights in North America.
Still, scouts have been watching Matthews play for a long time. If anything, his advanced age ( he was two days shy of being eligible for the 2015 draft) means they’ve seen more of a body of work out of him leading into the draft.
“Last year he could have been ready to play in the NHL this season. He’s that strong, he’s got power to him, he’s got man-strength to him and he has a maturity about his game the way he competes everywhere,” the North American scout said. “He’ll be ready next year but he could have been ready this year. He’s an impressive package with his skill and his strength.”
In some ways, Matthews’ unconventional path to the NHL, as an American through Europe rather and junior or college, could make him more of a finished product. In the Swiss League he’s playing against men – and has turned into the Lions’ first-line center, producing 25 points in 22 games played.
“He wants the puck and I say that in the sense that he’ll battle and compete for every loose puck. He’ll battle and compete to gain position on the play and get good position in front of the net and when he’s got the puck he can protect the puck, cycle the puck and get it to the net so he’s got the power forward element to his game but he’s also got the slick hands and moves and the finish,” Marr said. “He’s as complete a package that you’re going to find.”
There hasn’t been as much chatter about the draft this year, but scouts see a player every bit as generational as McDavid or Eichel in Matthews.
One compared the 6-foot-2, 188-pound Matthews to Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar. Another brought up Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. Both players have five Stanley Cups between them. Toews has been a Selke Trophy finalist four times – winning the award once. Kopitar is a two-time Selke finalist.
Said a European amateur scout, “He’s the perfect player ... size, tools, skills, sense, finishing ability, driven personality. It’s tough to find any faults. He wants to be like Toews. Tells a lot and it’s quite accurate.”
Said a North American scout, “He’s your typical franchise centerman who can do everything. He’s a Kopitar type of mold where he’s big and powerful and smooth and can make plays in all different manners and he competes.”
The North American scout added, “He competes at both ends. The impressive part of it is he’s not giving up anything offensively. He drives the bus offensively as much as any of these top guys you talk about.”
Matthews is currently playing with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss League, which has led to some intrigue this year. There’s less noise about him, probably because there are fewer easily viewable highlights in North America.
Still, scouts have been watching Matthews play for a long time. If anything, his advanced age ( he was two days shy of being eligible for the 2015 draft) means they’ve seen more of a body of work out of him leading into the draft.
“Last year he could have been ready to play in the NHL this season. He’s that strong, he’s got power to him, he’s got man-strength to him and he has a maturity about his game the way he competes everywhere,” the North American scout said. “He’ll be ready next year but he could have been ready this year. He’s an impressive package with his skill and his strength.”
In some ways, Matthews’ unconventional path to the NHL, as an American through Europe rather and junior or college, could make him more of a finished product. In the Swiss League he’s playing against men – and has turned into the Lions’ first-line center, producing 25 points in 22 games played.
“He wants the puck and I say that in the sense that he’ll battle and compete for every loose puck. He’ll battle and compete to gain position on the play and get good position in front of the net and when he’s got the puck he can protect the puck, cycle the puck and get it to the net so he’s got the power forward element to his game but he’s also got the slick hands and moves and the finish,” Marr said. “He’s as complete a package that you’re going to find.”
[h=1]Auston Matthews's Player Profile[/h]Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News - April 5, 2016 - "Even though his Zurich squad was upset in the first round of the Swiss League playoffs by SC Bern, Matthews still had an incredible year as an 18-year-old. Squaring off against men, the powerful center tallied 24 goals and 46 points in just 36 games, while getting great development away from the puck.Known for his cool confidence and creativity, Matthews will be welcome on a lot of rosters as his NHL career begins. "
Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects - 2016 - "A high octane dynamo that thrives under the microscope, Auston Matthews is a complete offensive forward who consistently boasts quick hands, feet, and thinking at both ends of the ice. Naturally nimble skater that accelerates to top speed very quickly. An unwavering focus on fine tuning elements of his own game facilitates confidence and competence in his young, but mature, mind. Prolific goal scoring ability and doesn't wait for opportunities to show themselves. He makes his own luck, so to speak, maximizing the use of his body and stick to gain leverage against the toughest of opponents."
Damien Cox of Sportsnet - January 13, 2016 - "Some scouts detected a few lazy habits picked up during his months in Europe. But he’s still at the top of the heap."
Future Considerations - November 2015 - "Matthews is a strong, powerful player who has the ability to make those around him elevate their games. He is a real good skater with powerful strides and strong jump. He possesses strong vision, excellent possession skills, a strong shot and the ability to create plays out of nothing for himself and his linemates. He is also strong defensively, bringing a good effort level and complete game."
Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects - 2016 - "A high octane dynamo that thrives under the microscope, Auston Matthews is a complete offensive forward who consistently boasts quick hands, feet, and thinking at both ends of the ice. Naturally nimble skater that accelerates to top speed very quickly. An unwavering focus on fine tuning elements of his own game facilitates confidence and competence in his young, but mature, mind. Prolific goal scoring ability and doesn't wait for opportunities to show themselves. He makes his own luck, so to speak, maximizing the use of his body and stick to gain leverage against the toughest of opponents."
Damien Cox of Sportsnet - January 13, 2016 - "Some scouts detected a few lazy habits picked up during his months in Europe. But he’s still at the top of the heap."
Future Considerations - November 2015 - "Matthews is a strong, powerful player who has the ability to make those around him elevate their games. He is a real good skater with powerful strides and strong jump. He possesses strong vision, excellent possession skills, a strong shot and the ability to create plays out of nothing for himself and his linemates. He is also strong defensively, bringing a good effort level and complete game."
Meanwhile, NHL scouts are setting their sights on a 2016 draft that will include plenty of blue-chip talent. That group is led by center Auston Matthews, who was born Sept. 17, 1997, and missed the cut for the 2015 draft by two days. If Matthews were eligible, many believe he might have challenged McDavid as the first choice.
Matthews remains undecided about his future and where he'll play in 2015-16. His agent, Pat Brisson, told NHL.com that there's a strong chance Matthews will spend a year playing for the ZSC Lions in the top league in Switzerland.
Don Granato, who coached Matthews on USA Hockey's Under-18 National Team Development Program, said the future is limitless for Matthews, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound left-handed shot from Scottsdale, Ariz.
"The two players who come to mind when comparing Matthews would be Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby because of the components those guys bring to the table," Granato said. "Their commitment to winning, drive to win and the skill set; those are the attributes that are common threads."
Matthews will likely enter 2015-16 as the prohibitive favorite to become the first American-born player since Patrick Kane in 2007 to be selected No. 1 in the draft. He set single-season records at the USNTDP in 2014-15 with 55 goals and 117 points, passing Kane (52 goals, 102 points in 2005-06).
"Auston wants to challenge himself, and that's why he's had the thought of going overseas," Granato said. "The intrigue for him is that it's a challenge and an unknown. He did so well against Division I [college] teams this year, scoring 10 goals in 10 games. I don't think there's a player in college hockey who averaged a goal a game, and he's a junior in high school."
Matthews remains undecided about his future and where he'll play in 2015-16. His agent, Pat Brisson, told NHL.com that there's a strong chance Matthews will spend a year playing for the ZSC Lions in the top league in Switzerland.
Don Granato, who coached Matthews on USA Hockey's Under-18 National Team Development Program, said the future is limitless for Matthews, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound left-handed shot from Scottsdale, Ariz.
"The two players who come to mind when comparing Matthews would be Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby because of the components those guys bring to the table," Granato said. "Their commitment to winning, drive to win and the skill set; those are the attributes that are common threads."
Matthews will likely enter 2015-16 as the prohibitive favorite to become the first American-born player since Patrick Kane in 2007 to be selected No. 1 in the draft. He set single-season records at the USNTDP in 2014-15 with 55 goals and 117 points, passing Kane (52 goals, 102 points in 2005-06).
"Auston wants to challenge himself, and that's why he's had the thought of going overseas," Granato said. "The intrigue for him is that it's a challenge and an unknown. He did so well against Division I [college] teams this year, scoring 10 goals in 10 games. I don't think there's a player in college hockey who averaged a goal a game, and he's a junior in high school."
not sure about the NBA or how long but they changed the rule twice in about 3 years now used to be something like the bottom 5 teams could only get 1 then any team not in playoffs could get it now any team not in the playoffs can get 1-3 Leafs as the worst team had like a 20% chance at pick 1
trying to keep teams from packing it in for the pick
I get confused as hell how the NBA does their lottery and who has what percentage at the #1 pick. I understand top 4 but after that...not so much. it all seems to fall in line with natural draft order based on record except for maybe top 2-3 picks.
Of course in the NBA, the difference between pick 1 and pick 3 matters more than any other professional sport draft.
Of course in the NBA, the difference between pick 1 and pick 3 matters more than any other professional sport draft.
Americans don't go number one often, there might be a hand full all time, so you have to be better than good, to beat out all the elite in Canada. Patrick Kane was the last American to go number one. I'd take Kane over Crosby on my team.
Remember Paul Kariya? There used to be a lot more concussions before IMO. Hits to the head and numbers are no longer allowed. The NHL has done a good job on changing the rules.
