Leafs get their man

[MisterAsianLover]

Finally, the leafs get a great talent in the draft.

Auston Matthews. He is 6'2" and 216 pounds. He can skate well and has good hands.

That means he won't be pushed off the puck and he will create open ice with his skating ability. Based upon what scouts say, he should be able to scoare 30+ goals in the NHL easily. He wil probably be a point-a-game centre ice-man in his 3rd year.

It will be great to watch. I will order NHL hockey this year and watch him play every game. I am looking forward to it.

Best player I ever saw was Eric Lindros. Let's hope Matthews can be part Eric Lindros/part Connor McDavid. Wishful thinking, but you never know.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

I just watched some highlights of him - about 7 minutes of him playing against Canada and McDavid in the WJC. Top competition and he looks better than the rest of the players on the ice. That is a good sign.

This is my scouting report:

Strengths

Strong skater. Anticipates where the play is going. Great vision. Plays with his head up. Great passer. He will get many assists I am sure, especially on the power play.

Things he needs to work on

His upper body strength. Seems to have a weak shot, although he is able to score goals at junior level. NHL requires much more strength. Alexandre Daigle was an example of a great skater who wasn't strong enough to do well in the NHL.

I worry how Matthews will do against NHL goalies with his shot. Scouts say his shot is good, but I saw him score after having his shot tipped and I saw him take some weak wrist shots on goal. Also didn't see him take any contact nor initiate any contact. In the NHL, contact will find him as he won't be able to avoid it. How will he hold up to NHL defencemen who take the body to him and check him relentlessly.

Well, at 6'2" and 216, he should be able to improve his strength and take the pressure of NHL defencemen.

Time will tell.

 

[peace]

Go leafs go.

 

[Yamada]

11 more picks to go unless we trade for a veteran presence forward to nourish Auston to become real pro.

 

[Anto]

It wasn't a deep draft year but hoping he can lead us to the promised land.