So the debate begins: Matthews vs. Laine

[Redleaf]

http://areena.yle.fi/tv/suorat/yle-tv2

World Championship tune up match between USA (Matthews) and Finland (Komarov, Laine).

Damn. Link isn't working for me

 

[CarltonTheBear]

http://areena.yle.fi/tv/suorat/yle-tv2

World Championship tune up match between USA (Matthews) and Finland (Komarov, Laine).

Damn. Link isn't working for me

The game had just ended. Komarov won it for Finland in OT, final score was 3-2. Matthews had an assist.

 

[Highlander]

I didnt see it, any other comments on between Laine and Matthews on their efforts?

 

[herman]

http://areena.yle.fi/tv/suorat/yle-tv2

World Championship tune up match between USA (Matthews) and Finland (Komarov, Laine).

Damn. Link isn't working for me

The game had just ended. Komarov won it for Finland in OT, final score was 3-2. Matthews had an assist.

I believe Laine did as well. I wasn't able to watch much of it other than a 5 minute stretch of the 1st period when nothing happened on the scoresheet, but Matthews looked good. He broke up plays and generally steered play into the OZ.

[tweet]727537813307060224[/tweet]
[tweet]727556361333170176[/tweet]

I'm looking for the gif of Matthews' play to set up the US' first goal.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm looking for the gif of Matthews' play to set up the US' first goal.

That's this one (Matthews is the original puck carrier in the corner):

[tweet]727533703690391553[/tweet]

 

[herman]

I'm looking for the gif of Matthews' play to set up the US' first goal.

That's this one (Matthews is the original puck carrier in the corner):

[tweet]727533703690391553[/tweet]

Thanks! I scrolled right past it too.

 

[herman]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/is-matthews-a-lock-to-be-drafted-by-leafs~860975

Watch out for autoplay.

The interesting part for me was Biron's analysis of Matthews' wrist shot, as he uses the old school front leg stance (think baseball or golf swing weight shift), rather than the new fangled inside leg wrister (Kessel, Ovechkin, everyone) where the weight is on the off leg and leaning down on the stick to flex it into a quicker, more deceptive release.

The traditional weight shift stance gives his shot more power at the expense of a slightly slower release (his wrister is a scoring threat from long distance, similar to the Nylander brothers), and allows him to adjust when and where he releases it (or switch to a deke).

 

[Kin]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/is-matthews-a-lock-to-be-drafted-by-leafs~860975

Watch out for autoplay.

Bob McKenzie: Why make a declaration of Matthews when you're going to get such a good opportunity to watch Laine at the World Championships?

*sniff*

Finally, someone gets me.

 

[Highlander]

Yep, this is potentially the biggest thing to happen in the next ten years for this team. We have the ability to watch both of these guys (in the next weeks) and perhaps it will become clearer on who should be the clear cut number 1.
My feeling is if you get Stamkos then you take Laine.  If you take Matthews then forget about Stamkos??

 

[herman]

Yep, this is potentially the biggest thing to happen in the next ten years for this team. We have the ability to watch both of these guys (in the next weeks) and perhaps it will become clearer on who should be the clear cut number 1.
My feeling is if you get Stamkos then you take Laine.  If you take Matthews then forget about Stamkos??

Stamkos isn't UFA until the week after the draft though.

 

[Highlander]

There is the rub as Will would say?.however I do believe that someone went over to the Stamkos family home and had a basement conversation at some point recently. As much as we don't want to say "tamper" it happens and it happens all the time.

 

[herman]

Media is doing their full court press on Matthews this week.

Interview with his U-18 coach Don Granato:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2016/05/03/don-granato-auston-matthews-ive-ice-lot-first-round-picks-whole-level/

With the UNTDP, you?ve seen elite kids over the past number of years. Is there a kid that went through the program when you were there that reminds you of him? We?ve heard the big names ? the Toews, the Kopitars, the Tavares ? and those are huge, huge comparisons for the young man. Is there a player that you?ve coached where you?ve said, ?there?s a similarity here??

Granato: I?ve been lucky to be on the ice with a lot of first-round picks, Hobey Baker winners and such. This is a whole other level because of the combination. He wins outright in the intangibles but he wins outright in the skill as well. His coordination and hand skill and hand-eye coordination is baffling. The things he can do at high speed within the context of the game, where other people feel pressure ? he?s got some magic to him. He goes into situations and it?s like he carries no pressure with him. He wants to be challenged. He wants to go into the corner with the biggest, hardest, strongest guy because that?s the best challenge for him. He?s a unique guy in so many respects. I?m very fortunate, and feel very fortunate, to have him for the two years that I did.

Interview with his Lions coach Marc Crawford:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2016/05/03/marc-crawford-on-auston-matthews-hes-going-to-be-an-impact-player-right-away/

When pressed to say ?one bad thing? about him:

I can?t think of anything, truly. He?s a kid that doesn?t have flaws. He can work on a few things ? obviously, every young kid can get better ? especially his play without the puck. The thing with Auston is that he?s always got the puck, so he?s never really had to work on his game without it, but we?ve certainly paid attention to those details for him this year in Zurich. Auston uses Jonathan Toews as a big example for himself, and he uses Patrick Kane. They have the same agent; they?ve trained together a number of times. If you look at the growth of Patrick Kane?s game ? if you look at Patrick Kane coming into the league and being a dynamic offensively guy ? and now the different layers that Patrick Kane has in his game, he doesn?t just beat you on the stop up and cut anymore. He can shoot through defencemen, he can take pucks wide, he?ll take pucks deep, he really challenges people on-on-one; he?s got a whole different dimension to his game than when he came in. I think that?s what Auston will do. Auston is always searching for the next level. What I like best about Auston is, even in drills, Auston tries to be first. He tries to be the best. He wants to do things well, and when you have that type of drive, to me that is what the great ones have. They have great vision, they have great drive, and that is what gives them such strong presence.

Edit: I really hope someone interviews Ron Wilson, who coached Matthews at the WJHC earlier this year.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Craig Button yesterday said on TSN Overdrive, of the recent drafts...the only 2 players he would draft in front of Matthews and Eichel, were Crosby and McDavid. That includes Patrick Kane because he was asked about him. Even Toews..Only other player to give consideration to is Tavares...that's some high praise indeed. Button says, the kid is that good and is an elite cornerstone/franchise centre(player).
For me Matthews is the guy...the only choice.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Media is doing their full court press on Matthews this week.

Interview with his U-18 coach Don Granato:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2016/05/03/don-granato-auston-matthews-ive-ice-lot-first-round-picks-whole-level/

With the UNTDP, you?ve seen elite kids over the past number of years. Is there a kid that went through the program when you were there that reminds you of him? We?ve heard the big names ? the Toews, the Kopitars, the Tavares ? and those are huge, huge comparisons for the young man. Is there a player that you?ve coached where you?ve said, ?there?s a similarity here??

Granato: I?ve been lucky to be on the ice with a lot of first-round picks, Hobey Baker winners and such. This is a whole other level because of the combination. He wins outright in the intangibles but he wins outright in the skill as well. His coordination and hand skill and hand-eye coordination is baffling. The things he can do at high speed within the context of the game, where other people feel pressure ? he?s got some magic to him. He goes into situations and it?s like he carries no pressure with him. He wants to be challenged. He wants to go into the corner with the biggest, hardest, strongest guy because that?s the best challenge for him. He?s a unique guy in so many respects. I?m very fortunate, and feel very fortunate, to have him for the two years that I did.

Interview with his Lions coach Marc Crawford:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2016/05/03/marc-crawford-on-auston-matthews-hes-going-to-be-an-impact-player-right-away/

When pressed to say ?one bad thing? about him:

I can?t think of anything, truly. He?s a kid that doesn?t have flaws. He can work on a few things ? obviously, every young kid can get better ? especially his play without the puck. The thing with Auston is that he?s always got the puck, so he?s never really had to work on his game without it, but we?ve certainly paid attention to those details for him this year in Zurich. Auston uses Jonathan Toews as a big example for himself, and he uses Patrick Kane. They have the same agent; they?ve trained together a number of times. If you look at the growth of Patrick Kane?s game ? if you look at Patrick Kane coming into the league and being a dynamic offensively guy ? and now the different layers that Patrick Kane has in his game, he doesn?t just beat you on the stop up and cut anymore. He can shoot through defencemen, he can take pucks wide, he?ll take pucks deep, he really challenges people on-on-one; he?s got a whole different dimension to his game than when he came in. I think that?s what Auston will do. Auston is always searching for the next level. What I like best about Auston is, even in drills, Auston tries to be first. He tries to be the best. He wants to do things well, and when you have that type of drive, to me that is what the great ones have. They have great vision, they have great drive, and that is what gives them such strong presence.

Edit: I really hope someone interviews Ron Wilson, who coached Matthews at the WJHC earlier this year.

I think the physical effect of hearing and reading such reviews can be considered a viable substitute for Viagra for Leaf fans.

 

[Zee]

By all accounts he's projecting to be a high end center in the league and the Leafs need a high end center. I think the choice is clear at least me.

 

[herman]

One more moment from yesterday's game:
https://streamable.com/w7hc

Not a scoring play, but that's because Matthews' line mates are meh.

 

[Deebo]

http://www.isshockey.com/

ISS released their latest rankings today and they have Laine 3rd.

1 Matthews, Auston
2 Puljujarvi, Jesse
3 Laine, Patrik
4 Nylander, Alexander
5 Dubois, Pierre-Luc

 

[herman]

Auston Matthews:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=199898

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. All-in-all, a generational talent that has the potential to develop into a top flight franchise center. (Curtis Joe, EP 2016)

Patrik Laine:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=221667

A natural scorer, Laine's greatest asset is his intimidating shot. He's not a speedy skater, but possesses power and a long stride, and protects the puck well with his large frame and longer stick. Overall, skating has been a minor issue through Laine's development but has improved with some help from his ability to read the game. Laine has the hunger to create chances on his own from the wing and actively looks for and creates opportunities to use his shot. His elite wrist shot is notable for its quick release and his powerful one-timer from the top of the circle is a constant threat on the man-advantage. (Matias Strozyk, 2016)

---

Going off the scouting reports and what I've been able to pick up in games and highlights so far, Matthews simply takes the puck to the net and takes advantage of every little piece of ice he gets. He's a scorer primarily, but his distribution game is still up there. Hard to say for sure as his linemates that I've seen thus far have not really been able to keep up with him. He can score in a variety of ways: cut and shoot, in transition, dekes, garbage tap-ins after dragging the whole team of defenders with him, wristers from above the circles, etc.

Laine on the other hand can drive into the zone, but his preference is to set up camp at the dot and just blast away. I can see where the Ovechkin comparisons come from. His shot is unreal. He can do it in transition too, but he really excels on his off-wing snipe from the circle. A PP featuring him and Nylander would be pretty disgusting.

 

[Bullfrog]

Laine on the other hand can drive into the zone, but his preference is to set up camp at the dot and just blast away. I can see where the Ovechkin comparisons come from. His shot is unreal. He can do it in transition too, but he really excels on his off-wing snipe from the circle. A PP featuring him and Nylander would be pretty disgusting.

Would be totally plaid.

 

[herman]

Laine on the other hand can drive into the zone, but his preference is to set up camp at the dot and just blast away. I can see where the Ovechkin comparisons come from. His shot is unreal. He can do it in transition too, but he really excels on his off-wing snipe from the circle. A PP featuring him and Nylander would be pretty disgusting.

Would be totally plaid.

Actually, it's Tartan today.