Barry Trotz compares Auston Matthews to Mario Lemieux

[therealkoho]

From Sportsnet:

"Auston Matthews show rolls through town.
Barry Trotz saw first hand what the young American is capable of when his team faced the Maple Leafs in the playoffs this past April. This week the Capitals head coach has made a lofty comparison between the Maple Leafs star and an all-time great.

Trotz referred to Matthews as “a young Mario Lemieux” when speaking with reporters in Washington Tuesday.

“If he was playing 20 years ago, we’d be saying he’s Mario Lemieux-like,” Trotz told reporters Monday. “He’s [tall], he skates great, he’s got unbelievable hands, and a hockey IQ and he’s strong on the puck.”

Click to read more...

 

[therealkoho]

this is Barry Trotz saying this

Barry Trotz is a fairly respected NHL coach, by many here and many who are in the hockey business

is he right or is he wrong?

discuss

 

[DanM]

Oh no...... this is going to hurt. I have to leave HFboards

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yay another Leafs thread, I was concerned we were only at like 6 on the first page before this post.

 

[613Leafer]

Trotz means similar style, not similar calibre. It's just media (and now I'm sure HFBoards) taking things out of context / blowing them out of proportion.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Trotz seems to love Matthews more than I do

 

[DanM]

Yay another Leafs thread, I was concerned we were only at like 6 on the first page before this post.

I won't even touch this. Thank god it's hockey people and not fans saying it though. I am still preparing to get dumped on HUGE

 

[therealkoho]

Yay another Leafs thread, I was concerned we were only at like 6 on the first page before this post.

this isn't some random fan saying this, Barry Trotz is a current NHL coach

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Finally! I was hoping someone would eventually make an Auston Matthews thread that I could read on the internet. Thanks OP!

 

[DanM]

Trotz seems to love Matthews more than I do

We also have Roenick saying he will be the best American player ever..... I feel my A*S already getting sore from the pounding Leaf fans will take on this, but it's the ESPN, TSN, Sportsnet, and NHL.com's of the world killing us! Industry professionals and analysts don't understand the amount of hate we get from these things.

 

[Dustin]

Meh. Didn't Trotz also call him generational last year too? Coaches have their favourites too and Matthews checks off a lot of boxes that coaches like.

It's not surprising to hear praise from other coaches about Matthews even if its just hyperbole.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Finally! I was hoping someone would eventually make an Auston Matthews thread that I could read on the internet. Thanks OP!

love ppl who willingly open threads to say how much they don't care. coolest thing ever

 

[CRDragon]

I think before anyone overreacts, they should read this...

Matthews has 45 goals and 77 points in his first 87 regular-season games in the NHL. Lemieux had 52 goals and 122 points in his first 87 appearances, but point production isn’t the only thing that comes to mind when comparing the two centres.
“If he was playing 20 years ago, we’d be saying he’s Mario Lemieux-like,” Trotz told reporters Monday. “He’s [tall], he skates great, he’s got unbelievable hands, and a hockey IQ and he’s strong on the puck.”

 

[PensandCaps]

We also have Roenick saying he will be the best American player ever..... I feel my A*S already getting sore from the pounding Leaf fans will take on this, but it's the ESPN, TSN, Sportsnet, and NHL.com's of the world killing us! Industry professionals and analysts don't understand the amount of hate we get from these things.

Well if Roenick said it.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

love ppl who willingly open threads to say how much they don't care. coolest thing ever

I do care, and I never said I didn't. I also think Matthews is a fantastic hockey player.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

He reminds me of a young Rory Calhoun

 

[Drytoast]

Yay another Leafs thread, I was concerned we were only at like 6 on the first page before this post.

Should we all be talking about Pittsburgh?

 

[daver]

Might as well shut down any Matthews threads from now on. It's settled. Matthews = Mario.

 

[These Are The Days]

Yay another Leafs thread, I was concerned we were only at like 6 on the first page before this post.

Make it 7 bruh!

 

[1specter]

I thought Laine was Lemieux?

 

[daver]

He reminds me of a young Rory Calhoun

He does stand and walk but I think that's where the comparison stops.

 

[Dustin]

He reminds me of a young Rory Calhoun

He stands up just like a young Rory Calhoun.

 

[BB88]

With what happened last year one could have fun in this thread.
But I won't and instead ask nicely if we could not create 20 new Leafs related threads every day.

They have a bright future with future superstars on the roster but there should be a limit, these won't end well in the end.

 

[Cup or Bust]

Matthews is one of the greatest of all time. We are all in 100% agreement. Leafs fans can be happy he is the best and do not need to compare him to anyone any more.

 

[3074326]

I'm a pretty big fan of Matthews, but come on now, Barry.