Shakey Rustie
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How can Matthews (or anyone else for that matter) be on an under 23 list if he is 23?
Yeah perhaps, but in that case just make a separate list for goalies. Just looks awful with guys like Chytil, Formenton, Batherson etc. ahead of him, and I only looked at a few.The Hart ranking seems consistent with Pronman not being high on goalies in general. Unless I'm mistaken, he's left them off his rankings lists in the past entirely because he doesn't like the volatility of the position.
How can Matthews (or anyone else for that matter) be on an under 23 list if he is 23?
Yeah and as an add on, September 15 is the cut off for the NHL draft, so he didn't just make it up.He used September 15th, 2020 as the cutoff. Matthews made it by two days.
I feel this is more a testament to how he regards Tkachuk than a knock on those other players.Who is Austin Matthews? Is he related to obvious #1 on this list, Auston Matthews, franchise player of the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Having Hughes, Makar, and Heiskanen all the way down around Brady Tkachuk is a bit of a wheeze.
The ranking is based on who he believes will have better careers, no? This isn't ranked on current play. I do agree he should be higher though.Cool that the best player on a team that went to the finals is ranked behind 2 guys who had a very dissapointing rookie season and 2 guys who haven't played a single NHL game yet.
I understand that he's pretty high on Tkachuk which is justifiable, but to have a winger in with the future Norris contenders is still a stretch. Having those D down in the teens definitely strikes me as a "knock".I feel this is more a testament to how he regards Tkachuk than a knock on those other players.
I have a few thoughts, but it does seem as though Pronman does not value young defenseman as much. Hughes, Makar, Heiskanen, and McAvoy all seem to low to me considering what they have shown at the NHL level.
I have a problem ranking kids that have not even shown anything yet, over players that have. In saying that here is my list oif the same players......Corey Pronman of the Athletic ranks his top U-23 players.
This is a projection on who he believes will have the best careers. It’s actually 155 players in total, but I’ll just post the top-25 here to discuss.
- Auston Matthews
- Rasmus Dahlin
- Elias Pettersson
- Alexis Lafreniere
- Matthew Tkachuk
- Andrei Svechnikov
- Patrick Laine
- Jack Hughes
- Kaapo Kakko
- Quinton Byfield
- Quinn Hughes
- Brady Tkachuk
- Cale Makar
- Miro Heiskanen
- Tim Stutzle
- Kirby Dach
- Lucas Raymond
- Pierre Luc-Dubois
- Cole Perfetti
- Robert Thomas
- Nico Hischier
- Milhail Sergachev
- Trevor Zegras
- Charlie McAvoy
- Barrett Hayton
Heiskanen at #14 is ludacrious. Did he sleep through the playoffs?
#1 Heiskanen
#2 Pettersson
#3 Makar
#4 Matthews
#5 Q.Hughes
Why is Heiskanen as the #1 crazy? He arguably had the greatest playoff performance by a u23 defenceman ever and has zero flaws in his game.Heisk is definitely too low, but putting him at #1 is just as crazy as putting him as #14
IMO he should easily be above Byfield, Kaako, J. Hughes and the Tkachuks
After that it starts to get a bit more subjective in terms of preference.
it's completely reasonable to say Heiskanen should be higher, but saying Matthews can't even challenge for the #1 spot is just as ridiculousWhy is Heiskanen as the #1 crazy? He arguably had the greatest playoff performance by a u23 defenceman ever and has zero flaws in his game.
I think the #1 and #2 spots are between Heiskanen and Pettersson and it comes down to preference. Both are extremely high IQ, which I value a lot, and both will win championships in this league.
If you're worried about Matthews, he lacks the IQ and ability to make linemates better to challenge for #1.
It's just my opinion. Pettersson and Heiskanen stand in a tier ahead of Matthews for me.it's completely reasonable to say Heiskanen should be higher, but saying Matthews can't even challenge for the #1 spot is just as ridiculous
Why is Heiskanen as the #1 crazy? He arguably had the greatest playoff performance by a u23 defenceman ever and has zero flaws in his game.
I think the #1 and #2 spots are between Heiskanen and Pettersson and it comes down to preference. Both are extremely high IQ, which I value a lot, and both will win championships in this league.
If you're worried about Matthews, he lacks the IQ and ability to make linemates better to challenge for #1.
2. Dahlin
11. Q. Hughes
13. Makar
14. Heiskanen
24. McAvoy
What have we been watching?
Matthews is a splendid goalscorer. But his hockey IQ is just average and he doesn't offer much in terms of playmaking.What are you even talking about. Are you talking about a different Matthews than the rest of us?
Since he came into the league four years ago Auston Matthews is second only to Alex Ovechkin in goals scored and plays a strong two way game at C
Really doubt there is anyone who wouldn't take Matthews over Heiskanen based off a playoff run...
What are you even talking about. Are you talking about a different Matthews than the rest of us?
Since he came into the league four years ago Auston Matthews is second only to Alex Ovechkin in goals scored and plays a strong two way game at C
Really doubt there is anyone who wouldn't take Matthews over Heiskanen based off a playoff run...
maybe the reason is he thrives at centerMatthews is the best goal scoring winger in the game playing center for some reason.