BrodeursCups
....
Matteau hasn't really shown anything special the big leagues. Maybe a borderline NHL'er if he plays with a nastier attitude.
Oh my....
Matteau hasn't really shown anything special the big leagues. Maybe a borderline NHL'er if he plays with a nastier attitude.
Matteau hasn't really shown anything special the big leagues. Maybe a borderline NHL'er if he plays with a nastier attitude.
Saying he'll be a "borderline NHLer" after a few games as a 19 year old is absolutely absurd. I'll leave it at that
Just as absurd as calling him a NHLer after those few games.
He impressed over what else was available, which is why we're hurting and scraping to put together 4 decent lines now. That was my point. Plus, making the team out of camp is an entirely different issue from staying past the 5 game mark and staying to burn a year of eligibility, and free agency. He pushed past one and almost the other because we didn't have better options, and had injuries, not because he was on fire and scoring. He will be better the next time he comes around.
I agree. This has nothing to do with Matteau, but Lou absolutely needs to re sign Zubrus this year unless he asks for stupid money. I have this bad feeling that he'll let one of Zubrus or Poni walk to bring in some ''Younger players'' to have that spot like he did with not signing Sykora. I'm afraid Matteau will be this younger player, and I'm not sure I see him having Zubrus's role at least at the beginning of next season. Plus it will be good for Stephane to keep Zubrus around in a mentor role.Yup. And this has been my biggest gripe with this team this entire season. I like Matteau and I think he's going to be a good player for the Devils. You can already see that he's an NHL player in the making, but he wasn't even close to being ready this season and it's pretty irritating that he manged to crack this roster this early. That speaks volumes about the team and it's especially troublesome seeing something like this after your 1A winger decides to bolt.
I trust in Lou that he does what he can to make this team better. No one wants to win more than that guy. But the bottom line is that this hasn't been a great follow up to such a wonderful 2012. Full marks to him for bringing in Loktionov this year, but forward depth was clearly an issue coming into this season and for whatever reasons, things didn't pan out the way that they should have. Matteau shouldn't of had any business playing any games with the big club this year, but here we are.
Just as absurd as calling him a NHLer after those few games.
I agree. This has nothing to do with Matteau, but Lou absolutely needs to re sign Zubrus this year unless he asks for stupid money. I have this bad feeling that he'll let one of Zubrus or Poni walk to bring in some ''Younger players'' to have that spot like he did with not signing Sykora. I'm afraid Matteau will be this younger player, and I'm not sure I see him having Zubrus's role at least at the beginning of next season. Plus it will be good for Stephane to keep Zubrus around in a mentor role.
I think Lou learned his lesson with ''We're going to give younger players a chance'' this year, because clearly there aren't any capable to fill in for someone who leaves next year. Except for Loktionov who's already came in, and done pretty well for himself. Loktionov isn't even really replacing guys who left last year. He's had to replace Zajac as sad as that is.
I agree. This has nothing to do with Matteau, but Lou absolutely needs to re sign Zubrus this year unless he asks for stupid money. I have this bad feeling that he'll let one of Zubrus or Poni walk to bring in some ''Younger players'' to have that spot like he did with not signing Sykora. I'm afraid Matteau will be this younger player, and I'm not sure I see him having Zubrus's role at least at the beginning of next season. Plus it will be good for Stephane to keep Zubrus around in a mentor role.
I think Lou learned his lesson with ''We're going to give younger players a chance'' this year, because clearly there aren't any capable to fill in for someone who leaves next year. Except for Loktionov who's already came in, and done pretty well for himself. Loktionov isn't even really replacing guys who left last year. He's had to replace Zajac as sad as that is.
He looked better than half the call-ups I've seen who have had a couple of seasons to develop before hitting the big stage. That tells me enough for now not to feel like his pick or his time here was a waste, but he is best served going down to develop the normal way. He's not a special case like a few of the draftees this year.
About the time he can buy a beer I suspect he'll have a few wrinkles in his game ironed out.
Rich Chere @Ledger_NJDevils
To be eligible for the QMJHL playoffs, Matteau had to be back on junior club's roster at a certain time and the Devils decided to make move
Matteau hasn't really shown anything special the big leagues. Maybe a borderline NHL'er if he plays with a nastier attitude.
I'm surprised Lou actually did them that favour. I guess he thinks it's better for Matteau's development to get the playoff experience rather than just the NHL regular season grind. It makes some sense.
I thought this had been pretty well refuted. The fact that he played in the NHL at all this year as the 29th pick in the previous draft is pretty impressive.