Prospect Info: Jack Matier, D, 124th Overall, Ottawa 67's

[King Weber]

five-point game (2+3) and an ELC for Matier today. 6'4 205 lb right-shot defenseman from Sault. Ste. Marie, Ontario.

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[Flgatorguy87]

What a day. Congrats to Jack!

 

[PredsV82]

Those were apparently his first two OHL goals? Did he play somewhere else last year

 

[Flgatorguy87]

Those were apparently his first two OHL goals? Did he play somewhere else last year

Was billed as a D first/stay at home guy that a few thought had some untapped offensive potential. Hopefully the start of that development.

 

[Soundgarden]

Never gonna doubt our scouts on a defenseman with untapped offensive potential.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Seems a bit unusual, but here it is:



Or is it somehow related to loaning him to Team Canada?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Matier does make Team Canada. Not bad for a 124th pick!

Hopefully Ufko can do likewise with Team USA.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I had him as a late 2nd or early 3rd option for the Sabres, so you guys got a good one where you did.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

He ended up not having a very distinguished World Juniors, being the spare D and not playing much, but hey, for where we picked him, just being on the team and coming home with a Gold medal is already beyond any expectation we had.

His progression has been great. From losing a year due to Covid (but getting a U-18 Gold Medal), to a solid OHL D+1 to now having more points in 28 games in D+2 than he had in 66 games the year before and +49 swing.

All in a 6'4-5 Right D.

Prokop is a year older and wasn't quite ready for pros yet nor doing quite as well in junior atm, but either way that's two large RD coming onboard for Milwaukee next year. Hope we can develop these guys up properly.

 

[maplepred]

This guy ended up having 49 points (13 goals) in 58 ohl games as a 19 year old last season.
He’s listed at 6’5” with above average skating and no knocks on him defensively or offensively.
I wonder if we may have something here… some of these big guys are late bloomers and he’s still just nicely turned 20.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

yea everyone has been kind of down on him but he has an intriguing tool kit and I think has more upside other than what the "Cool kids" on this forum think

 

[maplepred]

yea everyone has been kind of down on him but he has an intriguing tool kit and I think has more upside other than what the "Cool kids" on this forum think

Why down on him??

 

[AintLifeGrand]

Why down on him??

alot of people think he only has 6/7 defenseman upside...alot of people thought he had limited offensive upside but he has seemed to stymie those criticisms with this past season

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Why down on him??

Nobody has really talked about him at all on this forum, good or bad. I think people just have to be realistic about tempering their expectations. He is likely going to play in the ECHL in the coming season, since we really have too many bodies in Milwaukee on D. He played on a strong junior team that inflated his scoring stats, but he's still a 6'5" D with some offense who made Team Canada in the World Juniors, so it's still a great start for him. It's just he is going to have to take some additional significant steps in the next 3 years in Atlanta and Milwaukee before we'll really be able to tell if he'll emerge as a serious prospect for us or not. He has all the tools. Now it's up to him.

But if you were just going by where he is today, you'd probably have to project that with a "typical prospect progression" he won't make the NHL at all, not even as a 6/7 D. Who cares about that, though, he's going to work hard over the next 3 years and hopefully push himself into the mix, progress better than most, and that's what we have to hope for.

 

[Olderfan]

Those were apparently his first two OHL goals? Did he play somewhere else last year

Hey, the kid had a 5 point game and that’s good ; remember that! Right now he’s neither Bobby Orr or (name of 1,000 failed prospects). Good for him; keep it up! Preds need you! Congrats!

 

[triggrman]

I remember when everyone on here was "down on" Ekholm as a prospect?

 

[Flgatorguy87]

I remember when everyone on here was "down on" Ekholm as a prospect?

Trotz included. All time great post game interview

 

[Olderfan]

I remember when everyone on here was "down on" Ekholm as a prospect?

Yeah, I remember. One other thing I know; he has not been replaced and he will not be replaced anytime soon. In this day of scoring, scoring Dmen being the current darling we lose track of a real Dman. Preds had one! I know Preds got a lot for Eckholm but he is gone and, I repeat, not replaced.

 

[maplepred]

Yeah, I remember. One other thing I know; he has not been replaced and he will not be replaced anytime soon. In this day of scoring, scoring Dmen being the current darling we lose track of a real Dman. Preds had one! I know Preds got a lot for Eckholm but he is gone and, I repeat, not replaced.

McDonagh…?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

McDonagh…?

McDonagh replaces about half of Ekholm's game IMO. He sort of - in a slightly different way - handles the defensive reliability part. But I don't think McDonagh could ever step up and shoulder the load as the overall #1 guy the way Ekholm was able to sometimes when Josi was out.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

Nobody has really talked about him at all on this forum, good or bad. I think people just have to be realistic about tempering their expectations. He is likely going to play in the ECHL in the coming season, since we really have too many bodies in Milwaukee on D. He played on a strong junior team that inflated his scoring stats, but he's still a 6'5" D with some offense who made Team Canada in the World Juniors, so it's still a great start for him. It's just he is going to have to take some additional significant steps in the next 3 years in Atlanta and Milwaukee before we'll really be able to tell if he'll emerge as a serious prospect for us or not. He has all the tools. Now it's up to him.

But if you were just going by where he is today, you'd probably have to project that with a "typical prospect progression" he won't make the NHL at all, not even as a 6/7 D. Who cares about that, though, he's going to work hard over the next 3 years and hopefully push himself into the mix, progress better than most, and that's what we have to hope for.

you've been a pretty big naysayer my guy

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

you've been a pretty big naysayer my guy

Never said anything one way or the other about him before today, aside from just praising his accomplishments.

 

[Olderfan]

McDonagh replaces about half of Ekholm's game IMO. He sort of - in a slightly different way - handles the defensive reliability part. But I don't think McDonagh could ever step up and shoulder the load as the overall #1 guy the way Ekholm was able to sometimes when Josi was out.

McDonagh…?

Good player; in his prime(someplace else!), a very good player. Compared to Eckholm? Nope, not that close. But glad to have McD.

 

[predhead1]

Is Ekholm more talented than McD? Arguably he is. But as between the two, McD is by far the better player to have on this team and the "reset" that Trotz is doing. McD is going to help shape the next generation of Pred talent and help instill a return to the Predator Way, and unfortunately I think Eks was caught up in the so called "country club". So yeah, we are arguably sacrificing more talent on the ice, but the reality is that Trotz and co are trying to re-establish the identity we lost years ago and trying to add more talent to that effort.

 

[triggrman]

I doubt Ekholm was ever a caught up in the country club and McD isn’t the better player to lead the youngsters. If they could have traded McD, they would have