Prospect Info: Matthew Perkins: 119th Overall 2023 Draft (Youngstown) - C

[Vector]

CSS: 165
5'11' 156lbs

Elite Prospects Scouting Report

Making a second straight appearance in the Elite Prospects Draft Guide, Matthew Perkins adjusted to the USHL without much hassle, and even showed some new wrinkles in his game.

Awareness and intelligence drive Perkins’ game. He gets open for chances, skates his routes to create openings for teammates, and pickpockets opponents. Instead of relying on overwhelming pressure, he uses subtle nudges and well-timed pokes and stick lifts to win possession. From there, he looks to the slot for a pass, connecting off either side of his blade.

While Perkins’ handling and wide, hunched stride prevent him from separating from opponents, he moves the puck at the right moments, leads teammates into space with area passes, and plays with a focused give-and-go style.

The lack of separation tools remains a concern, however. Without improvement, reaching the NHL will prove difficult. But as history shows, small improvements pay big dividends for high IQ prospects. Perhaps he’s more NCAA free agent than draft pick, but either way, Perkins will appear around these parts again.

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[Canadian Canuck]

I know nothing about him. Insight from anyone?

 

[Vector]

I know nothing about him. Insight from anyone?

Updated first post with EP draft guide.

 

[God]

overager C who didn't put up PPG in the USHL

what on earth

 

[Hammman]

Jesus christ. What a disaster of a draft.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Well they better hope the first 3 d-picks turn into gems cause wow has this been a miserable 4th round. two NCAA over-agers and a large pylon winger? Yikes.

 

[Nucker101]

 

[Canadian Canuck]

Such weird 4th round picks. Why so many over agers?

 

[bossram]

Another WTF pick. @Vector has the profile of Perkins from EP. But they have him an "F" grade.

Low production in the USHL for a D+1 player. Poor skater.

Love these punts on picks.

 

[FroshaugFan2]

overager C who didn't put up PPG in the USHL

what on earth

Four picks in a row with underwhelming stat lines and reaches. Really testing the scouts.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Looks like some scouts are obsessed with overagers

 

[Icebreakers]

This guy won't even be a good college player lol

 

[JumpierPegasus]

To the US scout that was let loose this round

 

[oceanchild]

Jesus christ. What a disaster of a draft.

They want to keep contract slots open, and so they are drafting players likely to bust.

 

[StreetHawk]

Looks like some scouts are obsessed with overagers

Low ceiling for these overagers. Ideally, if you go overager, I'm targeting a defensive guy who can PK and check. To me, that's better than landing a 35-40 point player at this point in the draft.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

They want to keep contract slots open, and so they are drafting players likely to bust.

Why not trade the picks then?

 

[jigsaw99]

Such weird 4th round picks. Why so many over agers?

overager with bad numbers.... so rare to see that. even the past when we do that the guys had decent numbers.

 

[oceanchild]

Why not trade the picks then?

Stop using logic sir, just focus on the high reward and not on the high risk portion of drafting.

 

[Dissonance Jr]

delete

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Stop using logic sir, just focus on the high reward and not on the high risk portion of drafting.

lol well I don't mind high risk if it's on HIGH REWARD. If it's "possible AHLER"... why even spend the pick???

 

[VanJack]

Low ceiling for these overagers. Ideally, if you go overager, I'm targeting a defensive guy who can PK and check. To me, that's better than landing a 35-40 point player at this point in the draft.

I thought this was supposed to be the deepest draft for 18-year olds in recent history.....what happened?

Did the pool of first-year, draft eligible players dry up that quickly?

 

[StreetHawk]

I thought this was supposed to be the deepest draft for 18-year olds in recent history.....what happened?

Did the pool of first-year, draft eligible players dry up that quickly?

Wasnt the 2020 draft hyped up as deep. Maybe the top end 3 wasn’t as elite but it was supposed to be deep. But with Covid killing much of 2020 for kids most are probably a little behind. But wait and see how it all shakes down. After 3 seasons, the 2020 top 10 doesn’t look impressive.
Laf doesn’t look like a high end guy. Byfield slower development. Drysdale hurt his shoulder. Rossi had long Covid. Holtz has not played really.

 

[arttk]

Wasnt the 2020 draft hyped up as deep. Maybe the top end 3 wasn’t as elite but it was supposed to be deep. But with Covid killing much of 2020 for kids most are probably a little behind. But wait and see how it all shakes down. After 3 seasons, the 2020 top 10 doesn’t look impressive.
Laf doesn’t look like a high end guy. Byfield slower development. Drysdale hurt his shoulder. Rossi had long Covid. Holtz has not played really.

that's drafting in a nutshell. everything seems rosy until a year or two later.

 

[hookshott]

Such weird 4th round picks. Why so many over agers?

Why do they even schedule so many rounds in the draft? 4 rounds is plenty (maybe even too much) Just let everybody else be free agents and, if they are lucky, able to sign with a team that they think might find a spot for them down the road?

 

[Icebreakers]

Why do they even schedule so many rounds in the draft? 4 rounds is plenty (maybe even too much) Just let everybody else be free agents and, if they are lucky, able to sign with a team that they think might find a spot for them down the road?

No, this is good.

You cant have the rounds be too long (10+) because it is pointless and a waste of time.

But , you cant have the draft too short either.

Being drafted provides a player with so much opportunity. You get to go to a pro development camp. Work with pro player development, coaches, trainers, nutritionists. More opportunities around the world to play in a bigger role.

There are tons of players in the league who never made it because they didnt have the right push from the right people. If you cut the draft to 4 rounds, you are killing the dreams of many players who didnt have the opportunities.