RW Matthew Wood – UConn, NCAA (2023, 15th, NSH)

[wetcoast]

The field. Gimme Michkov, Dvorsky, Fantilli, Musty, Ritchie, Stenberg, etc. The top end is not far off but the depth is way better.

Obviously the depth is way better but for first round talent this draft is one for the ages for Western Canada and it's an open question.

 

[wetcoast]

Wood is an absolute stud, I live minutes from the Q Center and have caught only 5 games this year but he, Rickwood and Connor Eddy IMO will all be NHL players one day, Wood plays heavy, takes crap from nobody. Will need to work on skating but I don`t worry about that, he`s a coachable young man and he`ll put the work in

Wood will be but the other 2 are real longshots being 19 year old players in the BCHL and the obvious beneficiaries of playing with a talent like Wood.

I'd actually be surprised if either one of them even became a star in the AHL to be honest.

 

[ODAAT]

Wood will be but the other 2 are real longshots being 19 year old players in the BCHL and the obvious beneficiaries of playing with a talent like Wood.

I'd actually be surprised if either one of them even became a star in the AHL to be honest.

agreed, notice I didn`t mention the other two being stars, I do think both could be in the category of serviceable, Wood has special written all over him, there hasn`t been a game I`ve seen live where he hasn`t been the best player on the ice and that includes the tilt last night where he only snagged one assist but he was the straw that stirred every play

 

[Bubbles]

Wood is an absolute stud, I live minutes from the Q Center and have caught only 5 games this year but he, Rickwood and Connor Eddy IMO will all be NHL players one day, Wood plays heavy, takes crap from nobody. Will need to work on skating but I don`t worry about that, he`s a coachable young man and he`ll put the work in

I was wondering why no one took a 6th or 7th rounder on Rickwood. He was overaged but he was the best player in the BCHL last year.

 

[wetcoast]

I was wondering why no one took a 6th or 7th rounder on Rickwood. He was overaged but he was the best player in the BCHL last year.

Probably because of his age.

 

[Bubbles]

Probably because of his age.

If he gets passed over in 2022, you will see his name in those college free agent lists soon.

 

[ODAAT]

I was wondering why no one took a 6th or 7th rounder on Rickwood. He was overaged but he was the best player in the BCHL last year.

I think he`ll eventually find a home in the NHL, likely a 4th line guy, real nice kid, works his tail off, hates to lose, good leader

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Obviously the depth is way better but for first round talent this draft is one for the ages for Western Canada and it's an open question.

No one area or country is ever a good bet against the field. It’s not like Western Canada has three Gretzky’s in this draft. A few of the guys discussed as top prospects a year and a half before the draft probably don’t even end up good NHL’ers. Always take the field.

 

[wetcoast]

No one area or country is ever a good bet against the field. It’s not like Western Canada has three Gretzky’s in this draft. A few of the guys discussed as top prospects a year and a half before the draft probably don’t even end up good NHL’ers. Always take the field.

Sure overall you are right and probably even for the first round as well but let us in Western Canada at least dream a little about what could possibly be our best draft ever (at least in the first round that is).

Prospect wise I can't think of one that looks as good for the first round in recent memory.

 

[Bubbles]

Yawnnn...just another 3G, 1A night.

 

[covfefe]

Yawnnn...just another 3G, 1A night.

I see nothing but skating holding him back. His skill set is electric, he’s huge, basically Slafkovsky redux.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

 

[wings5]

Really wonder if he goes USHL next season , personally I hope he goes to challenge himself further

 

[wetcoast]

Really wonder if he goes USHL next season , personally I hope he goes to challenge himself further

He really needs to go to a better league to challenge himself in a very strong draft year IMO.

 

[Bubbles]

Really wonder if he goes USHL next season , personally I hope he goes to challenge himself further

Has this ever happened? A Junior A guy going to the USHL?

A bit more likely he decides to join Bedard in the WHL.

 

[Bubbles]

 

[Dempsey]

Has this ever happened? A Junior A guy going to the USHL?

A bit more likely he decides to join Bedard in the WHL.

Not sure how rare it is, only example I can think of off the top of my head is Patrick Weircioch going from the BCHL to the USHL in his draft year and being taken in the second round of the NHL draft. Probably quite a few examples out there though.

 

[Bubbles]

Not sure how rare it is, only example I can think of off the top of my head is Patrick Weircioch going from the BCHL to the USHL in his draft year and being taken in the second round of the NHL draft. Probably quite a few examples out there though.

Thanks for the info!

In regards to Wood, I think he's fine in the BCHL. He'll have to carry his team next year without Rickwood/Eddy, which would be a good test.

 

[wings5]

Has this ever happened? A Junior A guy going to the USHL?

A bit more likely he decides to join Bedard in the WHL.

It happens for sure among lower-mid tier Canadian prospects but the higher tear Canadian players playing Jr.A in Canada usually end up staying until they're NCAA eligible ( McBain, Newhook, Makar etc ).

 

[kyle44]

To put his performance in context, he already has more goals in 23 games than Newhook, Johnson and Jost had in their 16 year old seasons.

 

[wetcoast]

Has this ever happened? A Junior A guy going to the USHL?

A bit more likely he decides to join Bedard in the WHL.

If he wants to play college then CHL isn't an option, since it's considered a "professional" league...lol.

 

[BondraTime]

Alex Campbell went from Victoria to Omaha prior to joining the NCAA after being taken in the 3rd in 2019

 

[Bubbles]

2G, 1A tonight, almost getting boring at this point.

He's now greater than a goal a game pace. 28 goals in 26 games.

 

[Bubbles]

Another 2G, 1A performance this afternoon. Laid a beating on the Powell River Kings 15 - 1 this weekend.

First to 30 in the league.

Shout out to Ellis Rickwood, who had 2G, 3A himself.

 

[wetcoast]

Another 2G, 1A performance this afternoon. Laid a beating on the Powell River Kings 15 - 1 this weekend.

First to 30 in the league.

Shout out to Ellis Rickwood, who had 2G, 3A himself.

I still have no idea on how to rank him among 23 draft eligible prospects, seems like a first rounder but there are so many good players performing in better leagues with excellent skillsets.

Maybe next season when and if he plays at a higher level we might get a better idea.