HellOnICE Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I don't think anyone could suggest Lou didn't screw this kid out a possible career by keeping him up in the NHL as long as he did a few years ago. However, is there a situation - Tri, I'm pointing this at you as you're familiar with procedures stronger than most - where by not playing him at all, we kill his value so much, there is a possibility of sneaking him through waivers as we approach holiday freezes, etc? Yes he's a former first rounder, but he's definitely not an NHL player - would there be a team willing to commit to him on an NHL roster for the rest of the season? At some point he may have to go through waivers - because it's clear he belongs in the A. What's the end game here? Even in a trade situation, the team getting him would have to believe him to be a current NHL player and be comfortable with him taking a roster spot without thinking of putting him through waivers. I feel bad for the kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdgeControl Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 (edited) the double negative threw me a bit. are you suggesting that this kid somehow got screwed over because he only played in 17 games in the nhl his first year? yet he played 60 AHL games the last 2 years??? like you say, the problem may be he's just not very good at any one thing. imo, the kid should get the next 10 games up here, and if things don't click, be sent down. (even thru waivers) playing a game here and there doesn't seem to be working Edited November 19, 2015 by EdgeControl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellOnICE Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 He got screwed over because he can't play in the A without being subjected to waivers and he is not good enough To play here. So it's purgatory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 burning the ELC only caused this year's issue, but the bigger problem is that he just isn't that good. you've got guys like bobby farnham and o'neill that were seen as better options than him. the devils are going to sign tyler kennedy further blocking matteau. you'd like to say that perhaps the lack of injuries has hurt him, but he's only going to get pushed further away when ruutu gets healthy and elias returns. if he was a servicable bottom 6 guy, he'd be playing. they gave him chances in the preseason. he got into a couple regular season games and took some dumb penalties and was essentially worthless in the little time he was on the ice. when the roster crunch happens, it'll be interesting if it's him or o'neill that are the first casualty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils731 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Matteau should get to the point the Devils could send him down for conditioning for 2 weeks. Then he can come up in game shape and try and grab a spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Yeah, I think that's the larger issue. He has a non-descript junior season and two non-descript AHL seasons under his belt. He wasn't terrible, but in no way was he a standout either. You'd still want a guy like this to be able to take a 4th line spot. I don't know why they didn't send him down for conditioning, 731, they had that opportunity and didn't take it. They could try to pass him through waivers but I see it as even money he'd be claimed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfitz804 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 He sucks because his dad sucked in 1994. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satans Hockey Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Should have never been drafted by us in the first place. I still can't believe we didn't give up the pick that year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SterioDesign Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 First of all we had to give up that pick... 2nd of all I watched him play juniors, he was playing either 2nd or 3rd line... against smaller kids. How can you see an NHLer in there? in his draft year he had 10 points in 18 games. The year before 9 pts in 28 games... then there was a guy with 91 pts in 60 games still on the board... yet we go for the fvcking typical all around player producing very average offensive numbers. And we watch that 91 pts guy getting drafted by the Kings and he's doing quite well. I know that's 20/20 hindsight but godamnit that's not an isolated case. Our drafting sucked and decisions like this clearly shows why. Draft special talent, that's the only way to get it cheap, you can easily get role players for your bottom 6 on the market or cheap trades or off waivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 First of all we had to give up that pick... 2nd of all I watched him play juniors, he was playing either 2nd or 3rd line... against smaller kids. How can you see an NHLer in there? in his draft year he had 10 points in 18 games. The year before 9 pts in 28 games... then there was a guy with 91 pts in 60 games still on the board... yet we go for the fvcking typical all around player producing very average offensive numbers. And we watch that 91 pts guy getting drafted by the Kings and he's doing quite well. I know that's 20/20 hindsight but godamnit that's not an isolated case. Our drafting sucked and decisions like this clearly shows why. Draft special talent, that's the only way to get it cheap, you can easily get role players for your bottom 6 on the market or cheap trades or off waivers. Matthau went right around where he was predicted in what has turned out to be a pretty crappy draft. The two players that I can think of that we're drafted after him that are clearly better than him are Severson and Tanner Pearson, who was an overager that year. Another guy who put up comparable numbers in the AHL who has had a decent career thus far is Zemgus Girginsons, who, I recall a few people here at the time were saying Matteau might turn out to be. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SterioDesign Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Matthau went right around where he was predicted in what has turned out to be a pretty crappy draft. The two players that I can think of that we're drafted after him that are clearly better than him are Severson and Tanner Pearson, who was an overager that year. Another guy who put up comparable numbers in the AHL who has had a decent career thus far is Zemgus Girginsons, who, I recall a few people here at the time were saying Matteau might turn out to be. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk of course and like i said it's easy to say after the fact. We should have gave up that pick there's no questions. But for the love of god try to draft someone that could become something, if you're playing the bottom line juniors... chances are if you ever make it to the NHL you'll only be a bottom 6 guy. That's not great value for a first rounder (well the potential of a first rounder anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Trade him to the Rangers. Besides, we could use some more useless nostalgia. That's all MSG does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guadana Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 That is a strange lou's revenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vadvlfan Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 As it turns out, we never lost a draft pick, so taking the #30 pick (regardless of who it was). Whether he was a decent pick? is still being decided. I wonder if Shero's been trying to peddle him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satans Hockey Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 As it turns out, we never lost a draft pick, so taking the #30 pick (regardless of who it was). Whether he was a decent pick? is still being decided. I wonder if Shero's been trying to peddle him? If we gave up the pick in 2012 which was Matteau we would have a higher pick in 2014. I don't know how the prospects from the 14 draft are doing but still wasn't a smart move to me because Matteau was never a sure fire pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoffeecake Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Was it that Lou suspected he'd get the first rounder back in some capacity if he waited until the last possible year to give it up? Which someone said before, quality over quantity, but that could at least provide us some kind of explanation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Even in junior, he never had a season that made you go "yeah this kid could be a player". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck the Duck Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Matteau played a good game last night. He looked strong on the puck, took the body, and created a few offensive chances. He needs to play like that more consistently, and stay out of the penalty box. IMO, he has the skill to play a bottom 6 role in this league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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