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Sandman · 05-19-2024, 01:56 AM

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 7):

LHG Lukas Matecha, 6'3",187lbs

Tri-City: 35gp, 13-19-1, 3.42 GAA, .901 SV%

As someone who has watched plenty of the Tri-City Americans, I can honestly say it's astonishing that any goaltender on that team could have a save percentage above .900. Matecha is 19 years old, and played all of the 2022-23 season back home in Czechia, before being selected 99th-overall in the 2023 CHL Import Draft by the Amerks. This season, Tri-City were second-last in the WHL, and 3rd-worst in goals-for. In the first half of the season, Matecha actually went 9-7-1-1, with a 2.48 GAA, and a .923 SV%, but the team completely fell apart in the New Year after one of their top centers, Maxmilian Curran, went down to injury, and D Pavel Bocharov was traded. Matecha was the only goalie in the CHL Top Prospects Game to not get scored on, playing half the game and stopping 19 shots- and many of those saves were of the highlight-reel variety.

Matecha plays an athletic butterfly style, going up and down quickly, while reading and reacting to what's thrown at him. He's fluid and efficient in his movements around the crease, exhibiting control. He plays a bit deeper in his net, as he has a big presence and covers a lot of real estate; he doesn't often venture out to the top of the crease, but he will make the trip to smartly challenge a shooter, staying square to the shot. He's quite athletic, and can make acrobatic saves, or purely reactionary ones, and goes post-to-post smoothly. He seals the post well, and takes away the bottom of the net by flaring his pads, and conceals a lot of twine when he's down in the butterfly. When the puck is in the slot, Matecha reads the play well, pouncing on loose pucks and gobbling up rebounds- he can also steer shots to the corner. He employs a wide-legged stance to be able to close the five-hole instantaneously, but it doesn't slow him down from pushing off on either foot. In heavy traffic, he can track well enough to make saves, and he can fight off screens, battling for lines of sight, and fighting for position. He can look through, or over screens. He's calm and composed, and his movements are controlled.

Matecha is one of my favorites in the goaltending department this year, and I think there's a chance he could be a steal. He might need a little work on his hand speed for the next level, as some wonder about both his glove and blocker. He will leave the crease to set up the puck for his defensemen, but he doesn't play it often. In the past, there were questions about his composure, but I haven't seen any reason to be concerned about that- I think that's been put to rest. It's hard to know where a player who went undrafted in 2023 will be picked, but there's plenty of reasons to like this kid. I'm guessing 4th or 5th round.

05-19-2024, 01:56 AM	#3270
Sandman Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Calgary Exp:	Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 7): LHG Lukas Matecha, 6'3",187lbs Tri-City: 35gp, 13-19-1, 3.42 GAA, .901 SV% As someone who has watched plenty of the Tri-City Americans, I can honestly say it's astonishing that any goaltender on that team could have a save percentage above .900. Matecha is 19 years old, and played all of the 2022-23 season back home in Czechia, before being selected 99th-overall in the 2023 CHL Import Draft by the Amerks. This season, Tri-City were second-last in the WHL, and 3rd-worst in goals-for. In the first half of the season, Matecha actually went 9-7-1-1, with a 2.48 GAA, and a .923 SV%, but the team completely fell apart in the New Year after one of their top centers, Maxmilian Curran, went down to injury, and D Pavel Bocharov was traded. Matecha was the only goalie in the CHL Top Prospects Game to not get scored on, playing half the game and stopping 19 shots- and many of those saves were of the highlight-reel variety. Matecha plays an athletic butterfly style, going up and down quickly, while reading and reacting to what's thrown at him. He's fluid and efficient in his movements around the crease, exhibiting control. He plays a bit deeper in his net, as he has a big presence and covers a lot of real estate; he doesn't often venture out to the top of the crease, but he will make the trip to smartly challenge a shooter, staying square to the shot. He's quite athletic, and can make acrobatic saves, or purely reactionary ones, and goes post-to-post smoothly. He seals the post well, and takes away the bottom of the net by flaring his pads, and conceals a lot of twine when he's down in the butterfly. When the puck is in the slot, Matecha reads the play well, pouncing on loose pucks and gobbling up rebounds- he can also steer shots to the corner. He employs a wide-legged stance to be able to close the five-hole instantaneously, but it doesn't slow him down from pushing off on either foot. In heavy traffic, he can track well enough to make saves, and he can fight off screens, battling for lines of sight, and fighting for position. He can look through, or over screens. He's calm and composed, and his movements are controlled. Matecha is one of my favorites in the goaltending department this year, and I think there's a chance he could be a steal. He might need a little work on his hand speed for the next level, as some wonder about both his glove and blocker. He will leave the crease to set up the puck for his defensemen, but he doesn't play it often. In the past, there were questions about his composure, but I haven't seen any reason to be concerned about that- I think that's been put to rest. It's hard to know where a player who went undrafted in 2023 will be picked, but there's plenty of reasons to like this kid. I'm guessing 4th or 5th round.