Quote:
Originally Posted by Macaroni
Hey @Sandman, do you have a profile on Matvei Gridin? He seems like an intriguing prospect to me and seems to be ranked all over the place by the major publications.
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Sorry, man- I've been out all day. Here it is:
Left-handed RW Matvei Gridin was drafted 223rd overall in the 2022 USHL Draft, and he has exceeded all expectations for Muskegon, piling up 18 goals and 41 points in just 34 games for a club that currently sits 3rd in the East, and 5th overall (3rd in goals-for). Despite playing mostly on the second line, albeit with top PP duties, he leads the team in scoring while taking the 2nd overall spot in the scoring race, 5th in goals, and first overall for U-18 players. Those numbers pro-rate to 32 goals and 73 points in 61 USHL games- in a league that's considered to be hard to score in. Gridin currently has 14 points via the PP (7g,7a), and is tied for 2nd in the league with 5 game-winners. He plays on the same club with potential first-rounder, Sacha Boisvert.
Gridin's game is facilitated by his supreme puck-skills, and some say he's the best 1-on-1 player in the league. He doesn't always need to rush, as he's patient and can slow the game down, and he's highly elusive- he can go around you, or play the play the puck right through you. Shooting is definitely his perferred choice of weapon, as he averaged 6 shots per game in the first few months of action (and sometimes hit double-digits), but he's a dual-threat winger who shows some high-end playmaking, with crisp, accurate passing. His hard, accurate shooting arsenal comes with an NHL-caliber release, but he will also go the net hard to cause havok, or capitalize on tips and rebounds. Gridin is a smooth skater with separation speed, remarkable edgework and agility, and can cover a lot of ground quickly. He's not all finesse, as there's a little power in his game, and he will battle hard along the walls, corners, and in front of the net, and won't hesitate to lean into opponents to leverage his way to the middle, or to the net.
Despite his talent, Gridin's off-puck game is minus in the eyes of scouts. He often seems to be marching to his own drum- out of position, or late to the play. This problem affects his defensive zone play as well. It has has led to questions about his work ethic, as he has obvious hockey sense. He can drive play, but too often plays on the perimeter, waiting for the play to come to him. These are fixable problems, and it's impossible to ignore his tremendous offensive upside, but he will have time to work his problems out, as he's committed to the University of Michigan next year. Most likely a first-rounder.