Was Matthew Finn The Steal Of The 2012 NHL Entry Draft?
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Heading into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Guelph Strom defenseman Matthew Finn was ranked 13th overall by the International scouting Service, while The Hockey News had Finn ranked 18th overall in their annual Draft Preview issue.
Listed at 6’0” and 195 pounds, Finn was the Storm’s go-to defenseman, playing an integral role in every facet of the game. Through 61 games with the Storm in 2011-12 Finn registered 10 goals, 47 points and a plus/minus rating of minus-13, good enough to lead the team in scoring from the blueline.
Finn’s skill set includes great skating, the ability to rush the puck, a physical element, the ability to run the power play, decent size, tremendous leadership skills and a good two-way game.
Agree with the overall assessment, but I don't see him as a very physical defenceman.
I think he sees the ice very well and has an above average decision making aspect of his game that they failed to mention. But that could be included in the two-way grouping of his skillset.
So far the pick looks great. Obviously we won't be able to determine if he is the steal of the draft, or even a steal for that matter, for a few more years though.
I have no doubt Finn was the steal of the Draft. He was a projected 1st round pick and for whatever reason went to the 2nd round, however I'm sure Toronto was happy to select him. Plus he was just named captain in Guelph and it shows he's a leader who can be trusted. So I can't wait to see him playing for the Maple Leafs.
I'm probably his biggest fan and think he'll make the NHL but it's way too early to call him a steal of the draft. Lots of goof players picked late 1st and early 2nd.
Collberg by the Habs, Dansk by the Jackets, Finn are a few that could surprise but still too early to say.
THE steal of the draft? Possible, but highly unlikely. A steal/very good pick? Much more likely, but hard to say for sure until we see how his game translates at the NHL level. I like him quite a bit, I think he has a great chance to become at least a bottom pairing dman, and a decent chance to become a 2nd pairing dman, if he becomes a solid 2nd pairing dman that would be a very solid pick at 35th overall.
Definitely going to watch him play when I'm home in Guelph this Christmas. I had the pleasure of going to school with Doughty and watching him light it up whenever I'd go to a Storm game.
He was a steal when it comes to the potential he oozes. The kid has a pretty high upside for where he went. That being said if he truly becomes a steal like Lundqvist or any other late drafted player is still up in the air I mean people seem to sell it like he has already gotten a Norris nomination.
Meh, if you consider the value of moving from pick to pick, I think Rielly has a chance to be the steal of the draft. Moving from 34th to 18th or 13th isn't as big as moving from 5th to 1st, which could be the case if Rielly does in fact prove to be the top player in the 2012 draft.
I was quite shocked Edmonton didn't take him and that he was available when the Leafs drafted 35th overall.
Yeah no kidding I saw Moroz play this year and it boggles my mind he was drafted as high as he was. I'd be shocked if he ever played a game in the nhl. I also wondered how on earth a talent scout could possibly choose Reinhart over Reilly. Sometimes I think these guys just over think the picks and talk themselves into picking players based on other factors
is drafting a 2nd pairing Dmen in the 2nd round a steal? I don't really think so.
If he's a solid 2nd pairing dman (i.e. someone you're happy to have on your 2nd pairing long term, not a stopgap), then yes. The average dman picked in the 30-40 range is a bottom pairing or AHL dman, a solid 2nd pairing dman is a very good pick in that range, a solid top pairing dman is an insanely good in that range.
