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Matvei Gridin and his one-dimensional skill set | 2024 NHL Draft

Throughout the 2023-2024 NHL season, TSLH Prospects shares observation reports and prospect profiles on young players eligible for the upcoming draft. Similar to the past four seasons, the columnists produce texts on a significant number of prospects to provide a comprehensive overview of the cohort and its progress. Today, the focus is on Matvei Gridin, a forward playing in the USHL.

To access content on prospects, including Montreal Canadiens future, and everything surrounding the draft, you can visit the TSLH Prospects section, subscribing to our various audio platforms, checking our YouTube channel, using the search bar at the top of the page, and exploring our TSLH Espoirs : Le Guide for free. Don’t forget Patreon as well!

At the beginning of the season, as I was closely scouting Sacha Boisvert with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL, I had no choice but to keep an eye on Matvei Gridin. Indeed, the Quebecois’ teammate was dominating offensively in his second year overseas. Seeing his name occasionally on social media, I expected a talented forward capable of taking control of a game. Unfortunately, that’s not what I observed.

I can’t say I was thrilled with his game. The 6-foot-1 abd 185-pound Russian did not show significant involvement on the ice, except in the offensive zone. Sliding back in defense and remaining static in his territory, the young player only became active when the puck was free or when a defenseman controlled it near him. While the winger was dangerous in the offensive zone, everything happened on the periphery without much physical effort.

Now, after about four months, I decided to revisit and observe his progress. There’s definitely improvement in certain aspects, but his main flaws remain in place. Fortunately, one thing has been maintained – his production. Matvei Gridin still ranks at the top of the USHL scorers with 59 points in 44 games. It’s not exceptional compared to former prospects in the league, but it’s noteworthy for this year.

If we focus on the positives, the Russian now shows a bit more enthusiasm in backchecking. He keeps his feet moving and often attempts to strip the puck from behind, especially when the opponent tries to move the play to the other side. However, once the action crosses his blue line, the young player stays high and circles, waiting for a pass. He still cheats a lot.

He’s a player mesmerized by the puck. He doesn’t frequently assess the surroundings to position himself properly or put his stick in passing lanes. This makes him ineffective when opposing attackers spend extended periods in his territory. Matvei Gridin only regains vigor when a defenseman retrieves the puck or when the action unfolds near him. That’s when the lefty returns to the attack, hoping for a pass or a teammate regaining possession to restart the play.

His mobility is also an issue, especially his acceleration. It takes a while to reach his maximum speed. Thus, he’s not the one who will control the puck in the neutral zone. He prefers to delegate that to his teammates to arrive as the second wave. This allows him to become an option against the flow when his team tries to create an attack. It’s okay because it remains his strength to find weaknesses to exploit, but it still demonstrates that the Russian has skating limitations, resulting in him being behind quite often.

Forechecking is not a frequent occurrence for him, just like physical play along the boards. He’s a prospect capable of imposing himself physically, but it usually happens after the puck has left the corner. He much prefers to sneak around and position himself in open ice. The front of the net doesn’t seem to be an option for him. The young player favors positioning next to the goalie’s posts, almost behind the red line, to redirect the puck. When the action unfolds on the opposite side, he frees himself in the faceoff circle to unleash a powerful and precise one-timer.

With possession of the puck, Matvei Gridin moves the opponent by remaining active on the periphery, exploiting his strengths in identifying passing or shooting lanes. The prospect is genuinely dangerous in these situations. Even though it happens from the outside, he’s a meticulous winger who anticipates well, turning anything into scoring opportunities. I would certainly like to see him in traffic, but I could accept his peripheral style if he didn’t have so many flaws on the other side of the rink.

As mentioned earlier, his shot is powerful and accurate. He has a diverse arsenal that troubles goalkeepers. He’s not a prolific scorer like Cole Eiserman, but the Russian is competent enough with his release to keep the shooting option respected. With teammates who thrive in traffic, are responsible, and can follow a talented player, Matvei Gridin can certainly find a place. However, I have reservations about the possibility of seeing him in the NHL as a regular.

The lack of involvement is a significant problem because his offensive talent is not elite enough to justify focusing solely on one aspect. This is a problem for many junior prospects, and it’s not new at all. Thus, I genuinely believe he will be selected in the second or third round. The potential is attractive. Would I pick him that early? Definitely not, as I can’t truly communicate with him or address the issue with his coaches. I can only rely on what I see in his games and what I see present lots of ?.

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