Since it came up in the podcast, Villach played in the same group as Straubing in the CHL, so Straubing saw him twice in the group stage. Villach did not make the elimination round, but Straubing and Farjestadt did.
Straubing Tigers fan here. We were sure early on last season that Mattinen wasn't going to stay with us or in the German league beyond this season. You watched him play and you just saw that he was better than everyone else and just too good for this league. He was super strong both offensively and defensively, as his +/- numbers showed. Of course, the question will be how he can translate that back to North America. But nobody here in Straubing is mad at him for leaving, you could just tell he was too good to "waste" this talent in Germany
@@gsox8473 Thanks for the reply, good to hear that stuff. Watched an interview when he signed that was done during the season. Looks like a really cool environment to play. Really intrigued to see how he does this year, seems to have all the tools.
Hunter made about 11 D-men picks in rounds 2-7 in the 3 years he was the 'guy' as AGM, including after Lamoriello was hired as GM. Only 1 of the 11 ever played an NHL game & that was Keaton Middleton who played 3 for Colorado, but is basically a AHL guy. Mattinen is one of those 11 picks. They were almost all big guys, most 6' 2" or taller & at least 200 lbs or more. 11 swings & 11 misses, however Mattinen just might be a late bloomer. Some guys don't figure out how to play D well enough for the 'A' let alone the NHL, until they're in their mid-twenties. That's why I haven't written Liljegren off as of yet. He has all the tools, but his confidence seems elusive. Mattinen is an inexpensive get who is a Tree kind of sized guy as a RD. Curious to see if a D League MVP can play at North American pro level. I will watch him with interest at camp & see how he looks vs NHLers.
Since it came up in the podcast, Villach played in the same group as Straubing in the CHL, so Straubing saw him twice in the group stage. Villach did not make the elimination round, but Straubing and Farjestadt did.
Maybe I missed it, but did you discuss how he is defensively. Will he be able to defend at an NHL level.
Straubing Tigers fan here. We were sure early on last season that Mattinen wasn't going to stay with us or in the German league beyond this season. You watched him play and you just saw that he was better than everyone else and just too good for this league. He was super strong both offensively and defensively, as his +/- numbers showed. Of course, the question will be how he can translate that back to North America. But nobody here in Straubing is mad at him for leaving, you could just tell he was too good to "waste" this talent in Germany
@@gsox8473 Thanks for the reply, good to hear that stuff. Watched an interview when he signed that was done during the season. Looks like a really cool environment to play. Really intrigued to see how he does this year, seems to have all the tools.
Hunter made about 11 D-men picks in rounds 2-7 in the 3 years he was the 'guy' as AGM, including after Lamoriello was hired as GM. Only 1 of the 11 ever played an NHL game & that was Keaton Middleton who played 3 for Colorado, but is basically a AHL guy.
Mattinen is one of those 11 picks. They were almost all big guys, most 6' 2" or taller & at least 200 lbs or more. 11 swings & 11 misses, however Mattinen just might be a late bloomer. Some guys don't figure out how to play D well enough for the 'A' let alone the NHL, until they're in their mid-twenties. That's why I haven't written Liljegren off as of yet. He has all the tools, but his confidence seems elusive.
Mattinen is an inexpensive get who is a Tree kind of sized guy as a RD. Curious to see if a D League MVP can play at North American pro level. I will watch him with interest at camp & see how he looks vs NHLers.