First off, congratulations to Los Angeles on their first Stanley Cup. Growing up one of Mike Richards' biggest fans, it was a special moment to see him hoist Lord Stanley. And to Pittsburgh, I look forward to your draft.
/what the cool kids are doing
19. Andrei Vasilevski
20. Slater Koekkoek
21. Henrik Samuelsson
22. Derrick Pouliot
23. Tomas Hertl
24. Hampus Lindholm
25. Nicolas Kerdiles
26. Scott Laughton
27. Ludvig Bystrom
28. Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves
29. Oscar Dansk
30. Malcolm Subban
With a Stanley Cup memory quickly fading (
what have you done for me lately?), and a solid core in place, Bowman and Co. will augment their skill via trades and free agency over the next few years, while adding pieces to a very good prospect pool.
"With the eighteenth pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Chicago is proud to welcome, from the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League:
Matt Finn."
Having had the opportunity to see Finn live about 20+ times this season was a real treat. At 17 years old, Finn was playin 30+ minutes a night, and excelling on a Storm team that had its ups and downs. Having been drafted 12th Overall by Guelph two years ago, to see the development in Finn's offensive game is what impressed scouts the most.
Standing currently at six-feet and 195 lbs, Finn isn't the biggest guy on the ice, but by that token he doesn't look on the small side either. A leader already, Finn plays the game like a general on the ice, communicating to his D partner and forwards with hand motions to close gaps defensively and to move the puck effectively offensively. The "A" on his jersey well earned.
What Finn brings to the game is intelligence. A keen understanding of the plays that develop, Finn has to out think his opponent. He starts the breakout using short quick passes from his own zone rather than look for the stretch pass. He shows the ability to angle forwards towards the boards, stripping them of the puck before transitioning it. Down low, Finn struggles with stronger opponents, as he'll need to strengthen his core. He uses his stick very effectively to take away lanes and deflect pucks in the slot out of harm's way.
Offensively, Finn is what I'd like to call "sneaky." While controlling the game from the point, he makes decisions under pressure and moves the puck with precision to his teammates. His skating is good, with healthy amounts of speed. He uses subtle lateral shifts and head fakes to throw off checkers when gaining the zone and setting up the play for his team. Finn also likes to sneak down the right side down low into the offensive zone and give his team a cross-crease option.
He has some suspect foot-work and can get caught flat-footed at a stand still. As his grows into his body and tightens up on his consistent play, Finn will see massive improvements in an already very strong game.
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