FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Matvei Gridin has highlight-reel potential on right wing
Article content
It's all there in a short n' sweet package, a shorthanded snipe from early March. It must have been the most dazzling of his 44 goals this season on behalf of the QMJHL's Shawinigan Cataractes, a count that includes eight playoff markers.
Gridin's blazing speed is on display as he wins a race to a loose puck through the neutral zone. The Flames' first-rounder hits the turbo button at his own blue-line and although an opponent is already nearing centre, he has soon smoked right past him.
His soft hands are on display as he capitalizes on this sudden breakaway. The Russian winger settles the puck and flicks his wrist to hoist a shot under the cross-bar from close range.
His confidence is on display as he cruises by the rival bench, raising his right glove as if he is expecting a round of congratulatory fist-bumps from his foes.
'I think fans loved the celly the most,' Gridin said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ottawa Citizen
12 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
MacDougall thrilled to build on tradition of P.E.I. coaches in QMJHL
Article content Gardiner MacDougall said winning the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) coach-of-the-year award is a tremendous honour and privliege to follow in the footsteps of previous winners from P.E.I. Article content 'It's nice to follow and keep up the Island tradition of top coaches in this league,' MacDougall told The Guardian in a phone interview on June 5. '(Charlottetown Islanders general manager and head coach) Jimmy Hulton got it a couple of times and (former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach) Gerard (Turk) Gallant (of Summerside) got it a couple of times. Article content Article content MacDougall, from Bedeque, was named the award recipient during the QMJHL's Golden Pucks Awards in Quebec City on June 5. Article content In his first season with the Moncton Wildcats after 24 years as head coach of the UNB men's hockey program, MacDougall led the team to a franchise record of 53 wins and 108 points while scoring a league-best 294 goals and allowing a league-low 144. The Wildcats recently won the franchise's third QMJHL championship and its first in 15 years. At the Memorial Cup Canadian major-junior hockey championship tournament, the Wildcats were eliminated in the semifinals by the eventual-champion London Knights. Article content 'One guy gets the recognition but it's a full team effort, ' said MacDougall. 'The head coach gets the honour but I had the best staff as well. Article content 'I had a terrific assistant coaching staff, training staff, fitness staff and obviously I had a pretty good GM (MacDougall's son, Taylor MacDougall) and a tremendous owner (Robert Irving).' Article content Article content 'We said this year the strength of our team is the team and when you get team success, there is a lot of recognition for different players and in this case a coach.' Article content Article content MacDougall praised the contributions of the entire staff, noting everyone bought in from the opening practice. Article content 'We played better hockey the second half and had a tremendous playoff,' said MacDougall. 'It's always disappointing to come up a little short at the Memorial Cup but, overall, it was a pretty special year, especially for the players.' Article content Asked if there was anything in particular that stuck out from his first season with the Wildcats, MacDougall acknowledged there were a lot of 'wow' moments.
National Post
16 hours ago
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Potential options on defence at the NHL Draft
If there's one thing that's become clear as we've looked through the state of the defence in our Flames Retool Tracker series this week, it's that the organization is well-stocked with young talent on the blue line. Article content That makes it pretty unlikely that the Flames will take a defenceman with their first of two first-round picks at the NHL Draft later this month. Article content Article content After that, though? If the right player is available, who knows? Article content Article content Here are six guys we think might look good in a Flames uniform who are expected to get picked on June 27: Article content Henry Brzustewicz Article content Measurements: 6-foot-1, 192 lbs. Article content The skinny: It's not just that Brzustewicz's brother, Hunter, is one of the most highly regarded prospects in the Flames system and could be part of the blue-line puzzle next season. Henry also played big minutes for the Knights as they won the Memorial Cup this year and was one of the big risers on most draft boards as the season progressed. Scouts praise him for his super-high hockey IQ and his dependability on both ends of the ice, while acknowledging there's room for him to be more assertive offensively. Brzustewicz is expected to be picked in the second round and it would be a great story if the Flames wound up with both brothers. Article content Article content Article content Measurements: 6-foot-4, 200 lbs. Article content The skinny: The son of eight-time Canadian long ball champion Lisa Vlooswyk is a defensive defenceman who brings real physicality to the ice and that could have real value for a Flames team that already has its fair share of offensively minded blueliners in its system. FC Hockey's draft guide credits Vlooswyk for his physical presence, positioning and stick work and notes that he 'excels in denying net-front access (and) tying up threats without losing structure' — and that's exactly what coaches like in a defenceman. If he's available in the later rounds, the Flames just might look at bringing another Calgary kid home. Article content Measurements: 6-foot-0, 190 lbs. Article content The skinny: This writer is a little confused why some outlets have Pickford ranked as low as they do heading into the draft. He put up great numbers for the juggernaut Tigers this season and even set a WHL record for most consecutive games with a goal by a defenceman in the playoffs when he scored in eight straight as his team captured the title. He's a great puck-mover with elite offensive instincts for a blue liner and, while the Flames do have a few guys with similar skill sets, he should still carry a lot of intrigue. It's worth noting, too, that most scouting profiles make a point of mentioning that Pickford isn't a one-trick pony. There's lots to like about his defensive game, too.
Edmonton Journal
16 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Potential options on defence at the NHL Draft
Article content If there's one thing that's become clear as we've looked through the state of the defence in our Flames Retool Tracker series this week, it's that the organization is well-stocked with young talent on the blue line. That makes it pretty unlikely that the Flames will take a defenceman with their first of two first-round picks at the NHL Draft later this month.
