MOV 89 Auston Matthews Review

MOV Matthews (DD FM SB) is playing RW on my first line with MOV Simmonds and DC Malhotra (92). Active synergies are TT, 1T, CG, T and FM.

Skating 9/10 He’s definitely one of the purest skaters on my team. He’s agile and has great top speed. With high endurance and durability, he lasts well into the 3rd. Personally, I think his acceleration is his greatest strength in this area. It seems like he can really get going and create something from a stand still. In this area of his game, you won’t be disappointed.

Shooting 9/10 What a joy it is to shoot with Auston! His release is insane and very deceptive. He can pick corners and with some power. I personally prefer his wrist shot over anything, it’s smooth and quite reliable in pressure situations. His 1Ts are ridiculous too; just like that Centennial Game goal the other night.

Hands 9/10 His puck handling is the best on my time, no question. They’re comparable to MOV Hoffman but a little better. He’s quick and controlled with the puck. He can dish it out in almost any position with ease and accuracy. As mentioned in his shooting, his 1Ts are insane. His Hand-Eye is great in close to the net looking for tips & bats out of the air. It may be his best skill in the game. If you can activate DD synergy, you’ll be very impressed. However, I’m playing without it and still am quite happy with his performance

Checking 8/10 He’s not going to line up any big hits but he’s a big boy with some strenf (89). For checking, you’re better off using his stick; which is quite reliable for me in the neutral zone. His discipline, at 92, has him with only 4 minor penalties in 47 games. This area isn’t his strength.

Defense 7.5/10 His defense rating is 84 and I think it’s pretty accurate. He doesn’t have great defensive awareness or shot blocking abilities. However, his stick checking is better than most and he can make up with his big body. He’s disciplined so you don’t have to worry about stupid penalties provided you aren’t hacking away at the opponent. Playing with Malhotra (92) allows Matthews to focus on his strength, tucking it.

Miscellaneous I’ve seen a huge improvement in his game since his MOV card first came out, at 84 (I think). His skating and stick checking have improved tremendously. His large frame is more imposing with better strength and durability at his newest rating; making it hard to knock him off the puck. He’s pretty crap on the draws so I threw him on the wing. Even with the FM boost, he’s nothing compared to my other centres.

Closing Having bought him at 99k earlier in the year, he’s been my best investment. He continues to grow and amaze me. It’s not too late to grab him for a ‘deal’ as his rating will surely continue to climb this year. He can skate, score, dangle and setup guys all day. His D isn’t the best but pair him with a defensive centre and you should be good.