All week leading up to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, we’ll be profiling top prospects who may hear their names called Friday in the first round. Nothing too in-depth. Just enough so you know who they are and what they’re about.
Matthew Finn (D)
Height: 6’0 Weight: 195 Shoots: Left
Team: Guelph Storm (OHL)
Country: Canada
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 16 among North American skaters
What kind of player is he?
Not the smoothest in the draft, but a strong work ethic and a newfound commitment to fitness translated into dramatic improvement this season, as Finn tallied 48 points in 61 games on a young Guelph squad. He likes to rush with the puck and has one of the better shots in the draft. However, according to McKeen’s, he “could improve his quick twitch muscles for faster response time out of the gate.” But hey, couldn’t we all?
Quotable:
“His conditioning is 100 times better this season. If you can imagine a 16-year-old being out of shape, he was. I had my year-end meeting with him and I said, ‘you can be a top 10 player or in the top seven rounds, you got to decide.’ That’s really ultimately on the player and, man, he went home and came back in phenomenal shape. I give full credit to him.” – Guelph head coach Scott Walker
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