Matty Matters: Where's Shawn Matthias?

by Ryan Meier on Jul 20, 2011 10:11 PM EDT in Florida Panthers News & Analysis

It's been a busy summer for the Panthers. Tons of free agent signings, some trades, and some qualifying offers for restricted free agents. Oh, and a new AHL affiliate, some trades for said affiliate's depth, and some signings for it as well. For the most part, the entire roster has been revamped, as well as the entire organization, and it's very clear things are changing. Aside from a handful of players from last year's roster, the opening day lineup is going to be completely foreign to Panther fans, and considering the results from last season, that's a good thing.

There are some mainstays from last year's lineup returning though: center Stephen Weiss and left wing David Booth are no-brainers, as well as defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. Joining them are forwards Evgeni Dadonov and Scott Timmins, defensemen Mike Weaver and Jason Garrison, and goalie Scott Clemmensen. RFA Mike Santorelli and UFA Keaton Ellerby were brought back, as well as Jack Skille. But there's one name fans know that's missing from this list.

Where's Shawn Matthias?

Matthias, known as "Danger" to his teammates, is also an RFA and has yet to be officially signed, despite a qualifying offer being submitted in June. Matthias was having a pretty decent year on a pretty mediocre team last season, and would have posted career highs in points if not for a nasty ankle injury suffered in January of this year. The injury kept him out until almost the end of the season, and when he did return in April in time for the last couple weeks of games, he re-aggravated the injury and was forced to sit yet again.

He was moved around quite a bit last season when healthy, playing on the second, third and fourth lines all throughout his 51 games. Former Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer used him in a lot of situations but never really let him get settled with consistent linemates, and it would often show in his play. Even with some of the adversity he had to deal with last year, he posted an even plus/minus rating and finished with an on-ice Corsi rating higher than Santorelli or Marty Reasoner. Granted, Matthias played against lower level opposition most of the time (his Corsi QoC was lower than Santorelli, who often played on the top two lines), but considering how young Matthias is and how inconsistent his environment was, he turned in a relatively good season.

Clearly management thinks he's worth keeping or he wouldn't have been tendered a qualifying offer. But where does he fit in the lineup right now? Let's take a look at what is likely the team's current depth chart at center:

Stephen Weiss
Mike Santorelli
Marcel Goc
Ryan Carter
Shawn Matthias
Scott Timmins

That's six centers, and only four lines to play them on. Weiss is likely untouchable as the team's number one center, and you can make the argument that Goc could be above Santorelli, though Santorelli is a better playmaker at this point. Carter is a solid fourth line center, capable of putting a few in the net and being a serious physical presence, as we saw towards the end of last season once he was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes. Timmins is still young and may end up being another solid depth guy (and potential injury callup) for the San Antonio Rampage, though he did impress at development camp and will push for a spot on the team this fall.

From this depth chart, it looks like Matthias is out of the picture for the Cats, but perhaps not. We don't know the offer tendered from the Panthers, and it's possible it's a two-way deal, which is why Matthias hasn't signed it yet. Or it's possible that management has hesitations due to his ankle injury, and may have undercut the salary figures a bit. Regardless, it's hard to see where Matthias fits into the team's plans at the center position at this point. He would need to outplay the other names on the list, and although it's possible, it will take an impressive effort on his part in camp to rise up on that depth chart.

However, all is not lost for Matthias. DeBoer placed him on the wing a few games last season and he responded with some pretty good offensive efforts. He's a natural center with good hands but has also played left wing in his career, and the Cats just so happen to be a little shallow at left wing. Booth and Sean Bergenheim are the only natural left wings on the roster, and so it's possible Matthias is given a chance to see time at wing and refine his scoring touch while playing with less defensive responsibility than when he was at center. It's entirely possible to see Matthias on the left wing on the fourth line, centered by Carter and with Matt Bradley or Jack Skille on the right side. That's a lot of muscle and hitting power, with some scoring potential as well.

Matthias has all summer to sign his qualifying offer, so we'll have to wait and see what happens. Regardless, he has been slowly but surely maturing into a quality third or fourth line center, and if he does re-sign with the Panthers, it will be interesting to see how he is utilized on a team that looks nothing like what he was a part of last season.

Poll

What would you do with Shawn Matthias if he re-signs?

Play him as a third or fourth line center

33 votes

Play him as a third or fourth line winger

110 votes

Hopefully it's a two-way deal, and send him to San Antonio

29 votes

Trade him

41 votes

213 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 42 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I hope to see Matty back, he still has untapped potential in my mind. Re-sign him as long as there’s room for him.

- Go Panthers -

by flpanther360 on Jul 20, 2011 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

There should ALWAYS

by catfan927 on Jul 20, 2011 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

There should always be room for a player of Matty’s potential….He has not yet been given a fair chance and i know he has much more in him. Losing him could end up being another Grabneresque mistake….

by catfan927 on Jul 20, 2011 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

Shawn is going to have to work harder than anyone on the roster this point, but that is a good thing.

The unaimed arrow never misses
I miss you already Olesz. What we had was tight. Still pulling for those 85 goals you were going to score under Dineen. Chicago will appreciate them, I'm sure.
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by Chris S Roberts on Jul 20, 2011 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed; shouldn’t be a cake walk for anyone (other than those signed for four years…gulp)

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by Donny Rivette on Jul 20, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we should trade him while he still has a little value, if he’s sent to the AHL next year or limited in play time his stock may only drop further from the highly touted prospect he once was, we’re stocked at center. and with Weiss looking to be the franchise player we never had, santorelli signed for a few years and goc being more than capable of sticking in the top 3 lines it would only be fair in some ways to give him a trade to a team that could really use him.

Also take into account that we have possibly other options in Howden and Huberdeau possibly making the team this year which would only knock him down further. Package him with Ellerby for some picks and prospects

by Rob PKane McMahon on Jul 21, 2011 2:41 AM EDT reply actions

Ellerby going nowhere.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jul 21, 2011 8:30 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree. Ellerby showed he belongs in the NHL last year. Time for him to take the next step – only way I trade him is if it’s something severely favoring us. Otherwise, I like having seven D-men for when the inevitable injuries hit.

by badger737 on Jul 21, 2011 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. Despite the controversy over some of the signings/moves, Tallon definitely gave this team one thing it hasn’t had in awhile: depth at all positions (except in net, but give it time). Trading away said depth is only really worth it when you’re flooded with top players at a position, and the defensive roster isn’t there yet. There’s no guarantee Gudbranson will step into a starting role, and he’s likely the most NHL ready out of all the defensive prospects.

And as badger stated, injuries are going to pop up. It’s been awhile since Ed Jovanovski played a full NHL season.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess I’m different and I really don’t see where this great potential in Matty is. To me, he looks like a third line player, who can chip in 30 points a year if given the right playing time and linemates. I’d like to see him back, if only to be a depth player, but to think that he’s going to suddenly turn into a scorer I think isn’t realistic.

Give me a fourth line of Carter, Skille and Matty and let them be our checking line. If him and Skille can gel and pot 20 points a piece, that would be a very successful proposition for us.

by badger737 on Jul 21, 2011 8:35 AM EDT reply actions

My thoughts exactly, though I might want Matt Bradley on the RW more than Skille at this point.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree completely. Matthias was never projected to be more than a second liner anyways, until he came to Florida. The due to lack of prospects, suddenly became top line potential. And I take Bradley over Skilleless every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

by MrOmnipotent on Jul 21, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Matthias, if everything goes right, still has enough upside to be a 50-60 point player. Realistically, I think he has the potential to be a very strong, grinding third-liner who will put up between 25-45 points on a regular basis.

The Ghost of David Nemirovsky

by panthersfan27 on Jul 21, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

He has good hands and some offensive creativity, and a pretty good shot. He has to learn to use his body more in the physical side of the game, and he will turn into a pretty decent 3rd liner. I really hope they move him to wing and give him the freedom to use his size and speed to score more this season. I think he’s a better option at wing than Jack Skille; he has much better scoring potential IMO. As for 50-60 points, probably not.

On a puck possession team like Kevin Dineen wants, a guy like Matthias can be really valuable if he plays up to the standards needed. A guy of his size and with his hands could protect the puck quite well down in the corners and behind the net and make some plays.

It will be interesting to see what happens. I think Matty is one of the better players on this team and with a good system, he could flourish more than he did under DeBoer. Hard to flourish when you’re playing scared all the time.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

As I said

50-60 is if everything goes right and more realistically running between 25-45 points. When Matthias was allowed to have a little bit of stability, his game flourished. Stability is the key for him, not being moved around on a whim by Deboer.

The Ghost of David Nemirovsky

by panthersfan27 on Jul 21, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, but unless he’s centering two 40-goal scorers on the wings, I still don’t see him ever reaching 50 points.

But hey, there’s always hope :)

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t see him reaching it either but that would be his optimum potential. The dude has got the talent to do it, he just has never been given the stability to do it or the linemates for any long period of time.

The Ghost of David Nemirovsky

by panthersfan27 on Jul 21, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure he has the talent to score that highly, but let’s hope he proves me wrong this season. I’d love to eat my words.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I forgot about Bradley, but I think Skille has a lot more skill than people give him credit for. Now, I don’t think he gets to show it here either – and I think he ends up on the top line in San Antonio with Michael Repik.

by badger737 on Jul 21, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, a full season with some organization depth and stability could be a platform to him asserting himself in the NHL and becoming a more productive player night in and night out. But he’ll have to earn that opportunity in camp and the preseason, and keep earning it during the regular season, just like everyone else.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Bradley is definitely the check line winger. Article points out the void on the left. So I forsee the fight for the 3rd line spot tween Matty & Q.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jul 21, 2011 9:31 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Yeah, I think matthias has a better chance then timmons…timmons will be a call up if there is an injury. given the right coach (which was definietly not deboer), he can possibly flourish if he can manage to stay healthy

Dara

by gravenger5 on Jul 21, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

Realistically, what kind of trade value does Matty have? I assume Dale would want a pick, 4the rounder?

by Chris S Roberts on Jul 21, 2011 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Probably something like that, yea. He won’t get much more than a 3rd round pick for Matty, if he’s dealt.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

No way they get a third rounder for him. Fourth at best and at this point, it makes more sense to keep him potentially in San Antonio and use him as an injury callup.

by badger737 on Jul 21, 2011 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe, maybe not. We’ll find out if he gets dealt I guess!

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

From flirting with the first line to the AHL… That wouldn’t go over well with any player.

by Robert Wright on Jul 21, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

No sir, which is why if he was offered a two-way QO, I can see why he’s not signed it yet.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn’t Goc also play the wing?

by Alexander Calloway on Jul 21, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

He has, but his faceoff win percentage of 53.8% (before he was injured last season) will ensure he likely stays as a center.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

everyone seems to overlook Jenks who had a very,very solid camp….Pass on Mattias!! I would take a player like Jenks or Timmins over him.

by whale on Jul 21, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

Just wanted to note that a two-way deal doesn’t mean we could send Matthias down to San Antonio without having him go through waivers. Two-way deals only affect the amount of cap space the player takes up (basically a percentage of the NHL salary). They have no bearing on whether a player is waiver eligible or not.

by Holy Jokinen on Jul 21, 2011 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

a year ago

everyone was touting Matthias as a bright lite in the Panther Org…..an up and coming star……possibly superstar potential…….Now with all the changes….it seems most people want to throw him under the bus……1 more year in San Antonio….and an injury call up………give the kid a chance……They don’t call him DANGER for nothin’

by LAUSMAN on Jul 21, 2011 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

I stopped posting for a while on any board, due to some family issues. But I haven’t seen Matthias as anything more than topping out at third line since being acquired. Similar to Olesz being a third liner, with spurts of second line duty where he produces, but nothing consistently. That’s not a reflection of style of play or amount of effort. Its what their topped out potential was when ebing acquired.

by MrOmnipotent on Jul 21, 2011 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d really rather not trade matthias, if he gets a roster spot great, if an injury occurs, its even better that we have a NHL ready guy to step in. Keep Matty, his stock has dropped too much for a trade, plus that some AHL time could do him a lot of good.

by Chris S Roberts on Jul 21, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Or Dineen could light a fire under him in Camp.

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by Donny Rivette on Jul 21, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

A good coach can light a fire under everyone, and I think Dineen will be a good coach.

by Chris S Roberts on Jul 21, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, but I think what’s more important is that he doesn’t institute a culture of fear as DeBoer sort of did. Young players have to be able to play without fear of making a mistake. As a player myself, I know that when I didn’t backcheck enough or got caught out of position and it results in a goal against, my coach is disappointed, but even more than that, I let my teammates down, and to a player that’s what really matters. That culture has to be erased for the youth of the organization. Let them grow into their own game, teach them good two-way hockey. Don’t bench them at the first mistake and reduce their ice time. How are they ever going to learn and improve?

I loved DeBoer as a coach and still wish him well in New Jersey, but that is the one big thing about his coaching style that I couldn’t understand. It worked even less on the Panthers during his tenure because of the lack of depth in the roster. Let’s hope Dineen’s leash isn’t as absurdly short as DeBoer’s was. It’s going to be funny to see DeBoer benching a $7 million forward who isn’t fond of playing defense.

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by Ryan Meier on Jul 21, 2011 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think Dineen will be a great coach for the younger players. He will have the patience and mentorship that DeBoer did not have. The Portland Pirates have been top notch the past couple of years and seeing the passion Dineen has, he is bringing that to this club.

I am hoping Mathias signs. With good coaching, I am sure he will be a 15+ goal scorer easily each season.

Shooooooooot!!!!!!!!

by jmslavick on Jul 22, 2011 8:40 AM EDT reply actions