MATTHEW CAIRNS
By Lowetide
7 years agoIn the middle of the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft—with most of the top end CHL kids already chosen—Edmonton looked to the OJHL for defender Matthew Cairns. One month later, there are still questions about this player, and what he brings. Let’s have a look.
MATTHEW CAIRNS FACTS
- 6.02, 190
- Boxcars: 46gp, 9-24-33
- Even-Strength: 46gp, 3-12-15
- Power Play: 46gp, 4-11-15
- Penalty Kill: 46gp, 2-1-3
Cairns was drafted out of the OJHL, a league that has seen a few prospects drafted to the NHL in recent years:
- 2016: Matthew Cairns (No. 84), Patrick Kudla (No. 158)
- 2015: None
- 2014: Jake Walman (No. 82), Michael Prapavessis (No. 105), Dylan Sikura (No. 178), Jake Evans (No. 207)
Walman is an interesting comparable to Cairns, as he posted almost identical stats (43gp, 7-26-33) leading into his draft season. Since being drafted, Walman has played two seasons in the NCAA with Providence—blossoming offensively in 2015-16. Cairns will attend Cornell starting in 2017-18.
SCOUTING REPORTS ON CAIRNS
- Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News: Scouts think he tries to do too much sometimes, but Cairns is aware of that. Cairns would also like to work on his D-zone coverage, but the
offensive skills are impossible to ignore, which is why scouts are
excited to see what he’ll do next season. He has done all he can in Jr. A
and his plan for next season is to join Muskegon in the USHL. After
that, he’s slated to attend Cornell. Source - Red Line Report (No. 115 overall). We had high
hopes for the big d-man early on, but he can’t seem to decide if he’s an
offensive puckhandler (which he’s not) or a tough baggage smasher
(which he’s not). Source - Bob Green: “Big kid, good puck mover, good hockey sense. A little bit raw, maybe, but a big guy that can skate and move the puck.” Source
THE COMBINE
Cairns showed up in some of the combine tests, including shuttle runs and grip strength. No idea if that counts for anything but it is part of the story.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
It is going to be awhile. Remember William Lagesson? Exactly. He was drafted in 2014, and has played one USHL and one NCAA season. He has three more (or less) to go before graduating from college hockey. Cairns is a distant bell—but he was chosen after the CHL had been picked clean and the organization seems to have chosen a player with some range of skills.
Miles to go, we will chat again about him next summer.
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