Nicolas Mattinen – Player Profile – London Knights

Height:  6’4”

Weight:  220 pounds

Date of birth: March 5, 1998, Orleans, ON

Position:  Defence

Shoots:  Right

OHL Draft:  Round 6, 110^th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

During the 2012-2013 season, Mattinen played his Bantam hockey for the Eastern Ontario Wild and in 29 games he scored 5 goals and added 4 assists. He was selected in the 2013 Central Canada Hockey League Draft by the Cumberland Grads in the 4^th round, 37^th overall.

The following season Mattinen moved on to the Wild Minor Midget AAA squad. In 30 games, he notched 6 goals and 14 assists. The Knights would make Mattinen their 6^th round selection in the OHL Priority Selection.

Last season Mattinen suited up for the Grads in the CCHL. He appeared in 53 games scoring 4 goals and adding 10 assists. He was named to the CCHL All-Rookie Team.

After a season on a “not so good” Grads’ team in which Mattinen logged huge minutes while showing progression in all areas of his game, it was time to move up to the Knights and the OHL.  The problem is that the Knights were very deep on the blue line with fellow draft eligible teammates in Olli Juolevi and Victor Mete, along with Aiden Jamieson, Brandon Crawley and a young and upcoming Evan Bouchard (watch for him in the 2018 NHL Draft).

To date, Mattinen has appeared in 34 of the Knights 53 games this season. He has 4 goals and 4 assists with 18 penalty minutes and is a plus 3.

Mattinen is more of a stay at home defenceman. He already has very good size with a filled out frame at 6’4” and 220 pounds. He controls his gaps extremely well and with his long reach and active stick shuts down passing lanes quickly and effectively.

Mattinen does not possess huge offensive upside. However, he has shown a willingness and the capability to lead the rush and jump into the play – he has decent wheels for a player of his size. His best offensive asset is his booming shot. It’s hard and it’s heavy. Coach Dale Hunter claims the defenceman can fire it at over 100 miles per hour.

Mattinen was ranked 103^rd on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings released in January.