Top 2016 draft prospect Auston Matthews blazes new trail for NHL hopefuls
After months of hype, top 2016 NHL Draft prospect Auston Matthews ended speculation Friday with the announcement that he will play out his draft season with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss National League, making him the first major North American prospect to leave the continent during his draft year.
Guess who's coming to Zurich? #greatnews @A_Matthews34 pic.twitter.com/xdDwnq3Ii4
— ZSC Lions (@zsclions) August 7, 2015
Matthews, who is projected to go No. 1 overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, is no stranger to being a trailblazer. As a native of Scottsdale, Ariz., the 17-year-old comes from an untraditional hockey market. He destroyed U.S. National Team Development Program records last season, totaling 55 goals and 116 points in 60 games to dethrone Patrick Kane as the program's all-time leading scorer. More impressive is that those numbers came against draft-eligible players, and Matthews was a year younger than everyone else.
Matthews earned a spot on the United States World Junior Championships team while 17, a squad typically made up of 18-to-20-year-olds, and he did not look out of place as he posted three points in five games.
Matthews' decision to play overseas next season is the most unique move he has made so far in his career. Usually, a prospect like Matthews either goes the Canadian major junior route (as Patrick Kane did) or the NCAA route (like Jonathan Toews). Either way, a player with his talent level will likely become an NHL star barring a major injury.
So what benefits will he get by leaving North America?
For starters, Matthews will get experience against older, stronger players who will be more like the opponents he will face in the NHL. Canadian major juniors often boasts the most talented 16-to-20-year-old prospects on the continent, but Matthews has already proven he can dominate against competition close to his own age. Although he was drafted in 2012 by the Everett Silvertips of the major junior's WHL, that draft is in no way binding.
Plus, should Matthews not make an NHL squad out of camp in 2016-17, he would have to be sent back to his junior team due to a provision that prohibits major junior players from playing in the AHL. That means a smaller paycheck and a narrower window to adjust to NHL life with the chance that he would be sent back to Everett for a second season.
Matthews has his pick of NCAA teams he could go to instead of playing major junior, but he would have to get through the NCAA clearinghouse and there is no guarantee he would be able to play this coming season, according to Chris Peters of CBS Sports. If he did get through the clearinghouse, the NCAA would offer competition against slightly older players (18 years old to 24 years old), but the level of talent is still below what he could play against in Europe.
Matthews would also, like Jack Eichel, be a one-year college player. He would not be able to get paid and would have to balance college classes with preparations for the draft and a hockey career. If he goes to Europe instead, Matthews could focus solely on hockey and make enough money to allow him to cover a college tuition later should he get injured or not pan out. He has the talent to hold his own against professionals, so why should he not go that route?
For a prospect with Matthews' talent level, it seems European hockey offers the best of both worlds. And so the 17-year-old will join the Zurich Lions once he turns 18 on Sept. 17. Matthews will still be able to play for Team USA in tournaments such as the World Junior Championships, but he will spend the year developing under former NHL coach and current Zurich coach Marc Crawford, who won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996. Plus, former NHLer Marc-Andre Bergeron currently plays for the Lions.
It's an interesting choice by Matthews and only time will tell how well it works out, but should Matthews become a success in the NHL one day, fans might start seeing more North American prospects head to Europe in the coming years.
