Top prospect for 2016 NHL Draft signs in Switzerland for upcoming season

Auston Matthews is taking his draft season to Switzerland after the Zurich Schlittschuh Lions

 Officially announced Friday that the top-rated NHL draft prospect – and anticipated No. 1-overall pick next summer – will join the club on a one-year deal.

Being a native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Matthews’ path to the NHL already diverges from the norm, but this truly is a trailblazing decision on his part. He will earn a reported $400,000 salary while competing with established pros in his final season to fine-tune before earning an NHL affiliation.

Zurich general manager Edgar Salis sees the partnership being mutually beneficial.

“He can help us, and we can help him with our program to develop and help him for his next step,” Salis said Friday in a phone interview with Stephen Why no of the Canadian Press.

“I think the league we are in here and the speed and everything, it’s pretty good. I think it’s really good. We’ve got a good coach and a good group.”

The move, rumored for the last several months, comes at the direct expense of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, who hold his junior rights.

The 17-year-old Matthews now assumes the fourth import roster position for former NHL head coach Marc Crawford’s Lions, joining former NHL players Ryan Shannon, Dan Fritsche, and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Matthews said he will return home to Scottsdale, Ariz., before leaving for Switzerland within the next week to begin practicing and working out with Zurich. He’s not eligible to play in any games until after he turns 18 on Sept. 17.”I can practice with the team and work out with them; just not play in any games until after my birthday,” Matthews said. “I’ll have my mom there with me the whole season, so I think it’ll be a good experience. I really think just playing for an NHL coach and playing against older competition is really going to push me to raise my level each game.”

Matthews set records with the U.S. National Team Development Program for goals (55) and points (117) in a season in 2014-15, surpassing the 52 goals and 102 points in 2005-06 by Patrick Kane. He played in the 2015 IIHF Word Junior Championship and is eligible to represent his country at the 2016 WJC in Finland.

Jim Johannson, general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team, is excited for Matthews.

“I think it’s great for the player and a unique situation and opportunity,” Johannson said. “I played in Europe for two years, not in the status of an Auston Matthews, but culturally and socially, I think it’s a good thing for him.

“Zurich’s schedule allows for a lot of training and it’s not as physical. For me, at this stage in his career, that’s OK because I think other parts of his game can grow in that environment and he’ll be able to do it under a pretty good training situation.”