It's now only days before American teenager Auston Matthews makes his highly-anticipated debut with Swiss club ZSC Lions Zurich. A few days later, he's off to Prague to play in the Champions Hockey League. While he acknowledges his current situation isn't normal, he's handling it well and is excited about just playing again.
by Andreas Reiner
ZURICH – It's Monday, just around noon, and ZSC Lions players are leaving the ice of their training facility next to the Hallenstadion one after the other after two hours of training. A bunch of kids and their parents wait patiently for the players to pass by and ask their idols for a picture and an autograph. There's a handful of players approaching, and one of them is currently the top-ranked prospect for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. We had the chance for a quick pre-lunch interview with much-anticipated Auston Matthews.
Everyone's been going crazy, from fans to media, about your transfer to the ZSC Lions. How do you explain this huge interest?
“I guess it's not a traditional move but I thought for my development that playing pro hockey here in Switzerland is a really great idea. It's really going to help me develop and become a pro.”
How has the travelling and settling down here in Switzerland gone so far?
“It's been really good so far. It's not been too hard to adjust, just a different culture but all the guys have been really welcoming and just helping me get used to everything.”
Everyone is eagerly awaiting your first game. How do you feel about this rather unique situation? (NOTE: Matthews was given a professional working permit with the condition that he is only allowed to play once he turns 18 years old, which happens on 17 September.)
“It's hard – it's not something you want to do. You always want to be out there playing when you're able to play. Unfortunately, that's not the case but it's okay. It's only four more days so I'm excited.”
How was the on-ice training so far if you compare it to overseas?
“Yeah, the ice is a little bigger than back in the States but I think it's a good thing, it forces you to skate a little bit more. I try not to take too much advantage of the big ice – especially in the neutral zone I try to push myself in the middle of the ice and make plays from there.”
Moving to the Champions Hockey League, had you heard of it before you came over here?
“No, I hadn't heard about it until I came here. Obviously it's pretty cool to be able to play the best teams from the different leagues and I'll get a feel from all of Europe so that's really cool and I'm looking forward to it.”
What are the differences you've seen in terms of play between the National League A and the Champions Hockey League?
“Not much actually. I think it's pretty similar, especially for us – we want to play a certain way each game. It's hard, competitive, tough to play against. So it doesn't really change too much whatever team you play.”
What are your goals for this season while you're here?
“My goal is to continue to get better and better, round up my game and especially this upcoming year to improve and get ready for the next level.”
Do you feel any of the pressure that is being put on you? Everyone is talking about you being the potential first overall pick in next years draft pick, does it affect you in any way?
“No, I just really try not to focus on it. People will always have things to say on the outside but for me, I have my own expectations for myself and my own limits so I think that's the most important. Any expectations they have, I think mine will far exceed theirs.”
Thank you Auston and good luck in your season!
About Auston Matthews:
The Scottsdale, Arizona native, who turns 18 on 17 September, was born just a few days too late to be eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, where he would have shared the spotlight with Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and other high-profile juniors.
In his year with the U.S. National U18 Team, Matthews scored 55 goals and 61 assists in 60 games in the Development Program. While playing the U18 World Championship in Zug, Switzerland – where he scored 8 goals and added 7 assists in 7 games – the plans of playing his transition year in Europe came to fruition and the ZSC Lions organization, with ex-NHL coach Marc Crawford, were more than happy to accommodate the young American.
At a certain point it seemed that the transfer could go south due to problems with the employment office and the working permit. But with a huge effort from both the Matthews family and the Lions organisation, one of the most spectacular transfers in NLA history was signed, sealed and delivered.
Fans in Switzerland and all over Europe will soon get a chance to watch this highly-skilled and talented young man. Matthews is eligible to make his professional debut for ZSC on Friday, 18 September – the day after his 18th birthday – when they host Fribourg-Gotteron in NLA play. The following day they travel to Langnau im Emmental to face the SCL Tigers and then the Lions fly to Prague, where they open the Champions Hockey League's Round of 32 next Tuesday, 22 September at O2 Arena against Sparta.