Matthews no mere rookie forward
NO. 1 PICK: Maple Leafs ‘gifted’ prospect has eyes on Calder Trophy, while embracing pressure in Toronto
It was a typical rookie mistake.
Team North America had just finished playing a game at Montreal’s Bell Centre and had a flight to catch for Pittsburgh. Players hurriedly showered and were told to get on the bus — now. So Auston Matthews instinctively grabbed his hockey bag and started walking.
If not for an equipment manager, who told him that people get paid to do that for him, Matthews might have gone back for even more bags and loaded the entire bus.
Incidents like that illustrate just how young and inexperienced the 18-year-old is — even on an under-24 team. On the ice, however, it has been a different story.
Matthews might have started out as the 13th forward on Team North America, but he’s quickly moved up the depth chart and spent Tuesday on the top power-play unit with Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.
“Auston is a very gifted player,” said head coach Todd McLellan. “He’s played with and against men over in Europe. I think that’s probably helped him. He has a confidence level that is probably really high right now ... so it’s a great starting point for him.”
Indeed, this is just the beginning for Matthews. In a few weeks, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft will make his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Based on what we’ve seen from him in World Cup exhibition games, challenging for the Calder Trophy should not be out of the question.
“I guess playing here helps because you kind of get that head start,” said Matthews. “Going into training camp, being able to play at this high of a level, it’s kind of a taste of best-on-best hockey. So it gives you an edge going into the season.”
In a one-on-one interview, Matthews spoke about his on-ice rivalry with Patrik Laine, how Zurich prepared him for the media circus that is Toronto and why he wants to win the Calder Trophy.
On rivalry with Laine
North America kicks off the tournament against Finland on Sunday. For Matthews, it’s yet another chapter in his ongoing rivalry with Laine, Winnipeg’s No. 2 overall pick. If there is anything Matthews has learned from playing on a team with McDavid and Eichel, who were the top two picks in last year’s draft, the comparisons are likely here to stay.
“I think you just accept it,” said Matthews. “Talking to Jack or Connor, they’re in the same locker-room now and they don’t get too caught up in all that. It’s blown out of proportion, I think. They’re focused on their respective teams and bettering themselves with every shift that they play ... you can’t get too caught up in the one-on-one matchups.”
On appreciating Laine
Do Matthews and Laine hate each other? Quite the opposite. “He’s a nice guy,” said Matthews. “He’s pretty funny obviously.”
On the ice, Matthews has nothing respect for his supposed rival.
“That big shot he has is obviously a weapon,” said Matthews. “He’s able to get into areas where he can use it. When he gets that shot off, it’s pretty effective. He’s obviously got a lot of size, good strength and pretty good hands.“
On pressure in Toronto
As Matthews and Team North America were skating at the Penguins’ practice facility on Tuesday, Phil Kessel was rehabbing his wrist upstairs in the facility’s exercise room. For Matthews, Kessel might be a reminder of how Toronto can sometimes run its stars out of town. At the same time, he said he welcomes the pressure that comes with being a Maple Leaf — and has some experience with it.
“It’s obviously a different culture, but when it came to hockey teams, Zurich was kind of like that main team. I guess Toronto would be the comparison. Everybody was always writing about them and talking about them, so you kind of get a small taste of that. But I guess it’s micro-sized compared to what I’ll get in Toronto.”
On challenging for the Calder
Last season’s rookie of the year, Artemi Panarin, was a 24-year-old who was not even drafted.
But the previous two winners (Aaron Ekblad and Nathan MacKinnon) were both No. 1 overall picks.
And Matthews, who will likely get competition from Laine and teammate William Nylander, hopes to bring back that trend.
“I don’t think you set goals as far as points and stuff like that,” he said. “Obviously the Calder would be a pretty big award to win. I’d love to win that. In regards to being satisfied with the first year, I think you just want to earn a spot on the team and continue to get better and better each day and learn as much as you can under (head coach Mike Babcock).”
On jersey No. 34
Nazem Kadri was forced to switch from 91 to 43 and William Nylander switched from 62 to 39.
But Matthews, who is wearing No. 34 with Team North America, hopes that won’t change when he’s a Leaf — especially with James Reimer no longer on the team.
“I’m not too worried about the number situation,” he said. “No one’s wearing it now, I think, so I’m not too worried. That will kind of take care of itself. When (his dad) was playing baseball and basketball, he was always wearing 34, so it’s special. I’ve always worn it.”
On Marner and Nylander
While Matthews will be the mostwatched rookie with the Leafs — and possibly in the NHL — he will not be alone.
Nylander and Mitch Marner are also expected to play in their first full season in Toronto, which has Matthews excited about what lies ahead.
“I talked to Nylander and Marner a couple of times over the summer,” he said.
“I think everyone in the Leafs organization is excited. We really have a lot of young guys coming up. It’s a good time to be part of the Leafs right now.”