Marc Crawford, Matthews' coach for the Zurich team for which he played for this season in the Swiss League, has nothing but praise for the young draft pick:
?There?s no question he would have played in the league this year,? if not for having a Sept. 17th birthday ? two days late for the 2015 draft. ?They would have been talking him like they do (Jack) Eichel. Connor (McDavid) is a bit ahead, with his speed and the dimensions he has. Auston is efficient, talented, and has all the great human characteristics.?
?We thought he would be a top-six forward, then work his way into being one of our top players by the end of the year. Well, he was good right away,? Crawford said. ?The things he can do as a stickhandler is amazing. I am totally amazed by young kids these days ? and he?s off the charts with his stickhandling abilities. Inside out, outside in? He?s almost like a basketball player (dribbling a ball).?
Who might Matthews compare to?
?Auston reminds me a lot ofAnze Kopitar, because of the way he is as a person, and he reminds me a little bit of Joe (Sakic) in that he?s a shooter who can shoot the puck with different, tricky releases. He?s got a big-time NHL shot,? Crawford said. ?He doesn?t need great players to play with. He makes players around him better. He was just a treat to coach.?
?I once asked (dear departed agent) Don Baizley what was the most important factor in a player being good. Because Donnie had Joe (Sakic), and Peter (Forsberg), (Paul) Kariya, and Teemu (Selanne). He thought about it for a while, and his answer always stayed with me: ?It?s a boy?s relationship with his father.?
?He has a great relationship with his dad, and his dad is a really good person. It?s just another thing that solidifies for me that -solidifies for me that he?s going to be a really good player."
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/west-coast-bias-good-auston-matthews/..