C Auston Matthews - USNTDP, USHL (2016 Draft)

[eyetest is useless]

$500K ain't bad for one year for an 18 year old

In Zürich, making 500k means living in the slums

 

[Shrimper]

Kind of a slap in the face to NCAA. Tough enough when they lose battles of player rights to the CHL, then this American superstar who could, along with Eichel, change the path for younger American players by playing college hockey and still making it to the NHL just as easy. Then this kid pulls this? Not a good look for USA hockey in my opinion

Maybe the NCAA will think about actually paying their athletes a decent amount if more do this.

 

[Bonin21]

Maybe the NCAA will think about actually paying their athletes a decent amount if more do this.

Like the cost of an expensive education plus more (the big schools are adding to the packages)? I'd see this as more of a slap in the face of the CHL or Everett as he was leaning that way.

 

[Shrimper]

Like the cost of an expensive education plus more (the big schools are adding to the packages)? I'd see this is more of a slap in the face of the CHL or Everett as he was leaning that way.

It is more to do with the fact that they don't pay them a professional wage, or a decent wage as athletes. They class them as amateur, which is wrong.

Also you mention that they get an expensive school and more. That can apply to anyone who goes to college and does a certain course which may be subsidised.

They are being asked to put their bodies on the line in a dangerous sport and should be given the right appropriation to do it. John Oliver's video on the NCAA's hold on Basketball should explain it better than I can.

 

[angry pirate]

Maybe the NCAA will think about actually paying their athletes a decent amount if more do this.

Not likely. Hockey and Baseball are the only 2 sports that have a development route to the pro's other than NCAA. Coincidentally, Hockey and Baseball aren't exactly the NCAA's moneymakers.

They'll never pay hockey players because it would mean they would have to start paying their football and basketball players. No, they'd much rather just let the NCAA sports like hockey become less attractive options than give up their football and basketball profits.

 

[Bonin21]

But to be fair, hockey players are less likely to come from families that need money. These are the type of families that value education, and beyond the cost of schooling they will give their kids plenty of money to have fun with while in school.

 

[Lime]

I'm pretty excited to follow his season over there. This is really interesting.

 

[jacobhockey13]

But to be fair, hockey players are less likely to come from families that need money. These are the type of families that value education, and beyond the cost of schooling they will give their kids plenty of money to have fun with while in school.

I know it wasn't intentional, but poor people value education too; sometimes more so than affluent people.

 

[ponder]

I like this! He's already really good, he's also about as old as you can get for his draft year, so I'd think playing against a high level of competition would be best for his development. The NLA is certainly a higher level of competition than the CHL or NCAA, and he gets to play for an ex-NHL coach, on a team with 4 ex-NHLers, so he should get some good mentoring.

He also gets to "see the world" a bit, after this his life is going to be dedicated to the NHL for ~20 years, so why not take a year while he's young to live abroad and soak up some new experiences? Obviously he'll get paid much better in the NLA than the CHL or NCAA, which is a nice bonus too. Just seems like a good all-around decision, one that I'm surprised more players his age haven't made.

 

[Jussi]

I don't know the ins and outs of these things but I'm sure there is money, tranfer fees wahtever involved here. I don't think the NHL, CHL, NCAA would be too thrilled about this and would probably apply pressure to ensure that it doesn't happen but who knows.

You do know that most (ie. everyone but Russia) European federations have a transfer agreement with the NHL? Every contract has an automatic NHL clause and every player is worth the same amount (around $225K, might be more now).

 

[The Noot]

In Zürich, making 500k means living in the slums

wat

500k per year is a really good salary

 

[Aceonfire*]

If I were him I would have made the same decision. He is a man against boys right now, on the Lions he would face a steeper learning curve and the Swiss play in a defensive league.

Also being an 18 year old in Europe with tons of cash is awesome.

I think more kids should do this.

 

[SCBdude]

I like this! He's already really good, he's also about as old as you can get for his draft year, so I'd think playing against a high level of competition would be best for his development. The NLA is certainly a higher level of competition than the CHL or NCAA, and he gets to play for an ex-NHL coach, on a team with 4 ex-NHLers, so he should get some good mentoring.

He also gets to "see the world" a bit, after this his life is going to be dedicated to the NHL for ~20 years, so why not take a year while he's young to live abroad and soak up some new experiences? Obviously he'll get paid much better in the NLA than the CHL or NCAA, which is a nice bonus too. Just seems like a good all-around decision, one that I'm surprised more players his age haven't made.

Well most players out of the CHL could not play in the NLA as a foreigner, the standards are very high.
Only one team has taken a chance on a foreign player strait out of the CHL, Davos in 2013 when they signed Ryan O'Connor.
He hardly played and was gone before the playoffs started.

 

[InjuredChoker]

i think we should start talking about the 'american/swiss factor' with this kid.

kid is officially a huge flight risk.

 

[Stand Witness]

Oh no! The NHL can't let this happen! Quick give him exceptional status in this years NHL draft so he doesn't screw over the NA prospect system. Oh hey! Arizona picks 3rd how convenient! THE NHL IS RIGGED



(Yes, that was sarcasm)

But imagine if they actually did that? I probably wouldn't even care. A slight chance he makes it to the Leafs but just another very talented player coming through the system. It could actually be a very, very smart move by the NHL.

 

[The Noot]

I think both Matthews and Swiss hockey can massively profit from that.

Matthews can play with pros and has a bigger challenge and the NLA finally gets some minor attention from overseas that isn't related to the Spengler Cup.

I like this a lot.

 

[Stand Witness]

In Zürich, making 500k means living in the slums

You would have to think they would pair him with a veteran guy, preferably one from NA. Their assistant captain is an American and they have a couple Canadians along with Henrik Tallinder.

 

[Aceboogie]

Yesssss, stick it to the NCAA. What a joke of an establishment. Get paid and play against men.

Hope the NCAA smartens up and starts paying players

 

[The Noot]

You would have to think they would pair him with a veteran guy, preferably one from NA. Their assistant captain is an American and they have a couple Canadians along with Henrik Tallinder.

That sounds about right. The top players are rumored to earn about a million per season, so I can imagine that good veteran players make about 500k.

 

[rasarhdasd]

Already one of my favourite players for doing this.

 

[Halfy]

At least he'll be in NHL 16......

 

[dwanmaster*]

Good move. He would have scored 150 points in the WHL, better to play against pro competition.

 

[Bonin21]

Yesssss, stick it to the NCAA. What a joke of an establishment. Get paid and play against men.

You realize he's also sticking it to the CHL, and that they could lose more players like this...

 

[dwanmaster*]

You realize he's also sticking it to the CHL, and that they could lose more players like this...

Yeah I don't get what that guys talking about. This seems like it would be utilized more by kids who wanna play in the AHL at 18 or 19

 

[Stand Witness]

Yesssss, stick it to the NCAA. What a joke of an establishment. Get paid and play against men.

Hope the NCAA smartens up and starts paying players

Unfortunately you are going to need this to happen to Basketball, Football and Baseball players first. Right now just Hockey players isn't going to put a dent into them.

If you have baseball players coming to Canada, Japan or preferring to get draft right out of high school and basketball players going over to Europe (or even a Canadian league) then it will change. Football will be impossible unless they can create their own CHL esque league (very possible).

I could see the NBA boycotting players if they choose another league over the NCAA though and it is very possible when only 60 players get drafted each year.