Arizona native Auston Matthews gaining ground in 2016 NHL draft class

Auston Matthews is gaining steam as the potential top prospect of the 2016 NHL draft class. He isn’t the typical hockey phenom that grew up playing in backyard rinks in Ontario or on ponds in Nova Scotia, though. He grew up in the middle of a desert and learned the ropes in Arizona’s minor hockey system.

Matthews began to take a liking to hockey at the same time Brian Boucher backstopped the then-Phoenix Coyotes. His interest in the Desert Dogs is what ultimately led to him wanting to lace up a pair of skates.

“My uncle (Billy, who has since passed away) had season-tickets to the Coyotes and me and my dad would go to games sometimes,” says Matthews, who is just two days too young for the 2015 draft. “I enjoyed watching it and asked my parents if I could play and I started playing when I was five-years-old. I just kept at it from there.”

Among all his favourite current and former Coyotes, captain Shane Doan and Montreal Canadiens forward Daniel Briere top his list. They inspired him to play forward while watching them in the early 2000s.

“I looked up to players like Daniel Briere and Shane Doan,” says the Scottsdale, AZ., native, who has notched seven goals and nine points in 11 games with the U.S. National U18 Team this year. “They’re good forwards that were fun to watch. I still look up to Doan and think he’s a good role model.”

Somewhat like Doan, the 6-foot-2, 194-pound Matthews has thrived as a two-way forward. He has garnered  attention from scouts for his complete game and elite skill set.

“Matthews plays a great two-way game with some very exciting offensive characteristics,” says International Scouting Services scout Matt Grainda. “He has the confidence, poise and toughness to try just about anything. He controls the play each time he’s on the ice and possesses fantastic skill moves that help him create separation in 1-on-1 situations. He’s got explosive skating and really great situational hockey sense.”

Matthews is the first in his family to make a name for himself in hockey, but he isn’t the only notable athlete. His great uncle, Wes Matthews, played college football and had a short stint in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. Matthews has benefited from his great uncle’s past success as he’s leaned on him for advice.

“I definitely have gotten some good advice from him,” he says. “He has a lot of wisdom and has given me some good advice. He tells me that talent will only take you so far and that you have to work hard to make it far. He was a good football player and knows it takes a lot of work.”

The big question going forward with Matthews is where will he play next year? Both the WHL and NCAA would love to have him in their development programs.

“Right now I’m 50/50 on where I might play,” says Matthews. “I’m not ruling out anything and am looking at my options right now.”

Matthews will be the WHL’s most sought after American prospect since Nashville Predators defender Seth Jones. It just so happens that the same team that originally held Jones’ rights – the Everett Silvertips – has Matthews on their 50-player list. The Silvertips ended up trading Jones’ rights to the Portland Winterhawks because they couldn’t sign him. It seems that the ‘Tips won’t be salvaging what they can out of Matthews by trading his rights to another team because he appears to be content with Everett if he chooses the major junior route.

“I could see myself being there (next year),” says Matthews. “They are doing well right now in their division and they look like a good team and play in a good location.... It matters on whether they'll be competitive next year a bit, but I'm more focused on the coaching staff on deciding where I'll play.

It is safe to say that every NCAA school would love to have Matthews in its program. But if he were to go the college route, he would have to take classes this summer in order to have enough credits to enroll for the 2015-16 season as he’s in Grade 11 this year.

“I think it’s do-able,” he says on taking summer classes. “If that’s what I decide, I will be able to get it done. And right now I’m just looking at my options for schools.”

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen