LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Auston Matthews, a frontrunner to be the top pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, announced Friday that he will play for the Zurich Lions in the Swiss National League in 2015-16.
The announcement came after months of speculation that the 17-year-old center might instead play for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. Matthews was selected in the third round (No. 57) by the Silvertips in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.
Matthews, who signed a one-year contract with Zurich, is with 32 other U.S. prospects at the United States National Evaluation Camp.