1 – Don Granato, Matthews’ Under U17 coach, was said to have told USA Hockey officials Matthews was likely to become the next American-born first overall pick early during his time with the US National Team Development Program. He’ll be the first American number-one pick in nine years, since Patrick Kane in 2007, and seventh in NHL history. “I’ve watched hundreds of players over the years,” Granato said. “You just know. It’s the way he carried himself.”
2 – Matthews was born in San Francisco, California and moved to Scottsdale Arizona at two months old. His mother is Mexican and Auston can speak Spanish.