Following a high-profile debut last week, it is "clear that it's only a matter of time" before Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews "lines his pockets in a similar fashion" to the NHL's most marketable players, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.ca. Matthews could "take ownership of a hockey market viewed as a gold mine." He is "expected to ascend to endorsement greatness," as the "clean-cut American, who learned the sport in a non-traditional hockey market, ticks off many corporate boxes." Matthews signed an equipment deal with Bauer prior to going No. 1 overall in the '16 Draft, and while "more opportunities are being explored," neither Matthews nor his agent, CAA's Pat Brisson, are "in a rush to commit." While Matthews' focus is on the ice, his "phone is ringing" now and "major brands want Matthews' face attached to their companies." He is expected to "strike a memorabilia deal in the next two or three weeks." Brisson and Matthews' father, Brian, then will "sift through the presentations, ranging from banks and beverage companies to quick-serve restaurants and the automotive industry" (TSN.ca, 10/14).
HAVE SOME FUN: In N.Y., Larry Brooks wrote of Matthews' demeanor during his first game, "Let's not fall all over ourselves lauding Auston Matthews for the lack of emotion he displayed." The NHL is a league whose "product has somehow failed to keep pace with its talent." An average game features about six goals, which "doesn't allow" for much celebration. Brooks: "When they're earned, let's have them. Let's create an environment in which the NHL showcases not only the talent, but the joy and the personalities of its dynamic athletes. Let's allow these guys freedom of expression. It's 2016. Been-there-done-that is not old school, it is just old" (N.Y. POST, 10/16).
RAISING ARIZONA: In Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote the arrival of Matthews, a native of Scottsdale, proves that a "lot of good stuff is happening in Arizona" from a hockey perspective. Bickley: "We can no longer be mocked by provincial fans in Canada, the snobs who don't believe their national pastime belongs in a desert. We can no longer be perceived as the worst idea in hockey" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/16).
