Auston Matthews, a projected top pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, established a new record with 107 points in a season for the United States National Team Development Program under-18 team.
The native of Scottsdale, Ariz., had 49 goals and 58 assists in 55 games this season; the 107 points broke the record set by current Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, who had 102 points (52 goals, 50 assists) in 2005-06.
Matthews had 12 goals and 17 points in 20 games with the U-18 team in 2013-14.
Matthews, born Sept. 17, 1997, missed the cut for the 2015 draft by two days. If he was eligible, most scouts believe he'd be among the top three picks for the 2015 draft, along with Erie Otters center Connor McDavid and Boston University center Jack Eichel.
Matthews missed five games while playing for the United States at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship in January; he had one and three points in five games.
Eichel, who played for the USNTDP U-18 team last season, had 38 goals and 87 points in 53 games.
"Auston plays a different game than Eichel," Central Scouting's David Gregory said. "He's a strong, powerful player. Eichel does it with power and grace with that long stride; Auston does it with pure strength and quickness. It's a different kind of quickness. His compete level is off the charts and he thinks the game so well."
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