Auston Matthews the next big thing for the Toronto Maple Leafs

When you grow up in the Arizona desert,ice can be tough to find unless it'sin a glass.

But as a young boy,Auston Matthews was able to findenough iceto eventually becomethe No. 1 pickin Friday night's2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo.

Matthews watched his hockey idols onthe Phoenix Coyotes as a youngster. Now, at the age of 18, the productof Scottsdale, Ariz., will beplaying in a much colder city where ice is much more plentiful: Toronto.

The Maple Leafs'decision was certainly no surprise, asmost hockey scouts say the American centremanis simply too good to pass up.

"Matthews is the best prospect available for the 2016 draft," DanMarr, directorof NHL centralscouting,told NHL.com. "Matthews is an extraordinary prospect with NHL size, speed and smarts. He is the ultimate package when you combine all of that with his exceptional work ethic and relentless compete level."

• Matthews could influence U.S. hockey development

Matthews was born in 1997, a year after the NHL came to Arizona. Of Mexican descent on his mother's side,hegrew up playing baseball and hockey, but quickly fell in love with the latter. Watching Daniel Briere and Shane Doan make an impact with the Coyotes, Matthews decided hockey was the sport for him.

At the age of 15, he racked up 100 points in 48 minor hockey games with the Arizona Bobcats. The next year, he joined U.S.A. Hockey's National Team Development Program and began to compete against older athletes.

Matthews shares the same birth year as last year's No. 1 pick, Connor McDavid, but was ineligible for the 2015 draft because his birthday fell two days after the league'scutoff date.

Instead of returning to the development program where he amassed 116 points in 60 games during his final season with the under-18 team in the United States Hockey League, Matthewsset his sights on professional hockey.

He took his talents overseas to Zurichto play in Switzerland's top hockey league. Hesigned with theZSC Lions andposted 24 goals and 46 points in 36 games during the 2015-16 season.

At the 2016 world junior championships, the forward amassed seven goals and 11 points in seven games for the U.S. team. He also produced nine points in 10 games while playing in the world championships, which included many teams loaded with NHL talent.

Matthews' impressive performance against men some twice his age helped him earna spot with the23-and-under North Americateam that will competein the World Cup of Hockey taking place in Toronto in September.

But it's not all about numbers with Matthews. Scouts contend the left-handed shooter has the hockey sense to be a contributor both offensively and defensively, with a large enough frame to create his own scoring chances along with the speed and agility to potentially becomea force right out of the gate.

Standing six-foot-two-inches talland weighing 216 pounds, Matthews enteredFriday's draft in Buffalo as the consensus No. 1 pick, according to a May 1 mockdraft published by the NHL. In at least four other mock drafts, the American wasslated to go first when Toronto tookthe podium.

What the expertssay

What may be most appealing about Matthews is the position he plays. Elite centressuch as Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Ryan Getzlaf are difficult to find, and past results have shown teams usually need at least one standout in the middle of the iceto win the Stanley Cup.

"In my eyes, he will be Toronto's No.1 centre right away," NHL central scouting'sThomas Roostsaid to Yahoo. "I'm pretty sure that he will have an immediate impact."

Marc Crawford, a Stanley Cup-winning head coach who spent the last year coaching Matthews'team in Zurich, said he has no doubt thatthe 18-year-old will become a top centre in the NHL.

"If you show Auston something, he gets it the first time," Crawford said to NHL.com. "All you need to know is that he wants to be like Jonathan Toews, and that says everything right there," he added.

"He wants to be the guy counted on in crucial moments. He's a winner. He's no shrinking violet."