All eyes on USA's Auston Matthews at world juniors

The World Junior Championships begin in Helsinki, Finland, this weekend and the star attraction will be Auston Matthews, an American who plays like a famous Swede.

“The player I compare him to now is Peter Forsberg,” said former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button, now a draft expert for TSN. “You might be able to limit him, but it’s tough to stop him.”

The WJC is considered a showcase for future NHL stars. Matthews is considered a lock to be the No. 1 pick in next June’s NHL draft.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are the worst team in hockey, but the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs are in the hunt to finish in 30th. Because of the lottery system, the last place team only has a 20% shot of picking No. 1 overall.

A native Arizonan, Matthews, 18, boasts 14 goals and 25 points in 22 games with Zurich in the Swiss professional league. If Matthews was eligible to be drafted last June, he would have been considered on par with Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.

“I expect him to be real, real dominant in Finland,” Button said.

He is projected to start the tournament on a line with Matthew Tkachuk, son of former NHL power forward Keith Tkachuk, and Michigan native Alex DeBrincat, a dynamic offensive player who leads the Ontario Hockey League with 33 goals in 30 games.

“First, Auston is a good teammate and he is good at self-evaluation,” said Team USA general manager Jim Johannson. “He’s a big mobile, center (6-2, 195 pounds) with very good stick skills and hockey sense. He can play with pace or play a low-puck control game.”

The Americans play Canada in their opener on Saturday.

“As with all USA teams, the expectation and hope is a gold medal,” Johannson said. “That comes with great respect for all the countries and knowing five different countries have won this championship in the last five years.”