Mississauga Steelheads center Alexander Nylander is doing everything he can to live up to those lofty expectations as a projected first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by NHL Central Scouting.

Nylander, the son of former NHL forward Michael Nylander and brother of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander, has four goals and 10 points in seven games for the Steelheads. An A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's September players to watch list, Nylander has been poised and confident despite the fact he's in his first season playing in North America.

Auston Matthews, who many project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is playing for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league this season. NHL.com will follow his journey leading to the NHL Draft with a weekly update this season.

Another big test for center Auston Matthews came Friday on home ice when Zurich played against defending Swiss champion HC Davos in a National League A division regular-season match.

Matthews, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's September players to watch list, showcased his talent throughout with two goals for the Lions. He snapped a 2-2 tie on a power-play goal 3:32 into the third period. Zurich (7-3-2), third in the National League A with 22 points, scored a 3-2 victory.

NEWARK, N.J. -- The next chapter in the history of the New Jersey Devils begins Friday against the Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center.

With general manager Ray Shero, who replaced Hockey Hall of Fame member Lou Lamoriello as GM on May 4, and John Hynes, the youngest coach in the League, the Devils open 2015-16 with renewed energy, enthusiasm and hope of qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

"[Lamoriello] had done things for a long time here and was tremendously successful and built the organization the way he saw fit and left a tremendous legacy for us to follow," Hynes said. "For us, it's implementing the vision that Ray Shero has as a general manager that includes the culture and things that he would like to see on and off the ice."

NHL.com will follow Matthews' journey leading to the NHL draft with a weekly update.

Despite moving away from the comforts of home in Scottsdale, Ariz., the 6-foot-1, 194-pound left-shot center has scored four goals and six points in six games. He had one goal and a team-high six shots on goal in a 3-1 victory against EV Zug on Saturday.

The Lions are third in the National League A with 17 points (5-3-2) through 10 games.

Erie Otters right wing Alexander DeBrincat doesn't have Connor McDavid or Dylan Strome as teammates this season, but after delivering a record-setting five-goal performance in a 6-1 victory against the Niagara IceDogs on Thursday in St. Catharines, Ontario, it might not matter.

DeBrincat (5-foot-7, 163 pounds), an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's September players to watch list and projected first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is the first player in the 20-year history of the Otters to score five goals in a regular-season game.

The only other Erie player to score five times in a game was McDavid in a 2015 Ontario Hockey League playoff game last season against the London Knights.

BUFFALO -- Matthew Tkachuk had a funny suspicion his coach in the fourth annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game would be retired NHL player Jeremy Roenick.

Roenick is a good friend of Matthew's father, Keith Tkachuk, with whom he played five seasons on the Phoenix Coyotes (1996-2001). He'll get the opportunity to coach Matthew in the game Thursday at First Niagara Center (7 p.m. ET; NHLN).

"It's pretty wild because I was there when Matthew was born (Dec. 11, 1997) and I watched him grow up," Roenick said. "When I saw his name on the list, I made a couple of phone calls to make sure he was on my team. Keith said that I better play his kid a lot because he needs to be drafted high."

BUFFALO -- Even though Auston Matthews was not invited to play in the 2015 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Thursday because of commitments to ZSC in Switzerland's top professional league, the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft is on the minds of many players and coaches involved in this year's game at First Niagara Center (7 p.m. ET, NHLN).

Former NHL player Derek Plante, who will coach one of the teams, spent the 2002-03 season with ZSC at the end of a playing career that spanned eight seasons in the NHL, including a Stanley Cup championship with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

Plante said that while it would have been nice to watch Matthews play in North America this season for personal reasons, he said understands the decision.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Kerby Rychel said his team relished the role of underdog against the Detroit Red Wings in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament championship game Tuesday at Centre Ice Arena.

Rychel, a first-round pick (No. 19) in the 2013 NHL Draft, played like one by scoring a goal, contributing two assists and landing several big checks to lead the Blue Jackets' prospects to a 5-2 victory. Rychel's line, which included center TJ Tynan (2011 draft, No. 66) and right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (2013, No. 89), combined for two goals and six points to help Columbus win the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- The host Detroit Red Wings and defending champion Columbus Blue Jackets will play in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament championship game for the right to raise the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup on Tuesday at Centre Ice Arena (7 p.m. ET).

Each team has been led offensively by its top lines. The Red Wings' trio of Dylan Larkin (selected with the 15th pick in the 2014 NHL Draft) centering left wing Andreas Athanasiou (2012, No. 110) and right wing Anthony Mantha (2013, No. 20) has totaled five goals and 12 points.

Columbus has been led by right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (2013, No. 89) alongside center TJ Tynan (2011, No. 66) and left wing Kerby Rychel (2013, No. 19). They have combined for six goals and 14 points. Bjorkstrand leads all tournament scorers with three goals and four assists.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- New York Rangers defense prospect Brady Skjei sustained an upper-body injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Traverse City Tournament on Monday but is expected to be OK.

Skjei, who was a first-round pick (No. 28) in the 2012 NHL Draft, was removed from the game at Centre Ice Arena as a precaution after sustaining the injury in the first period of the Rangers' 4-0 win.

Rangers prospect coach Ken Gernander, who coaches Hartford in the American Hockey League, said Skjei is probable for New York's final game of the tournament Tuesday.