Agent: Auston Matthews 'leaning towards' playing draft year in Europe

The agent for coveted NHL prospect Auston Matthews said his client remains undecided on his future, but is favoring the European route.

"It's been discussed and we have been exploring Europe and have narrowed it down to Switzerland and the WHL," Pat Brisson told NHL.com's Mike Morreale on Friday. "It's looking at the moment that the scale is leaning towards Europe."

Sportsnet's Damien Cox reported last week that there's close to a 100 percent chance Matthews will decide to play his draft year overseas.

The 17-year-old, eligible for the 2016 draft, would become the first North American prospect to do so.

He scored a record 55 goals and added 61 assists in 60 games for the United States National Team Development Program under-18 team and was named MVP of the U18 World Championship after guiding the U.S. to a gold medal.

"First and foremost, the priority is his development," Brisson said. "As it stands we were hoping to have a decision two weeks ago, but we are still not there 100 percent. And until we are at 100 percent we are not going to finalize it."

The WHL's Everett Silvertips expected Matthews to make a decision within that timetable as well. General manager Garry Davison told the Everett Herald's Nick Patterson last month that he believed an announcement would be made within the week.

Brisson explained why the NCAA was ruled out.

"Auston could be in the NHL next year," he said. "He would probably play one year somewhere, so the college route isn't a good idea. We just get the feeling that Auston, especially in the last couple of weeks, is more ready to narrow it down to either Europe or the WHL."