Auston Matthews, who became the first NHL player to score four goals in his first game Thursday, would be the youngest U.S. Olympic men’s hockey player since 1992, should he be on the team in Pyeongchang in 2018.
It is of course very early to make such a projection. For one, the NHL might not send its players to the Olympics like it has done at every Winter Games since 1998.
Matthews, 19, certainly has the early pedigree — he led Team USA in goals (six) and tied for the lead in points (nine) at the world championship in May.