QA with Nick Mattson

Nick Mattson led the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-17 team in defense scoring in 2007-08 and finished second to Cam Fowler in defense scoring on the Under-18 team in 2008-09, but the points haven't come in droves with the Indiana Ice in 2009-10. No worries, as Mattson has made 2009-10 about becoming a well-rounded defenseman and about solidifying his defensive game. The move should pay off in the future, too. Mattson's focus on defense now should make it easier for North Dakota to insert him in the lineup as a freshman later, be that in 2010 or 2011, which should increase his odds of having a positive, successful collegiate career, which in turn should increase his odds of successfully turning pro one day. It hasn't been famine offensively, though. Mattson still had a respectable 5 goals and 13 assists in 46 games after heating up a bit in mid-March, bolstering his stock a bit for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to interview Nick Mattson in March. The young blueliner discussed his development in the USHL in 2009-10, his playing in the 2010 USHL All-Star Game, his two seasons with the USNTDP, his commitment to North Dakota, his chances at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, his growing up playing pond hockey, and the elite NHL defensemen he looks up to.

McKeen's: To start things off, how have things been going for Nick Mattson the last couple months? You missed a little bit of time off the Christmas Break, so how have things been going?

Mattson: They've been going pretty well. I think it's just been more of a process trying to chip away at things. Maybe not try to be all-around great, but just chip away at certain things. Lately, I've really been focusing on defense especially. It's been good, especially in the USHL, it's such a development league, so every night (pauses), you play so many games that you can work on something else and hopefully at the end of the year you have a finished product for it. You can go out there and develop in every aspect. So, it's been pretty good. It's been fun.

McKeen's: With the injury, what happened? I saw you in Des Moines, and it looked like you hurt your shoulder, but I saw on the game sheets that you continued to play for a while. So, what happened to you?

Mattson: Yeah, that one, I just hurt my hip, but I was only out three games with that. Then, the game before Christmas break, we were playing these guys (Cedar Rapids) and I got caught with my head down and he kind of crushed me. I broke three bones in my face. It wasn't that bad, it was I couldn't fly. It was the pressure. So, I had to stay home for a couple extra weeks, which was nice, a little mental rest then come back and ready to go. So, I mean, obviously, it's kind of tough when you have a little break in your season, but also it's good to get away from the game every once in a while. You come back with a little more passion.

McKeen's: Back in late January, you played in the USHL All-Star Game. How did you find out you'd been named to that team, who told you, and what was your response?

Mattson: Actually, I was sitting in the basement with my roommate, Nick Bailen, and he found out on the computer and kind of sent out a text to all the guys on the team that made it and I got one and I looked over and I'm like, "What are you talking about?" and he told me. So, that's kind of how I found out. That was a really good experience, too, especially getting to share it with my roommate, Nick Bailen, like I said. He got the overtime winner. So, that was a lot of fun, especially it being in Indiana. It was a good experience. You're just surprised at how you can be such competitors against these guys when you're playing each other and then when you're on a team, they're all just great guys. It was a lot of fun.

McKeen's: On the East, Brian Bates was your coach, from the Columbus Blue Jackets. What were some of the things that he told you guys before during and after?

Mattson: He was kind of laid back. We didn't go over systems or anything, he just kind of let us go. It was fun. In an All-Star Game, you want it to be hard, you want it to be physical, but you also kind of want it to be a little wide open, which it ended up being. So, it was a lot of fun. Luckily, they didn't have us sit back and trap or anything. He just kind of said, "You know what? You guys are here for a reason. Just go play." That's what he did. So, it was a really fun game.

McKeen's: That's kind of what Kevin Gravel told me the West team's coach said. It was like, "You're not in the NHL yet. Play hard." A little bit of physicality, but still kind of open. With the All-Star Game, with it being in Indiana, did either of the teams use Indiana's locker room or did both use visitor locker rooms?

Mattson: They used the visitor's, but we used our room, which was pretty nice. It's kind of nice to have a sense of familiarity, a little bit. We have a nice bus, actually, brand new, that we hadn't gotten to use, personally. But they were using that to bus around the West team, so they got the nice bus to use. So, I guess that kind of evens it out. But, other than that, we had our home locker room, which was nice.

McKeen's: Breaking in the new bus. I don't know … (chuckles)

Mattson: Yeah, seriously (smiles). They were all telling me about how nice it was, and I haven't seen it yet. It kind of bugged me a bit, but, whatever. That's fine.

McKeen's: Prior to this season, you played for the U.S. National Development Program. What was the biggest adjustment you faced coming from Minnesota high school into the program?

Mattson: Especially, me, I was a sophomore, 15 years old going in. So, physically and mentally, I don't think I was ready, so I really had to stretch my boundaries in both of those aspects. You have to grow up fast, otherwise, you can't sit at home and call your mom every night and cry about how homesick you are, which I actually did for the first couple of months. But, once I realized it's time to grow up and kind of face things like a man, I think things got a lot better. It was a great experience. I'm not going to lie, it was hard at times. But, looking back on it all, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

McKeen's: It's something most hockey players have to go through eventually, but not everyone at 15.

Mattson: Yeah, for sure.

McKeen's: Fifteen's young, especially for guys from Minnesota, unless they do what you do. While you were with the program, in what areas of your game do you feel you improved the most and how?

Mattson: For sure, just overall defensively. I think in Minnesota high school (pauses), growing up, playing in it, you look to it almost like it's the NHL. You just idolize those guys. But, once you reach the junior level, you realize quickly that things that work there really don't work in junior hockey. So, especially defensively, you just need to be so much stronger and just so much smarter. In high school, also, you can go down and t-drag all five guys and go and put in top shelf. But, in juniors, you get laid out on your butt pretty fast. So, yeah, you notice the differences really quick and you have to adjust your game, otherwise you're really going to struggle.

McKeen's: With the program, they're in the USHL this year. What were your thoughts on that when you learned they were joining and what's it been like playing against the U-17's and also the U-18's?

Mattson: I think it's a good step. I know my 17 year, we were playing in the NAHL, and it's a great league, but there were a couple overagers that were just almost looking to end our careers, mostly. So, I think with them stepping into the USHL, it's definitely more of a fast, skilled league. Obviously, it's really hard for them. You can see it on their faces, they're a little frustrated when you're playing them and you're beating them pretty good. It's just so hard to compete against kids that much older and faster than you. But, overall, I know just from what I learned, looking back on that, it's a really good experience. It sucks playing against older guys, but at the end it makes you stronger. So, I think they'll appreciate it.

McKeen's: It's helped in the international competition…

Mattson: Oh, for sure.

McKeen's: … when they go up to play kids their own age. How do things compare on and off the ice between the USNTDP and then with a regular USHL team?

Mattson: Well, I'm still a senior in high school this year, but I'm taking online classes. With that, I have to be a lot more independent academically, because, at the program they have an academic advisor that's just all over you. She really does a great job. Then, also, you kind of get left alone a lot more in the USHL, because you're just under such a strict watch with the program. I mean, it's up to you to decide how to manage your time well. You can either stay up until five in the morning playing video games or you can go to sleep at eleven and get good rest. I think you actually have to grow up a lot in the USHL, because you just have to take care of yourself a little bit more.

McKeen's: We've talked about improvement a little bit, but in what areas of your game do you feel you have to improve the most heading forward to take your game to the next level?

Mattson: I think just being consistent, just trying to put together being, maybe, a shutdown defenseman as well as being a good, consistent puckmover, and, obviously, strength, but I can't do that overnight. I've just got to keep chipping away and working hard. That's always been, I think, a knock on me. So, I'm aware of it, and I try to work on that also. So, mostly though, consistency and just trying to be as good of a two-way defenseman as I can be.

McKeen's: On the flipside, what would you say are the strengths of your game and, for people who haven't seen you play, the style you play?

Mattson: Yeah, I think I'm a good skater, which allows me to (pauses), I think I'm pretty good defensively just with my feet and having a good stick. I think I see the ice pretty well, so I'm able to jumpstart a couple breakout passes, then, also, on the powerplay. I really enjoy playing the powerplay. We didn't really get it clicking too well tonight, but hopefully tomorrow night we can get it going a little bit. So, those are probably my best areas.

McKeen's: Going back a little ways, back at Fargo in the U-18's, the first game against it was 5-6, and the next time around it went a little better. So, what were the differences between that first game and the gold medal game?

Mattson: Yeah, I mean, especially for us, we were together for two years, and the whole two years were aimed at that tournament, so when it came down to the championship game, there was no doubt in our minds we were going to win. We would do anything to win that game. With Russia, we realized that (pauses), the first game, we really gave them a lot of their offense. They had all their goals off breakaways and on line rushes, so what we did the second game was we just adjusted and chipped it in their end and cycled. Especially the first game, every time they'd come down and do a little celebration right in front of our bench, which kind of got the boys riled up. I think we were ready to go. There was no way we were going to lose that game. It was unbelievable to be a part of that championship game. It was awesome.

McKeen's: Of your teammates at the program, which ones impressed you the most and why?

Mattson: I think Kyle Palmieri was really good. He, unfortunately, got kicked off our team with about two months left, but he's just such a strong skater. I actually got to go up to South Bend (home of Notre Dame) a couple days ago and watch him play Michigan, and he had a nice goal. And, Jeremy Morin obviously has a really good shot. He can score from anywhere. Then, Cam Fowler, I'm sure you've heard all about him. He's kind of the wonder boy. So, yeah, I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said about him. I think, especially for us, we just had a lot of depth, and everybody wanted to win just as much as the next guy, which is just as important as skills for me, I think.

McKeen's: Cam's doing okay for himself. He could go reasonably high in the draft (said in understatement).

Mattson: Yeah, oh my God. But, he's a really nice kid, too. So, it's nice to see a kid like that who grew up being a prodigy stay humble and be a really nice guy. So, yeah, he deserves everything he's gotten.

McKeen's: With you, is it still the plan to go to North Dakota next year, or is it possible that you come back to the USHL?

Mattson: Yeah, I think so for now. But, I think [Chay] Genoway (pauses), well, actually, I don't know. I think the plan right now is to go in, but I'm not 100 percent, but I think that's the plan for now. It might come down to numbers. They might have nine "d" coming back, so I don't know. We'll wait and see.

McKeen's: You don't want to be tenth one.

Mattson: No.

McKeen's: Some of your former teammates have chosen the major junior route, even after a little bit of college. Is there any possibility Nick Mattson does that or is the college route definitely your route?

Mattson: Oh, no. I think my mom would kill me if I even considered it. She's pretty big into school, and I grew up in Minnesota, with the WCHA, watching the Gophers and North Dakota and Wisconsin play every Friday and Saturday night. That's been my dream for a long time, and also to get a degree, obviously, I think it's really important. I guess major juniors is the right decision for some kids, but, for me, I know I'll fit in well with college, so that's what I've always wanted to do.

McKeen's: Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start skating and playing and how did you get that start?

Mattson: Well, I actually grew up in the same town as my dad, Chaska High School, and he was the captain, so I don't think I had much of a choice. But, also, I remember I watched The Mighty Ducks, and I made my dad go buy me a crappy little street hockey stick and I went in the basement and started shooting around. I think it's kind of a family game, but I remember that's really how I got my start. Then, I know it's kind of cliché, but just growing up, I had a pond in my backyard. It's a blast, and I have fun together with my buddies every time I go home. It's just my Minnesota story, you could say.

McKeen's: Free icetime is always great.

Mattson: Oh yeah. It's unbelievable, too. Especially with no structure, you're just out there and you play, it's just based on instinct. I think I've developed more just based on pond hockey than anything. Obviously, you can't learn as much as you can (pauses), just go out lay the body or anything in pond hockey, but just the skills you learn and the instincts, and you develop such a passion for the game. It's really where I think I found my love for the game. I love it still. Pond hockey's the best. That or whiffle ball, I think, are the two best sports.

McKeen's: (Chuckles). You're absolutely right. You take away all that structure and you can experiment and there's no consequence. You're not going to get yelled at like in practice, and you're not going to get benched.

Mattson: And you've got a little hot cocoa from mom waiting for you to look forward to, too. So, it's win-win.

McKeen's: From the organized structure, for what organizations did you skate for at the different age levels?

Mattson: I grew up playing for the Chaska Hockey Association my whole life. I've played for Chaska my whole life, and then I played Chaska High School as a freshman, and then I went to the Development Program. Then, in the summer, I played for the [Minnesota] Blades a couple years. But, Triple-A just really isn't that big of a deal in Minnesota. I think that's a really fun part of it, too, you grow up with your buddies. I grew up with my best friends back home and we played hockey all the way up together. I know Triple-A's big in other parts of the country, but I feel really fortunate to be able to grow up in Minnesota and experience that side of the hockey world.

McKeen's: The Blades, they've had a lot of good players play for them, but you're absolutely right. It's just not (pauses), and you have guys doing high school sports, like baseball. Anyway, it's not uncommon for a prospect of your caliber to have, on your track, a family advisor. If I may ask, do you have representation and, if so, whom?

Mattson: Yeah, Shjon Podein, he used to play for the Avalanche, and he's with Octagon. I think it was just more of a family thing. He's an unbelievable guy. I think he won the King Clancy, or what's the one the off-ice?

McKeen's: King Clancy is the kind of the humanitarian one.

Mattson: Yeah, it's King Clancy. He has a bunch of charities, and then he's just an unbelievable guy. He's a funny guy. I know all the pro guys really liked him. So, yeah, he's been great. I don't call him up and ask him, "What can I do to get more points?" He calls me and just asks me how I'm doing and how's life, and I think that's important, to develop that kind of a relationship more than a business side.

McKeen's: That goes well into my next question. How often do you keep in contact with Shjon and what's he been saying lately?

Mattson: I talk to him every now and then. Mostly, his big thing is just to enjoy the journey. Obviously, everybody wants to make the NHL as an 18-year-old, but that's not really realistic for most people. So, for him, he always says, "Just enjoy the journey." "If you're going to make it, you're going to make. You've just got to enjoy it. It's not going to be worth it if you're miserable every day of your life." I'd say that's the main thing that he's been saying, and just catching up and seeing how I'm doing and how the family's doing. I really like him.

McKeen's: Only five or six of those 18-year-olds make it, and a lot of then turn 19 early in the year.

Mattson: Yeah (chuckles).

McKeen's: Not everybody's Patrick Marleau, who comes in still at 17 for his first training camp.

Mattson: Oh my God, or Matt Duchene who is unbelievable for Colorado.

McKeen's: Duchene is off to a great start to his NHL career. One area where advisors help is with the draft. Do you have any expectations with the draft? Do you anticipate going? Do you have any goals with the draft?

Mattson: Yeah. I mean, obviously I'd like to get drafted. I don't know anything about going to it anything or what the protocol is on that. I think, especially at the beginning of the year, I kind of let it get to my head a little bit and I was more worried about what the scouts were thinking rather than if the team was winning. So, I've really tried to push that out of my mind. I've just got to play, and if they like me, they like me, and if they don't, they don't. I can't control that. So, I just try to do my thing every night, especially in the playoffs, with the playoffs coming up, working to get the win every night. I think that's important, so just try to get the win and control what you can control.

McKeen's: Sure. Take care of each small personal battle each shift and it'll add up and they'll appreciate it. Lastly, to end with a softball question, who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and who are some players today who you feel you're similar to or that you'd like to equate to?

Mattson: Uhhh, I'm trying to think, growing up (pauses), I really liked Nicklas Lidstrom growing up. I was a Red Wings fan growing up, the Wild weren't around when I was there. So, Sergei Federov was pretty slick. Then, now, I really like, still, Lidstrom, he's still dominating after all the years, and Duncan Keith. I've watched him a lot. I mean, in the Olympics, he was unbelievable. I like the way he can dominate defensively then also chip in offensively. So, I try to watch an NHL game every couple nights, and I watch the defensemen especially, to see what they do to be successful. I think that's really important for young players, to pick out a guy they can pattern their game after and try to emulate him.

McKeen's: Duncan's a pretty mobile guy.

Mattson: He's unbelievable. He's got some pretty nice flow, too. So, absolutely.