Matteau who was drafted 29th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils really impressed the New Jersey Devils during their prospect development camp so the Devils signed him to an entry level deal.
Tom Gulitti, Fire and Ice --- “We felt very good about him at the rookie camp and we wanted to get him under contract and just get his professional career started, not with any knowledge of where he’ll be playing yet, but so we have the options of doing whatever we think is necessary,” Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said.
Matteau is slated to play for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL in 2012-13, but said at the Devils’ prospect development camp last month that he’ll be aiming to make the NHL roster at training camp in September. His father, former Rangers Stephane Matteau, is an assistant coach for Blainville-Boisbriand.
Lamoriello did not want to discuss the idea of Matteau starting the 2012-13 season in the NHL.
“I don’t even want to talk about that,” he said.
Lamoriello was impressed with what he saw from Matteau at the team’s development camp and said he also played well at the Team USA camp last week.
