The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be without their star captain Auston Matthews as he continues to recover from a frustrating upper-body injury. Coach Craig Berube confirmed on Friday prior to the team’s matchup against the Detroit Red Wings, Matthews will miss at least two more games: one away and the next at home against the Washington Capitals.
Matthews, the team's leading scorer and reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner, has been sidelined since Toronto’s last game against the Buffalo Sabres on December 22, where he scored during the Maple Leafs’ 6-3 victory. Despite the score, the game was physically taxing for Matthews, as he faced significant hits, with the last straw being a brutal cross-check from Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert. "He is doingbetter," Berube commented, but he did not provide many details about the injury.
Over the course of this season, Matthews has missed 11 of the team's 35 games due to injuries, including nine games earlier this season tied to previous upper-body issues. Berube noted the current injury seems slightly related to the earlier one, indicating it is one more setback for the budding superstar.
While the absence of Matthews is certainly felt, the Maple Leafs are not entirely bereft of talent. This season, Matthews has recorded 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points, which situates him fourth on the team leaderboard. Remarkably, he etched his name in the history books last season by scoring 69 times, marking the highest total by any player in more than 30 years.
Since Matthews was initially drafted first by Toronto in 2016, he has gone on to lead the NHL with most goals scored (379), and has consistently been among the league's top performers. The team, sitting second in the Atlantic Division with 44 points from 21 wins after 35 games this season, has shown resilience without their captain—winning seven of their last nine games when he’s been sidelined. Historically, they are 42-22-2 when Matthews does not play.
The absence also calls for adjustments within the roster. Coach Berube had arranged for signs of potential line shifts, including the pairing of John Tavares and Max Pacioretty. Meanwhile, the third unit has been retaining its momentum with Bobby McMann, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson working well together. The Raptors will lean heavily on their depth as they prepare to face off against the Red Wings, who recently found themselves amid turmoil after parting with coach Derek Lalonde.
Add to this the burden of competing against rivals not only heightens the stakes but also grants the Leafs ample opportunity to rally together as they push through Matthews' absence. Expectations are high, especially knowing they will be asserting themselves against teams like the New York Islanders right after the weekend games.
The coaching staff indicated they would continue to monitor Matthews' progress, with more details expected to emerge on Saturday's practice. Toronto fans are undoubtedly hopeful for their captain’s return as they look toward what lies on the horizon—for Matthews, the New Year’s Eve home game against the Islanders looms as the earliest potential comeback date.
Toronto is set for nearly every other night of action until late January, so the depth on the roster will have to prove valuable. Keeping spirits high and temperatures cool during this stretch will be key, especially with Auston Matthews’ leadership right now being sorely missed.
