Auston Matthews Reaggravates Injury, Out for Maple Leafs

According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, Auston Matthews will not be in the lineup Saturday for the Toronto Maple Leafs as he has reaggravated an injury that was hampering him earlier this season. It’s not clear where the injury occurred, but Matthews did take a fairly severe hit from Tage Thompson in the recent game against the Buffalo Sabres.

This is not good news for the Maple Leafs and their star captain. The injury, originally sustained in November, will cast doubt over his availability for upcoming games. This marks another setback for the 26-year-old forward, whose recent injury history has raised questions about his long-term durability.

Matthews’ latest setback has sparked debate among fans and analysts, and many are questioning whether the Maple Leafs pushed Matthews back into action too soon.

Despite Matthews’ absence, the Maple Leafs managed to stay competitive and win several hockey games. It was a strong showing of their impressive depth throughout their lineup. Their ability to win games without their leading scorer suggested there was no need to hurry him back. He also went overseas to seek special treatment and get a second opinion on his issues. It was deemed he was fine to return, which he might have been.

However, it didn’t take long for him to get reinjured, which is troubling for the organization.

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Can the Maple Leafs Handle Another Matthews Absence?

It is too soon to say that Matthews will be out for an extended period this time around. However, if this is more than just a hiccup, it will be intriguing to see if the team is equipped to handle adversity twice.

With no definitive timeline for his return, the Maple Leafs’ coaching staff will need to carefully evaluate Matthews’ condition to avoid further complications. Fans remain hopeful this is more precautionary than anything.

Next: Why Maple Leafs Sent Matt Murray to the AHL After a Big Win