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Long-term injury concern for Leafs' Auston Matthews and it could be over for him
Photo credit: NHL.COM
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews' season could be over after his latest comments
Auston Matthews joined teammate for a New Year's day practice on Wednesday, but concerns loom after his latest comments.
Matthews is unsure if he'll be able to get back to 100% health this season, according to his latest comments.
Meaning shutting it all down may be a possibility- or more so should be, of giving Matthews long-term time to properly heal to reach his 100% potential as the Leafs will need their captain at full ability for the 2024-25 NHL playoffs.
Meaning it would be over for Matthews, may be what's best- in regards to shutting it down, until he is full health at 100%.
In fact, it's unclear if Matthews will even be able to re-join the lineup at 100% the rest of this season.
«I don't know. I hope so,» stated Matthews when asked if he can push past his injury this season.
«That's obviously the goal. It's tricky with these things sometimes. It's a physical sport, it's a contact sport, so things happen out there sometimes that are out of your control. So I'm just trying to manage it as best as I can, and we can, and you just go from there.»
Matthews is ruled out of Thursday's game against the New York Islanders, his 15th game of the season where he won't be dressed due to injury.
«When you're injured as a player and (people) are always asking you 'how you feeling?' it gets annoying. When he's available, he'll let us know,» said head coach Craig Berube.
«Right now, the situation we're in with him, I'm preparing the team to play without him. We'll know when he's ready and we'll make adjustments.»
Is Matthews getting close to return, what injury is keeping him off the ice?
So... is he getting close?What exactly is keeping him off the ice?
«I think it's always a good gauge, getting into practice and seeing how you feel in that, in a competitive aspect of drills and stuff like that,» Matthews stated after the New Year's Day practice. «A lot of positive signs. Just take it day by day and hopefully just keep progressing and see where we're at maybe later this week.»
Matthews' words come as concerning, but according to head coach Craig Berube, he feels more hopeful on his captains status:
«Seeing him out here in practice and competing in a full practice is progress,» Berube said. «He's going in the right direction, which is great. I know there's no timeline, and we're all looking for one.»
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 353 ANSWERS Long-term injury concern for Leafs' Auston Matthews and it could be over for him Do you think Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is a soft hockey player? | ||
| Yes | 170 | 48.2 % |
| Unsure | 68 | 19.3 % |
| No, he's tough as nails | 56 | 15.9 % |
| Everyone's soft in todays game | 59 | 16.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
