A significant update has emerged regarding the injury status of Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews after he left practice yesterday.

Matthews exited practice due to an upper body injury, leading to speculation about how serious it might be. An update from Leafs Latest on X suggests that the situation is not looking promising.

Matthews is still unable to practice, alongside Calle Jarnkrok, who is dealing with a lower body injury. The Maple Leafs have been hit hard by injuries recently, with PTO Steven Lorentz also sidelined, along with Ben Danford’s concussion and Fraser Minten’s injury. Additionally, Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar are in rehab for their injuries and will need conditioning stints before they can return to the team.

Head coach Craig Berube was somewhat reserved about the matter but didn’t seem overly worried, according to The Sun’s Lance Hornby on X.

If the Maple Leafs have to play without their captain and leader, it would be a significant setback. Should Matthews’ injury threaten the start of the season, it could quickly lead to a dire situation. It’s possible that he was pushing himself too hard or that something felt off. All fans, players, and coaches can do is hope for a quick recovery and that he returns without any lingering issues.

Last season, Matthews had a remarkable year, scoring 69 goals—the highest total since Mario Lemieux in the 1995-96 season—securing his status as the NHL’s leading goal scorer. Since being drafted first overall in 2016, his tenure with the Maple Leafs has been impressive, though it hasn’t yielded the success many expected. He boasts 368 goals and 281 assists in 562 games, including two 60-goal seasons in the past three years. His absence from the ice would be detrimental to the Maple Leafs’ overall success. While William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares are fantastic players, none can replace Matthews.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs head toward opening night, they not only need their best roster available but also their captain, the NHL’s leading goal scorer. If they can’t rely on him, it could lead to a challenging situation for everyone involved.