Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube provided a discouraging update on the health of star forward Auston Matthews.
Matthews was placed on injured reserve and eligible to return on November 12, but Berube confirmed that the captain will remain sidelined, as Matthews has not yet reached the necessary recovery level. He also hasn’t practiced in the past two days.
“It’s just not progressing as it needs to, so we’re managing it,” Berube explained. “We want to make sure when he returns, he’s fully healthy and 100 percent.”
Berube clarified that Auston Matthews hasn’t experienced a setback, but the team is being cautious with his recovery.
During a media session on November 11, general manager Brad Treliving also stated that Matthews is still considered day-to-day. “No change, still day-to-day,” Treliving said. “We just want to make sure we stay ahead of it and hopefully put it behind us once and for all. We’ll just keep going down the path.”
Matthews, in the first year of his four-year, $53 million contract, has not played since November 3.
Maple Leafs Taking Cautious Approach with Matthews
With the 2024-25 NHL season still in its early stages, Toronto is being particularly cautious with Matthews, ensuring the injury doesn’t resurface.
The specific nature of Matthews’ injury remains undisclosed, but Berube mentioned that the team is working to address the issue. “We’re all trying to figure it out and work on it to make sure we get him back, and that this doesn’t happen again during the season,” Berube explained. “It’s not something you want lingering, so we’re doing our best to prevent that.”
Matthews, the Maple Leafs’ captain and one of the league’s elite players, has played 13 games this season, recording 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points.
Matthews Named Maple Leafs Captain
In August, Matthews was named the 26th captain in the franchise’s history, taking over from John Tavares, who relinquished the captaincy. Matthews expressed his honor at the role, saying, “I got chills, honestly. I’m so honored and humbled since being drafted here eight years ago. It’s special to play for the city of Toronto, to wear the Maple Leaf on your chest every night. It just means the world. To have the support from Johnny, my teammates, our staff, ownership, and my family, it’s incredible. I look forward to continuing our journey to get to the top and win the Stanley Cup and bring it back to Toronto.”
“It’s such a big honor to represent the Maple Leafs and put on that jersey every night. To be the captain is truly special,” Matthews added. “When he called me to let me know he wanted to pass the captaincy to me, it was very emotional. I felt a lot of things, but it’s truly an honor.”
Matthews was selected first overall by Toronto in the 2016 NHL Draft. Over his career, he’s played 575 games, recording 373 goals and 287 assists for 660 points.