The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday night that star forward Auston Matthews underwent successful wrist surgery. He is expected to be out for a minimum of six weeks.
If Matthews is able to start training by the end of the six weeks and has no setbacks, that will bring him to Friday, September 24th, 2021. That just so happens to be the day before the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens in Toronto’s first pre-season game of the 2021-22 NHL season.
It is very doubtful that Matthews will play in any of Toronto’s first five pre-season games, but might be ready in time for the team’s last pre-season game on October 9th against the Ottawa Senators.
During an increase in his on-ice training earlier this week, Matthews felt some discomfort in his wrist. After having consultations with the Leafs medical staff and specialist, it was recommended that he have surgery.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Are Playing It Safe With Matthews Injury
This is not the first time that Matthews has had injury trouble with his wrist. Matthews had a nagging wrist injury for most of last season and in the playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs star forward missed two games after Matthews aggravated his wrist injury on February 24th against the Calgary Flames.
Auston Matthews underwent successful wrist surgery earlier today.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 14, 2021
His recovery will be a minimum of six weeks.https://t.co/CChsLrrzF2
After returning from that brief time off, Matthews went three games without a point. He also found himself being used differently by head coach Sheldon Keefe as the coach was trying to protect Matthews has best he could.
Hopefully now that Matthews has had successful surgery to repair the wrist properly, he’ll be able start the season at 100%. The Toronto Maple Leafs play their first game on the 2021-22 NHL regular season on October 13th against the Montreal Canadiens.
October 13th is eight and a half weeks from the time of surgery, so even if Matthews doesn’t partake in any of the team’s pre-season games, he should be ready for the first game of the regular season.
If Matthews can score at a 41 goals while his wrist is injured for most of the season, I would love to see what he can do with both wrist at 100%. In a recent article that I wrote, I predicted that this could be the season that Matthews sets a new Leafs record. That would be Rick Vaive’s record of 54 goals in a season by a Toronto Maple Leafs player.
Let’s hope his wrist is fully healed by the start of the regular season and that we get to watch him have a career season and set a new record along the way.