Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Urgent Questions Ahead of Regular Season

Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stretches with his CCM Jetspeed stick over his head (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stretches with his CCM Jetspeed stick over his head (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stretches with his CCM Jetspeed stick over his head (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

No. 1: How’s Auston Matthews’ Wrist?

Remember when Auston Matthews had a bum-wrist last year and still won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy? Imagine what he could do this year with a fully recovered wrist?!

As you can see from the tweet below, Matthews is hopeful that he can return for game one.

Although Matthews will need his wrist fully recovered to start the season, there is a positive with this injury. He’ll still be able to skate and get into game-shape while he’s rehabbing, so his speed and legs should be fine by opening night.

The fact that he waited until August 13th, 2021 to have this surgery was bizarre to me, but it’s better late than ever.

The Toronto Maple Leafs open their season on October 13th, which would be eight weeks since his initial surgery, so that should be enough time for him to get ready for opening night. However, with a full 82-game schedule set this year, Toronto should take their time with Matthews and make sure he’s 100 percent healthy before putting him in the lineup.

He’s way too valuable to risk him coming back soon, but by all accounts, Leafs fans should be hopeful that he’ll be in the lineup against the Canadiens on October 13th.