Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Urgent Questions Ahead of Regular Season
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.
“It's coming along well. It's a cpl more wks until I can get out of the splint & start really rehabbing & build my strength back ... I'm going to get back on the ice this wk. I'm really hopeful to be ready to go in Gm 1."
— Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) September 13, 2021
--#Leafs Matthews re his left wrist. Had surgery Aug. 13
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.