Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving gave an update on the injury status of star center Auston Matthews on Tuesday. Earlier in the week, the team announced that Matthews would be unavailable for the midweek game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Matthews' inactive streak reached seven games after his absence against the Knights. He hasn't played since the Leafs faced the Minnesota Wild on November 3rd. The Toronto Maple Leafs have listed him as "day-to-day" since, despite Matthews being placed on the I.R and approaching three weeks without playing. That has raised questions and concerns about what is ailing him.
The news that Treliving revealed won't help squash the worry over the Leafs captain. Treliving stated that Matthews traveled to Germany for a general checkup on his upper-body injury. While this was stated as if it was perfectly normal, what the heck is going on? Who jets off to Germany in the middle of the season to see a doctor? What is going on?
Despite the alarm bells that go off with that acknowledgment, the Maple Leafs GM said Matthews returning to the lineup for next week's trip to Florida is still a possibility.
Toronto Maple Leafs continued secrecy around Matthews injury is disconcerting
Treliving insisted that all was well with the NHL's best goal scorer and downplayed the overseas trip. Matthews has used the doctor in the past and Treliving said there have been no setbacks with the injury.
The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. An overseas trip suggests more to the injury than the Leafs have shared publicly. They are right to remain tight-lipped and not give the opposition any information regarding Matthews.
Matthews has dealt with a wrist injury in the past - one that has very clearly prevented him from shooting the puck to the best of his incredible ability during several playoff losses - and speculation is that the wrist is acting up again, and the trip to Germany suggests surgery is a possibility. Could Mattews be out longterm? This kind of speculation is what happens when you don't release injury information.
A timeline of the past couple of weeks shows conflicting signals surrounding Matthews. He went from day-to-day to missing multiple weeks of action. Matthews skated on November 10th and his return looked imminent. He hasn't been on the ice since and flew to a different continent for a checkup.
This came after he missed some of the preseason with an upper-body issue. Throughout the games that Matthews did play, his numbers were down in goals scored, but all his on-ice stats were as good as ever. His shooting percentage was 3x what it normally is. This certainly makes it seem like he's having trouble with his shot.
It's feasible that the Leafs are being extra cautious with their top player. The current schedule is light with the team playing just three games over thirteen days. Also, the Maple Leafs continue to excel without him in the lineup, lessening the urgency to rush his return. Yet, that is a statistical oddity that is unlikely to continue.
If Matthews is suffering from a chronic injury (back? concussion?) the magnitude of his status is rightfully heightened. What is the best course of action to get him healthy? Should he play in the upcoming 4 Nations tournament? (obviously not).
It has reached the point where the only thing that will suppress the worry over Matthews' injury is his return to the lineup and playing to his capability. Otherwise, the signs show that concern is warranted over the Toronto Maple Leafs best player.