Auston Matthews Reveals Why He Prefers to Keep His Injury Details Private

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Chris Gerics
November 30, 2024 (1:38 PM)

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Auston Matthews broke his silence on how the constant questioning of his injury status has affected him.

It's been nearly a month since Auston Matthews was placed on the IR with an undisclosed upper-body injury. A lot of speculation ran rampant regarding the severity, and his trip to Germany didn't ease any worries.

But speaking to David Alter of The Hockey News, Matthews opened up about how the speculation affected him and why it's important for him to keep things to himself.

Auston Matthews Wants Some Privacy, Please

Matthews isn't asking for much, but he does want the ability to live his life the way he wants and is frustrated with the fact his injury was under such criticism:

"I don't think there's really any secrecy. Like, I don't think we did anything outside of the rules of providing information to you guys in the NHL.

So I think it just gets a little blown out of proportion with the marketplace and you guys being a little bit nosy," Matthews explained.

"But in my mind, we haven't done anything secret. I think it's my choice whether or not I'm going to share the extent of injury."

It's understandable why Matthews would be a tad peeved with how the media portrays him. Matthews didn't break any rules, and the NHL doesn't have protocol regarding injury disclosure (as much as fans want them to have one).

Matthews is a very private individual, not disclosing any injuries including the illness that kept him out for a few playoff games. He doesn't care though, as his focus turns to the team and not on making sure people know what he's going through:

"I don't really care. It's up for you guys to talk about it and do your thing. But, you know, in the end, I'm just going to focus on myself and focus on the team and being the best that I can."

He needs to bring the team back together after a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, and Matthews makes his long-awaited return Saturday night against Tampa Bay. Toronto also gets the return of Matthew Knies as the team looks to retake the top of the Atlantic Division.

In Matthews' absence the Maple Leafs went 7-2-0 and showed new life on their powerplay. He's going to come out with a vengeance and it wouldn't be surprising if the Leafs captain found the scoresheet.

FAQ: Auston Matthews' Privacy Concerns

Q1: Why is Auston Matthews being so private about his injury?

A1: Matthews has been so silent and private about his injury because he believes it's his choice to do what he wants with his body, and that information is for him only.

Q2: How many games did Auston Matthews miss?

A2: Auston Matthews missed nine games due to injury, and was placed on the IR at the beginning of November. It's unclear when he suffered the injury although Matthews has disclosed it was something in the preseason.