Auston Matthews undergoes successful MCL surgery in New York with a 12-week recovery timeline
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Auston Matthews will spend the offseason recovering after undergoing surgery for an MCL tear.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that captain Auston Matthews had underwent surgery after suffering a grade 3 MCL tear, the team announced.
Matthews, who was already confirmed to be missing the rest of the regular season for the Leafs, will be out approximately 12 weeks for Toronto, a likely return date to skating in the summer.
Matthews was injured last Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks after a knee-on-knee collision with Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, who was suspended five games for the incident.
Elliotte Friedman reported earlier today that surgery was expected for Matthews, with there being optimism that Matthews will be ready for the Leafs training camp next season.
A 12-week recovery puts Matthews back on skates in June - the same month the Leafs have to decide on their GM, their coach, and their draft pick
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have no time to focus on the recovery of Auston Matthews as the future of their coach and general manager are the bigger question in the meantime.
Knowing that Matthews is out until potentially June, until them, the focus goes towards the future of head coach Craig Berube and GM Brad Treliving, and if their future remains in Toronto.
Both Berube and Treliving may have been helped by the Leafs positive performance since Matthews went down due to injury, but the decision on their status beyond this season may have already been sealed prior to that.
This may also force Toronto to be aggressive for a forward to compliment Matthews, and take up some of his offense if the Leafs lose him for a third consecutive season.
Toronto's culture will need to change, including adding players who won't just idly sit by while Auston Matthews is down injured.
"Matthews chose to recover in New York while the team figures out its future without him and that silence says more than any press conference
Don't expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to be vocal on the injury status of Auston Matthews, as they're commonly tight lipped on the status of their players.
Toronto won't let the media know how things are with Matthews, and if he's recovered might not even be known until Matthews resumes skating.
If Matthews is to miss even more time than initially anticipated, the media, and the fans won't know about it. And if a rumor is reported, the Leafs won't confirm it.
Already a dysfunctional team that has a deep uncertainty for next season, they'll likely want to keep the status of Matthews limited as long as they can and keep the focus on the team, and their roster building for next season.
Away from the team, the Leafs task now is building the best team alongside Matthews that allows for his return to be successful this time around.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The best defenseman in the 2026 draft wants to be a Maple Leaf and Toronto is 13 games from making it happen
The best defenseman in the 2026 draft wants to be a Maple Leaf and Toronto is 13 games from making it happen
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
MARS 19|1005 ANSWERS Auston Matthews undergoes successful MCL surgery in New York with a 12-week recovery timeline Do you expect Auston Matthews to return to his superstar self next season? | ||
| Yes | 546 | 54.3 % |
| No | 459 | 45.7 % |
| List of polls | ||