Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Implement Tampa Bay Lightning's LTIR Strategy with Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews is once again out as he deals with a re-aggravation of his previous injury that kept the Leafs captain out earlier this season.

It's a possibility if Matthews return will be a long-term delay, and the Tampa Bay Lightning could be a team to look at for a solution to their injury problems.

Fans noticed the apparent issues in Matthews' game from his return, with rampant questions if Matthews had come back at his full strength, struggling with his speed and intensity despite still being an impactful player, something was clearly off with the Leafs captain.

Could the Toronto Maple Leafs take a page from teams in the past like the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vegas Golden Knights and manipulate Matthews injury time to bury his salary for cap relief?

This strategy would keep Matthews in wait until the playoffs where it won't count against the cap and while it's not ideal for right now, if the team can hold down the fort it could pay off big.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won't shut down Matthews until the playoffs if he's healthy to return before that, not even if he's uncertain to be at 100%.

Maybe if it's April as the season winds down, but even then in a close playoff race that may be a question mark.

Toronto is better off having Auston Matthews than not, he is a superstar and his return from injury doesn't reflect the talent level he has.

Assuming he was still hurt and not at 100% when he came back, the Leafs should wait a bit and not force Matthews back so quickly.

But depending on the timeframe, they won't keep him out for the year to save money, because there's no one the Leafs will get in the trade market that replaces his value.

NHL insider Chris Johnston reports Matthews could return sooner rather than later, likely not missing enough time to get that cap relief.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs feel they need to shut down Auston Matthews until the playoffs, they will do so.

But if by the trade deadline he's good to go, they'll have to decide to take the chance on bringing Matthews back after a short first return, or take the risk without him and hope for the best.