Auston Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top forward, has suffered a knee sprain. According to head coach Mike Babcock, Matthews will miss at least three weeks. The Leafs have two games left before the All-Star break.
Matthews, who has been a leading candidate for the Hart Trophy, has been on a hot streak this season, with eight goals in the last 11 games. However, he will miss the All-Star Game. This will mean a significant loss for the Maple Leafs. He is the second-leading scorer with 25 goals and 53 points, and is also third in Maple Leafs’ totals.
It’s not surprising that Auston Matthews is hurt, given the number of injuries he’s been dealt in his career. After all, Matthews has played in 454 games since his NHL debut in 2016. During his tenure, he’s lost 208 man games to injury. In seven seasons with the Maple Leafs, he’s been sidelined for 31-17-2.
Matthews was selected to represent Team Atlantic, and was expected to play in this week’s NHL All-Star game in Florida. He sat out a game against the Ottawa Senators on Friday. Ahead of the All-Star break, the Maple Leafs are playing just two home games. They’ll play the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals on Wednesday and Sunday, respectively. Their next game is on February 18.
With Matthews out, the Leafs will have to replace his spots on the first and second lines. Michael Bunting will take Matthews’ spot on the power play unit. Holmberg, who is a 23-year-old rookie, will play the center position on the second line, along with William Nylander.
John Tavares, who has 21 goals and 27 assists, will replace Matthews on the top line. But he’ll have to lead by example in the locker room. As a captain, he’ll need to be a positive influence for teammates and teammates’ players.
Although Matthews has had a rough season, he has still recorded 25 goals and 53 points in 47 games. He’s currently third in the Leafs’ scoring, and has 18 power-play points on the season. Also, he has been a key player in Toronto’s strong defensive play, holding 56.2% of faceoffs, the fourth-best in the league.
While Matthews is likely to miss the remainder of the All-Star break, he could return to the lineup after the break. He’ll probably sit out the game against the Montreal Canadiens on February 18, which is the last game before the All-Star break. His absence will be felt, even with the Maple Leafs’ strong roster.
There’s no question that Matthews is one of the best players in the NHL, but his absence will impact the Maple Leafs’ standings. Toronto is currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, 12 points behind the Boston Bruins. Meanwhile, the team’s bye week coincides with the all-star break.
Whether or not Matthews is able to return to the lineup in the middle of the season is a tough question. Though he’s had a good season, he’s not been a dominant force like he was during the 2021-22 season.
