Report: Matthews “not close” to recovering from wrist injury

More trouble for the NHL's leading scorer?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Report: Matthews “not close” to recovering from wrist injury
Zuma Press

If it wasn't obvious by the fact that he's gone goalless since returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup three games ago, Auston Matthews maintains that his wrist still hasn't fully healed from an early season injury.

“It’s alright, [but] I’d definitely like to see it heal a bit [more],” Matthews told TSN reporter Kristen Shilton yesterday. “I think I still need it to progress a bit. I'm still trying to find my rhythm for sure coming back. I think, physically, my legs and lungs and everything felt fine. I think it's just kind of getting my timing back.”

That timing seemingly effects everything for the Leafs as much of their offence trickles through him. He's a gamebreaker like few others in the NHL and with him struggling the Leafs need to rely on other top contributors like John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

“It's clear that [the injury] affects his shot,” head coach Sheldon Keefe admitted yesterday. “We’ve moved him around on the power play as a result of that, since he's not as comfortable shooting. But he's shown that he's very good in a lot of other areas. It doesn't seem to affect his ability to handle the puck, to pass the puck. But he's [also] dealing with the mental effect of what not being 100 per cent himself has on his game, and the effect of missing time. When you miss time, you lose your rhythm, and it throws you off a little bit.”

Still, Keefe thinks Matthews can be productive and help his team win even if he's not filling the net himself.

“He's found ways to generate chances and shots. He's made plays for his linemates, and he's bringing a lot of really positive things to us,” Keefe said. “In time, it's the type of injury that will heal itself. He's just got to work his way through it and we're fortunate to this point we don't think it's going to get worse. It’s just something he's going to have to play through and he's done a good job of that.”

Any way you look at it, how things play out with Matthews' injury will be absolutely critical to the Leafs' season. If his injury lingers or even worsens, it could spell trouble for the surging Leafs.