After a brief flirtation with penalty killing in 2021, Matthews says he’s ready for another special teams challenge.

Auston Matthews briefly took penalty-killing reps two years ago during Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in 2021, but it didn't stick.

It had little to do with the superstar's ability and was more related to the personnel Toronto had on its roster.

But with penalty-killing forwards like Alex Kerfoot, Zach-Aston Reese and Noel Acciari all departing Toronto this past summer, there are vacancies in that role and Matthews is one of several players who could fill the void.

"I think, defensively I’ve come a long way, 5-on-5, in my game and I think there’s a lot of attributes that I can add to the penalty kill," Matthews said on Saturday.

Matthews worked some penalty-killing reps during the first group practice session. He said afterward that the Maple Leafs had initially approached him about playing in that role over the last few years. Since the Arizona native came to the NHL in 2016, the penalty-kill role has evolved to a point where at least one forward on the unit is typically a top-end skilled player in a strategy that is referred to around the league as a 'power-kill'.

The Leafs currently deploy this strategy with Mitch Marner on PK1 alongside defensive forward David Kampf.

"It’s always going to be uncomfortable for the first couple (of reps), especially in this aspect of what’s going on out there. It’s a bit chaotic," Marner said of Matthews' on the PK. "He’s a smart guy, is very good with his stick. I’m sure once he gets this first step done he'll know how to do it." 

When training camp opened this week, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe cautioned that while Toronto would use a rotation of players on the PK including Matthews to start, he did have to consider that there are some trade-offs to having one of your best forwards on the penalty kill, particularly when your team's penalty expires.

"When you have one of the best 5-on-5 players in the league playing a little bit less, that’s not always the best thing. That’s up for me to manage," Keefe said on Wednesday.

So how does Keefe manage it?

The solution appears to be situational.

"What I’d like to see to see is our group develops as such where we use Auston on the penalty kill, but depending on what is happening in the game. That way have a number of others who can take those minutes as well."

Translation?

If the Leafs are trailing later in a game and they need a goal, you probably aren't going to see Matthews on the ice for a PK.

But if the Leafs are tied or in the lead and Matthews has evolved to being a solid penalty-killer, then it doesn't hurt to have him miss some shifts at 5-on-5.

Regardless of how it works out, there's a recognition from Matthews that this is another part of his game where he could evolve and help the team.

And he appears to be ready for the challenge.

"There’s definitely a lot of opportunity and something I definitely want to embrace, another challenge for myself. Something I’m very open to and just kind of take it day by day."

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