May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) waits for the faceoff during the first period against the Florida Panthers in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7272fb99-430d-4a0a-bd06-46a6d0b9b6b6.jpeg] May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) waits for the faceoff during the first period against the Florida Panthers in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Auston Matthews is confident that when he enters Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in September, he'll be fully healthy. The 27-year-old had a difficult year, dealing with an undisclosed injury which affected him throughout the season. He and the Maple Leafs did everything they could, including a flight to Munich, Germany [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/wednesday-possibly-well-see-how-the-week-goes-auston-matthews-explains-his-germany-visit-and-when-he-may-return-to-maple-leafs-lineup], to help him get through whatever ailment he was dealing with. In the end, Matthews attempted, and succeeded at pushing through and managing his injury. "It was tough. Definitely physically, it was a very tough season. I don't need to get into, like, the specifics of stuff," Matthews said on the team's locker cleanout day, less than 48 hours after being bounced from the playoffs in Game 7 by the Florida Panthers. "I got injured in training camp, obviously wasn't feeling great throughout the first month or so of the season, took some time off, went to Germany, did all these things to feel better, and then was just kind of in a place that felt like I could manage it." 'Wednesday Possibly, We'll See How the Week Goes': Auston Matthews Explains His Germany Visit and When He May Return To Maple Leafs Lineup [https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4dpiIBg8/poster.jpg?width=720] 'Wednesday Possibly, We'll See How the Week Goes': Auston Matthews Explains His Germany Visit and When He May Return To Maple Leafs Lineup Matthews took the ice for the first time in a week following a trip to Germany to see a doctor he had seen before. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/wednesday-possibly-well-see-how-the-week-goes-auston-matthews-explains-his-germany-visit-and-when-he-may-return-to-maple-leafs-lineup] Matthews, in his first year as the captain of the Maple Leafs, scored 78 points [https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/auston-matthews-8479318] — 33 goals and 45 assists — through 67 regular season games. He followed that up with three goals and eight assists in 13 playoff games, against Florida and the Ottawa Senators. "There's good stretches where I felt good, there was some stretches where I didn't feel very good," added Matthews. At the end of the year, there are always questions about whether an injured player [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-m-not-really-going-to-address-that-right-now-auston-matthews-hurt-maple-leafs-star-dodges-questions-after-game-7-elimination] will be healthy once the next season begins. Matthews said on Tuesday that he's confident he will be "100 percent" when training camp opens, adding surgery isn't on the table. "I'm confident with some time off and just going through my own process and stuff like that, treatment, everything, I'm really confident I'll be back 100 percent," he said, "and there's nothing to worry about." Matthews scored at less than half a clip compared to his historic 69-goal season the year prior. His 33 goals this season were the lowest total in a season throughout his NHL career. With that being said, did his injury affect his ability to shoot the puck? "I think it impacted a lot of different things for sure, yeah." 'You Feel Their Disappointment': Maple Leafs React To Fans Throwing Jerseys And Debris On The Ice After Game 7 Elimination [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fb07d22e-3f95-414a-a688-8f9a2d6acc17.jpeg] 'You Feel Their Disappointment': Maple Leafs React To Fans Throwing Jerseys And Debris On The Ice After Game 7 Elimination It got ugly in a hurry. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/you-feel-their-disappointment-maple-leafs-react-to-fans-throwing-jerseys-and-debris-on-the-ice-after-game-7-elimination] One of the final questions of his media availability was why he keeps his health so private. It's his right, and he even said that on Tuesday morning inside the Maple Leafs' dressing room. But Matthews added that he believes opposing teams will target his injury location if he were to be more open about it. As the offseason begins, there'll be time for Matthews to relax, unwind, and recover. "It was just kind of a bit of a rollercoaster, unfortunately," the forward said, "throughout the whole season, throughout playoffs, just on a day-to-day basis." And as he looks back on another playoff loss, he will be thinking of how close this version of the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/we-had-too-many-passengers-auston-matthews-calls-out-maple-leafs-effort-in-yet-another-disappointing-game-7-exit] was to the NHL's ultimate prize. It'll leave a sour taste in his mouth, and maybe — just maybe — next year will be different. ‘It’s Meant Everything’: Mitch Marner Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure As Uncertainty, Change Loom Following Another Game 7 Loss [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f885d08a-e444-470b-8838-fbc18fd80eac.jpeg] ‘It’s Meant Everything’: Mitch Marner Reflects On Maple Leafs Tenure As Uncertainty, Change Loom Following Another Game 7 Loss After another disastrous Game 7 showing from the Toronto Maple Leafs, change feels inevitable. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/it-s-meant-everything-mitch-marner-reflects-on-maple-leafs-tenure-as-uncertainty-change-loom-following-another-game-7-loss] "This one definitely stings the most just because there's 16 teams, you get down to eight, and then you look at it right there, and we're one game away from being in the final four, or Eastern Conference Finals," Matthews said. "It's obviously very frustrating. Everybody here cares. They want to win. We're passionate about doing that, and so I think this, the idea, the prospect that you're that close to being that close, that one definitely stings." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] to never miss a story.
