Auston Matthews is in Germany to see a doctor for treatment on the undisclosed injury that has kept him out of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup for the last six games.
Matthews decided to go to Germany as it was his preference, league sources told The Athletic.
On Tuesday, Leafs GM Brad Treliving told reporters that Leafs medical director Dr. Noah Forman accompanied Matthews overseas. According to Treliving, no surgery will be required for the injury.
With the Leafs in the middle of a light schedule that sees them playing just one game in seven days, Matthews and the Leafs saw an opportunity to take advantage.
“We’ve looked at the schedule here and what we’re trying to do is use this week to hopefully get this thing behind him,” Treliving said.
Per a league source, Matthews is visiting a “world-renowned clinic.” Matthews has previously sought treatment at this same clinic.
Treliving called the visit “more as a general checkup, but also to get some work done” on Matthews’ upper-body injury. There remains an air of secrecy around Matthews and his injury. When asked, Treliving declined to specifically name the injury.
“I’m protective of our players,” Treliving said. “We want to share as much as we can, but anything that will put the player in jeopardy, I’m not going to do that.”
There have been no setbacks with Matthews’ and his efforts to return, according to the Leafs GM. It’s the same injury Matthews sustained during training camp.
“It’s not alarming,” Treliving stressed.
During back-to-back games at St. Louis and Minnesota on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, Matthews logged more than 42 minutes of ice time. It became difficult for Matthews to continue to play through the injury after those two games. With the team in the middle of a hectic stretch of schedule, it was deemed most prudent for him to get back to 100 percent health.
Matthews has only skated twice since the Leafs first revealed the injury. The last time he skated was on Nov. 10 but Treliving said Matthews has continued to do off-ice work.
The Leafs remain hopeful that Matthews will return to skating and begin his return-to-play protocol after this week. It’s likely Matthews returns during the Leafs’ two-game road trip to play the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning next week, Treliving said.
This continues to be the lengthiest stretch of games the Leafs have been without Matthews since he missed 14 consecutive games with a shoulder injury in 2018-19.
The Leafs are 5-1 in Matthews’ absence, though their centre depth continues to take a hit. On Tuesday, David Kampf was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 16. The Leafs called up Fraser Minten from the Toronto Marlies to play on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Matthews is in his first season as Leafs captain. In his 13 games this season, he has five goals and 11 assists.
(Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn / Imagn Images)
