Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews ready to return after six-game injury absence

Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) is stopped by Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi during second-period NHL action in Toronto on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews says he is ready to return.

Matthews confirmed the news at the morning skate ahead of Toronto's home game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

"Obviously it's never fun watching so I feel excited about being back in," said Matthews.

The star centre missed the last six games with an undisclosed upper-body injury. He last played Dec. 20 and was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday.

The Leafs posted a 3-3-0 record in his absence.

Matthews, who also missed nine games in November, was flanked by Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner at the morning skate.

"He's our captain. He's a great player, we all know that," said Leafs coach Craig Berube. "Having him in the lineup gives you a lot more options obviously. He just drives the pace of play. He's an extremely hard worker, plays 200 feet. The pace goes up for everybody."

Berube said the team will have to manage Matthews to limit a repeat of the injury, something the captain understands.

"I think you're always kind of managing stuff throughout the year, just trying to stay on top of it and try to feel as good as you can and get in the lineup," Matthews said.

He said he had felt good "the last couple of skates I had."

The Leafs star, who won the Rocket Richard Trophy last season after scoring a franchise-record 69 goals, has 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games this season.

Matthews, the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, has 672 points (379-293) in 586 career regular-season games.

Toronto centre John Tavares said the team was 'thrilled" to get Matthews back.

"It doesn't get much better than that, when you get our captain back," said Tavares. "One of the best in the world and just a unique, special player that does so much for us at both ends of the ice.

"No one can score goals quite like him."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2025.