The Toronto Maple Leafs have been without Auston Matthews since Nov. 3. The captain has missed eight games since being placed on IR. He will also miss his ninth game in a row for Wednesday’s game against the Florida Panthers. The 27-year-old started practicing with the team earlier this week for the first time in a while. While that’s a good sign, Matthews admitted he needs a few more sessions before returning to full-time action.
He’s been listed as day-to-day after their loss to the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 3. Despite that, it has been nearly a month since Leafs fans have seen the former Hart Trophy in a game. However, most fans won’t be complaining. This is because the Maple Leafs have been in great form without Matthews. Toronto have won seven of their last eight games without their captain. They seemingly improved in every aspect including goals per game, goals against, power-play percentage and penalty kill percentage. In addition, the Leafs have climbed to the top of the Atlantic Division. Matthews could potentially feel a lot of pressure returning to a red-hot lineup since being sidelined. Therefore, that raises the question, where should he slot in?
Where’s Does Matthews Fit Best?
This season, with a perfectly healthy lineup, Matthews acted as the No. 1 centre on this Leafs team. His role as first-line centre is not a shock by any means as he is a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner. However, given how much success the Maple Leafs have had lately, there’s an understanding that Matthews won’t start on the first line when he returns.
Tuesday was Matthews’ first team practice since his injury. In that session, he took line rushes with Pontus Holmberg and William Nylander on his wings. This would suggest that when he suits up (potentially on Saturday), he’d be on the second line. Head coach Craig Berube likes the Bobby McMann, John Tavares and Mitch Marner line and wants to keep them together.
“The line has been very good, both defensively and offensively. They are doing a really good job there. I felt really reluctant to just put Mitch and Matty back together,” Berube said.
This isn’t the worst idea considering the run that Marner has been on without Matthews. This is ironic considering they’ve been a dynamic duo since they both entered the league in the 2016-17 season. Nonetheless, in the captain’s absence, Marner has scored 14 points in eight games. That includes six goals for a player that doesn’t shoot much. However, he found a new gear without Toronto’s main man. Marner has proved to the team and himself that he is more than capable of driving a line on his own. This allows Berube and the Leafs to spread the skill and create more scoring depth.
The Captain’s Season Thus Far
Before the injury, Matthews has been off to a slow start for his standards. However, the injury that has kept him out for nearly a month has been nagging him since the preseason. Therefore his injury has possibly held him back from the start he was hoping for. In 13 games, he scored five goals and 11 points on the season. In 13 games last year, he already had three hat tricks. That includes back-to-back hat tricks in the first two games of the season. He had 19 points in those 13 games.
However, there isn’t much panic because of how well the team has been doing, with or without Matthews. If the team is around a .500 record, there’d be more of a spotlight around the captain. There’d be speculation if he is the right man to lead the Maple Leafs and other narratives in the Toronto media. Not only did the team play well when Matthews was healthy, but the centreman was also doing all the little things right on the defensive side.
Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
