The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that star forward Auston Matthews has undergone successful wrist surgery. His recovery will take a minimum of six weeks, but he should be ready to participate in activities as the 2021-22 season approaches. The Leafs made the announcement Friday evening.
Auston Matthews underwent successful wrist surgery earlier today.
His recovery will be a minimum of six weeks.https://t.co/CChsLrrzF2
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 14, 2021
Maple Leafs Auston Matthews Undergoes Surgery
There is very little to say about Matthews that hasn’t been said already. He was absolutely electric during the 2020-21 regular season. He led the league with 41 goals and posted 66 points overall in just 52 games. The California native also saw his Corsi For reach a new high mark at 58.8 percent with a 10.3 relative Corsi in 21:33 of ice time per night. It truly was an almost-superlative season that won Matthews the Rocket Richard Trophy, but ended in sadness when the Leafs fell in the playoffs yet again.
Toronto drafted Matthews first overall in the 2016 Draft and have never regretted the decision. He is already in the 15 for goals and top 30 for total points among all Leafs skaters despite being just 23 years old. Some of that certainly has to do with the modern scoring environment. However, there is little doubt that he is a hockey player of the highest calibre. We all may call him the most productive Leaf ever by the time his career is done.
What Comes Next
There is really nothing that should concern Toronto fans with this news. Wrist injuries are obviously notable given the need to handle pucks, but there is plenty of time to recover. The regular season doesn’t start until October. Matthews should be ready for serious activities some time in late September. His talent is such that there shouldn’t be any doubt he will be ready for the 2021-22 campaign. The only thing fans should worry about is if the team has done enough to help Matthews make a deep run in the postseason.
