Auston Matthews` first season serving as captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs was, by his own admission, a disappointing one, largely affected by a recurring injury.
Matthews participated in 67 games. It was widely known he was managing a physical issue throughout the season. His offensive output dipped significantly, recording 33 goals and 78 points, a sharp decrease from the 69 goals he scored the previous year. His performance also struggled in the playoffs, where he tallied just three goals and 11 points in 13 games.
The 27-year-old forward chose not to reveal the exact nature of his injury but stated it was something bothering him from the start of the season.
“It was a very tough season,” Matthews told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t need to get into specifics, but I got injured in training camp. Obviously, I wasn’t feeling great throughout the first month of the season, took some time off, went to Germany, did all these things to try to feel better. I was in a place where I felt like I could manage it.”
Looking ahead to the off-season, Matthews confirmed he would not require surgery and fully anticipates being healthy for the start of the next campaign.
The injury noticeably impacted Matthews` renowned shooting prowess, evidenced by a career-low 12.6 percent shooting percentage. However, the captain suggested its effects were more far-reaching.
“I think it impacted a lot of different things, for sure,” he commented.
Tristan Blackwood