TORONTO -- The Maple Leafs found out what it was like to play without Auston Matthews for one-quarter of last season and will have to get used to life without him again, as the club announced Monday that their leading scorer will be out a minimum of four weeks with a separated shoulder.
Matthews left in the second period of the Leafs 3-2 win over Winnipeg on Saturday after being checked by Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba and indicated that the injury was similar in severity to the one he suffered against the New York Islanders last February.
“It felt not right getting back to the bench, going to the trainer’s room and going through that whole process of finding out it is not good enough to come back.” Matthews said on Monday. “It’s frustrating.”Matthews confirmed that the injury was not a recurrence of last year’s shoulder issue and that surgery will not be required.
Matthews heads to the tunnel after taking a big hit from Trouba. pic.twitter.com/ItKCJlVYI7
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) October 28, 2018
The 21-year-old endured a series of mishaps over the last 12 months, missing 20 games last season with three separate injuries. Matthews was out for two weeks in November and December with back and concussion issues. A Grade-2 shoulder separation in late February that kept him out of the lineup for a month.
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"You want to be out there so bad, it sucks, watching the games is the toughest part," explained Matthews. "We have such a good group of guys, everyone makes you feel a part of it even if you are injured or scratched of whatever. So, that's a good part."
Based on the minimum four weeks, Matthews will be out for at least 15 games. The Leafs were able to survive without Matthews in the lineup last season, going 11-7-2 with veteran Patrick Marleau and William Nylander stepping up their games, and the team's power play scoring at a 35 percent clip. This time, Marleau finds himself with one goal in 11 games and Nylander remains in Europe without a contract.
Even still, the club may be better prepared to deal with the absence of Matthews due to the addition of John Tavares, who handled top center ice time and responsibilities throughout his career with the New York Islanders. Head coach Mike Babcock is withholding judgment until he sees how the Leafs deal with Matthews absence this time around.
“I don’t know for sure. Another 20 games in, if you ask me that question again, I’ll tell you if we’ve got more depth this year.” Babcock said.
“I’ve never met one guy in hockey that says ‘Coach, can I play less’. They always want more opportunity and someone always thinks they are getting the short end of the stick. No one’s getting the short end of the stick, we’ve only got 12 forwards. They all get their chance, show me.”
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At the morning skate prior to Monday’s contest against the Calgary Flames, Babcock reunited the line of Marleau, Nazem Kadri and Mitch Marner, which was the Leafs highest scoring unit in the second half of last season. Sophomore Kasperi Kapanen, who has six goals this season, was moved in place of Marner with Tavares and Zach Hyman and replaced Matthews on the top power play.
The two revamped lines were key to Toronto’s third period comeback against the Jets, as Marner set up Kadri and Jake Gardiner to tie the game and Tavares assisted on Kapanen’s game winner with 2:45 left in regulation.
“When you have one of the best players in the league on your team and he’s going to miss some time, it’s an opportunity for a lot of guys to step up.” said Tavares, who has seven goals. “With his skill set, I don’t think you look to one person, but it starts with guys like myself and for all on down through the lineup, guys getting more ice time to take advantage and step up and play key minutes for us.”