Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews, left, is injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will be forced to miss the rest of the NHL 2025-26 season after being hit by Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas using the knee-to-knee injury. The injury, which can result in surgery, ends the season prematurely for Matthews. This was the blow, but specialists are still hopeful that he will be fit in time to resume the coming NHL season with full strength.Toronto Maple Leafs have been through a rough season of 2025-26 in the NHL and the recent injury to their captain, Auston Matthews, complicates the situation even more. Matthews, who is one of the star forwards in the league, sustained a knee-to-knee blow by the Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas in a recent match. The hit made Matthews walk off the ice in order to undergo a test, which has raised concerns among fans as well as analysts.
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Auston Matthews Undergoes Knee Surgery | Real Kyper & Bourne
Auston Matthews status update for Toronto Maple Leafs NHL game
After clinical assessments, the management of the Maple Leafs assured that Matthews will not play this season. Toronto is also not in the playoffs, so the team opted to bench their star player in favor of his well-being in the long term. The relocation will mean that Matthews will be fully recovered to play in the NHL in the best state possible at the 2026-27 season, instead of getting an additional injury.The NHL insider, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, reports that Matthews is supposed to have surgery as part of his recovery process. Although surgery is required, Friedman underlines that it is not referred to as a significant setback. It is strongly believed that Matthews would be in the right shape to begin the next NHL season on time and continue to be the offensive leader and team captain of the Maple Leafs.The Maple Leafs have a very important offseason, and roster changes and even trades are subject to the recovery of Matthews. The plan adopted by the team to go to the 2026-27 season of the NHL will be heavily focused on the provision of a full-strength captain of the team. Not only fans, but also analysts would be paying keen attention to the development of Matthews in the hope that the NHL star will be coming back to the team with its hopes of achieving a successful campaign.