Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up before playing against the Anaheim Ducks at the Scotiabank Arena on March 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) Auston Matthews gave the Toronto Maple Leafs something to be hopeful about before NHL training camp, participating in skating drills at Arizona State University. Video from the Sun Devil Hockey Pro Camp shows the Toronto captain skating on the ice with NHL players and university skaters.That timing is notable because Matthews had offseason surgery after an MCL tear ended his 2025-26 season. His return to competitive skating doesn’t necessarily mean a full recovery, but the footage is a good sign as Toronto prepares for the new NHL season.
How can Auston Matthews’ health reshape Toronto Maple Leafs games?
If Auston Matthews had been 100% healthy in the lineup, it could have changed the TorontoMaple Leafs’ game approach in a big way, particularly following one of the worst statistical seasons of his NHL career from the center.Matthews took part in on-ice drills at the inaugural Sun Devil Hockey Pro Camp in Tempe, Arizona. The video showed the 29-year-old skating with NHL players and members of the Arizona State University hockey team.There was nothing in the footage that clearly showed Matthews restricting his movement. A summer skate doesn’t mean a skater is 100 percent recovered, but it was a big step after his MCL injury and surgery.
Why does Auston Matthews’ recovery matter to Toronto
Matthews dropped to career lows of 27 goals and 53 points in 2025-26. Those numbers were a far cry from what a former first-overall pick and one of the league’s top goal scorers is expected to produce.The surrounding circumstances of the season provide important context. Matthews had battled injuries in back-to-back seasons, with the MCL injury eventually forcing him to have surgery.Matthews doesn’t have to put up another 60-goal season for Toronto to be okay. But returning to something closer to his established scoring pace would immediately improve the offensive structure of the Maple Leafs.Matthews’ availability has implications beyond his own goal-scoring. His shooting threat means defenses need to respect him when he enters the offensive zone, and that could open up more space for Toronto’s other forwards.A healthy Matthews also provides the Maple Leafs with more flexibility with line combinations and offensive matchups. If a player can score from all over the ice and create opportunities for his teammates, he’s going to draw a lot of attention from the opposition.That dynamic might become especially important as Toronto tries to get better after recent seasons that didn’t meet expectations.Therefore, the Arizona footage has meaning beyond a standard offseason workout. Matthews will still need to prove he’s ready during training camp and NHL preseason games, but his return to the ice is an encouraging early sign for the Toronto Maple Leafs.The big question for Toronto coming into the season is not just if Matthews can return. It’s about whether the captain can stay healthy enough to consistently drive the offense and help the Maple Leafs contend for a deeper run in the NHL playoffs.