Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews says he’s finally back to full health and ready to put last season behind him.
After a year in which he failed to reach 30 goals, finished with 53 points and dealt with multiple trips to injured reserve, including a grade 3 MCL tear that ended his season, Matthews made clear in a one-on-one interview with team reporter Ryan Leslie that he feels different heading into this season. The message was simple: he wants to return to the level that made him one of the league’s premier goal scorers.
“The last couple years have been tough,” Matthews said in the interview. “I haven’t really felt super healthy… especially how last year ended.
For myself, I’m extremely motivated going into this year to get back to the level that I know I can be at. I’m really excited to be able to show that.
“There’s always a positive that you can take out of adversity, negative moments and I feel like coming back here now, probably the best I’ve felt in a long time which is great. I’m really excited to get going here.”
For Matthews, the health update matters because of what the Maple Leafs need from him. Questions about whether he was truly 100% had lingered, and now he says he’s in a better place physically than he has been in years.
That optimism comes with a hard edge, too. Last season was rough for Matthews and for the team, which missed the playoffs for the first time since he entered the league. He said that stretch hit hard in a market as demanding as Toronto.
“It’s tough when you’re losing here in a place that’s so passionate about their team and passionate about winning games and accomplishing something great in the spring,” Matthews said.
“It definitely took a toll on a lot of guys… there’s a lot of things that you can take away from it and a lot of things that you can and move forward.”
Matthews also said everyone in the organization, including management, is aligned on how the team wants to operate. He pointed to the offseason overhaul from the front office to the ice, and general manager John Chayka said Matthews was helping get the group to buy into what’s best for the team.
With changes around him and new faces added, including first overall pick Gavin McKenna, Matthews said he’s eager to lead the way and shut down the noise from a frustrating season.
“There’s a lot of excitement to go in this year and prove a lot of people wrong, but also prove ourselves right and have the confidence that we’re a good team and that we can come together and do something special.”
Training camp is already underway, and Matthews is entering it sounding healthy, motivated and determined to answer the doubts with his play.
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