The Toronto Maple Leafs are pushing through a difficult November as injuries continue to shape their early-season story. Their 8-9-2 record reflects a team that shows flashes of strong play but struggles to string them together. Even with their offense producing at a high level, the inconsistency on the back end has made every game a challenge.
The absence of Auston Matthews has only added to that pressure. With their captain unavailable, the Leafs are trying to stay competitive while waiting for a clean bill of health. That shift sets the stage for an important update on the team’s most important player.
Is Auston Matthews Finally Nearing a Return?
Matthews offered Toronto a welcome lift when he returned to the ice on Tuesday morning for the first time since his lower-body injury in Boston. The injury placed him on injured reserve and paused what had been an average start to his year.
Before going down, he had nine goals and five assists in 17 games, and continued to drive the Leafs’ attack through early November with six points in six games.
His injury came on a night when he took a hit from Nikita Zadorov in Boston and exchanged contact moments later. Craig Berube later noted that the issue had appeared earlier in the game, but whatever the sequence, the impact was clear. Losing Matthews at a time when goals were flowing but structure was slipping created a gap that the roster has struggled to manage.
Brad Treliving shared a brief update and mentioned that Matthews is “Coming along… I don’t anticipate too long” while adding that Thursday’s game is not an option for his return.
His appearance in practice, even in a controlled session, suggests that progress is finally visible. Toronto will watch his workload closely as they move through the week, and Matthews’ presence around the team brings some much-needed energy to a group trying to regain its footing.
The Leafs also saw defensemen Chris Tanev take part in light skating work, though his return could still be a ways away. Meanwhile, goaltender Anthony Stolarz is also recovering from an upper-body injury, leaving the Leafs thin in multiple areas.
Matthews’ significance stretches far beyond the immediate need for offense. He is the centerpiece of the franchise and remains under contract through 2027-28 on a four-year, $53 million deal. His absence has highlighted how much he influences scoring, tempo, and matchups each night.
Toronto will try to break its five-game losing streak tonight when the St. Louis Blues visit Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night. The Blues enter at 6-9-4 while the Leafs sit at 8-9-2, and both teams need a result to shift the mood in their locker rooms.
With John Tavares carrying the scoring load and the lineup still missing key pieces, the Leafs will look for a response as they wait for Matthews to move another step closer to his return.
