Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews to receive injury treatment in Germany – Winnipeg Free Press

TORONTO – Auston Matthews boarded a plane and crossed the ocean.

The Maple Leafs hope this trip provides some answers and gets their best players back on the ice.

General manager Brad Treliving said his captain, who has been out every day since Nov. 5 due to an upper-body injury, was in Germany after Tuesday’s practice to see a doctor with whom the star center has worked with in the past.

“More like a general check,” Treliving said during an unscheduled call with reporters. “But also to do some work on this thing.”

Matthews has missed six games and will miss his seventh game on Wednesday when Toronto hosts the Vegas Golden Knights.

Treliving, who added that the star sniper was accompanied by a team doctor to Europe, said that since the Leafs have only played twice this week (the Utah Hockey Club’s visit on Sunday), the organization decided to use this time to its advantage.

“It’s not concerning,” Treliving said of getting more information about what Matthews is hindering. “We’re hoping that after he completes the week here he’ll get back on his feet and start skating… after that he’ll be back in the game.”

Treliving declined to provide further details about the ailment of Matthews, who is believed to have skated just twice since his last game on November 3.

“We want to share as much as we can,” he said. “But I will not do anything that will endanger the player. There is no surgery, there is no such speculation.”

Matthews, who won the Maurice (Rocket) Richard three-time title as the NHL’s top scorer, netted 69 times last season.

“There were no setbacks,” Treliving said of the 2022 Hart Trophy winner becoming league MVP. “Things are actually going pretty well. We’re trying to use the days of fewer games to put this behind us.”

Matthews could be ready Sunday, but his GM said the more likely scenario would be a return next week. The 27-year-old player played with 5 goals and 6 assists in 13 matches before leaving the squad.

“He wants to play,” Treliving said. “Hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

Toronto (11-6-2) was already down three forwards with Matthews, Max Pacioretty and Calle Jarnkrok sidelined, and announced earlier Tuesday that center David Kampf (lower body injury) is now on the shelf. Fraser Minten was recalled from the minors to replace him.

“Nobody in the league is going to feel sorry for you,” said Treliving, whose club is 5-1-0 against Matthews this season. “Injuries are part of the NHL. If you can’t maintain these, you probably won’t have much success. I like the way our guys rebound.

“We managed to put some points on the board.”

Meanwhile, Mitch Marner is putting a lot of numbers next to his name in Matthews’ absence. The winger has 10 points in six games and has scored four goals in the pass-first forward’s last five games; That includes his goal in overtime against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

“It happens in all kinds of different ways,” he said. “I’m just trying to find myself in good areas.”

Leafs center John Tavares said Marner drowned out the noise during his contract year.

“He continues to be himself,” Tavares said, without agreeing to a deal beyond 2024-25. “He’s been a very good player for us his whole career. Playing in every situation, with and without the puck, is a very important factor. Tremendous, tremendous hockey sense.

“He’s one of the smartest players in the game.”

And with Toronto’s current lack of depth in midfield, Marner could wear another hat at center in the coming days.

“I actually talked to Mitch about it the other day,” Leafs head coach Craig Berube said with a grin. “He said, ‘No problem, whatever you want.’ He’s certainly smart enough. I know he’s played some (defense) here in the past as well. I think he can play in any position.

“It’s definitely an option if we need it.”

GIVES A REACTION

Leafs forward Ryan Reaves was suspended five games for an illegal check on the head of Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on Saturday.

“I never want to see anyone get hurt,” Treliving said. “This is a hockey game gone wrong.”

Reaves was in Toronto’s locker room after practice on Tuesday and appeared eager to talk to reporters, but the team’s communications staff intervened and made it clear the 37-year-old forward was unavailable for comment.

“We thought that was a little bit high,” Tavares said of the NHL Department of Player Safety ban that would suspend Reaves until Dec. 4. “But we will stand behind him…we know how effective he is.”

DOMI FIGHT

Despite playing an offensive role, Leafs forward Max Domi has a career-worst 13-game shutout and just six assists.