Auston Matthews' return is in doubt as Leafs' coach reveals discouraging signs about lingering lower-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs fans hoped this stretch of the season would bring clarity, but Craig Berube’s latest update has only raised more questions. The coach revealed that Auston Matthews may be further behind in his recovery than anyone expected.

His comments have shifted the mood in Toronto, especially with the team already battling uneven form and a crowded injured list. The Leafs had counted on a quick turnaround for their superstar. Instead, the timeline looks blurry and the concern is growing by the day.Matthews has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury in the November 11 meeting with the Boston Bruins. Berube initially estimated that the forward would miss about a week, and the team placed him on injured reserve shortly after.

That move meant Matthews could return by November 18 against the St. Louis Blues, but that target now appears doubtful. TSN’s Mark Masters reported that Berube told media on November 17 that Matthews has not even touched the ice since exiting the Bruins game.

The coach did say a return against the Blues was still possible, but the tone surrounding the update has left fans uneasy.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube hints Matthews may be behind schedule

The forward’s injury history adds weight to this concern. He already missed significant time earlier in the 2024-25 season with an upper-body issue, continuing a trend that has limited him throughout his career.

Matthews has played at least 75 regular-season games just once since his rookie year in 2016-17. With Toronto sliding near the bottom of the Atlantic Division after 19 games, Masters’ report triggered strong reactions online.

Some fans even responded by saying the team should “throw in the towel” on the season, a stark shift from the preseason optimism that came with top-ten Stanley Cup odds.

Complicating matters, Matthews is only one of several key players on injured reserve.

Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Anthony Stolarz, and Scott Laughton are all sidelined, and Nicolas Roy is set to miss the matchup against St. Louis as well. That leaves the Leafs relying on a thin center group of John Tavares, Max Domi, Jacob Quillan, and Steven Lorentz. Quillan has just one NHL game, while Lorentz had 19 points in 80 games last season.Even so, the Leafs cannot pin everything on injuries. The roster lacks depth, and the front office is weighing roster-for-roster trades rather than dealing prospects. Elliotte Friedman recently said the team is open to offers for nearly every player except William Nylander, Matthew Knies, Matthews, and Tavares. How the team navigates this stretch may define the rest of their season.More NHL coverageMatt Duchene’s day-to-day tag turns alarming as Stars shift former Senator to long-term injured reserveMaple Leafs’ $20M dilemma deepens as Adrian Kempe signs in L.A., leaving Toronto scrambling for elite options