- John Chayka says Auston Matthews is “pretty much 100 percent ready to go physically” for Maple Leafs camp
- Matthews tore the MCL in his left knee in March and had surgery with a 12-week timeline
- Read below for Chayka’s full green-light comment and where the captain’s contract stands
John Chayka has a two-word status update on Auston Matthews, and it is full green-light.
The new Maple Leafs general manager told NHL.com that his captain is “pretty much 100 percent ready to go physically” for Thursday’s first training camp session, six months after surgery to repair the torn MCL in his left knee.
Chayka was also asked by The Canadian Press what the layoff did to Matthews. He did not hedge:
“Sometimes an injury like that allows you to get dialled in and focused. He’s always looking for new ways to improve. Watched him the other day shooting pucks for three hours. He’s full green-light.”
The knee went on March 12 in Anaheim’s visit to Toronto. Radko Gudas caught Matthews knee-on-knee and took a five-minute major and a game misconduct for it.
Take a look at the hit that ended his year:
Surgery came a week later with a 12-week recovery timeline attached to it.
Chris Tanev has been on the ice with Matthews for the informal skates leading into camp, and he was asked last week how the captain looked. Mark Masters relayed the answer:
Toronto needs the player who scored 69 goals in 2023-24. Matthews has 60 across the two seasons since, and the second of those ended in March.
That year finished 32-36-14, last in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the East. Chayka and senior executive adviser Mats Sundin responded by hiring Jim Hiller as head coach and adding goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Darren Raddysh.
Two years remain on the four-year, $53 million contract Matthews signed in August 2023, at a $13.25 million cap hit. Asked whether an extension is on his desk yet, Chayka laughed it off.
“We have, what, 10 months for that? And a lot can happen in 10 months. Let’s get through our first regular-season game.”
Camp opens Wednesday with medicals. One name already crossed off is Max Domi, who remains out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury.
Matthews skates Thursday.
