Maple Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Set to Return

After missing the last six games due to an undisclosed upper-body injury, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has confirmed that he is ready to make his return. The star centre made the announcement at the morning skate prior to the Leafs’ home game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

Matthews, who last played on December 20th and was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday, watched as the Leafs posted a 3-3-0 record in his absence. This marks his second stint on the sidelines this season, having also missed nine games in November.

During the morning skate, Matthews was seen skating alongside Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner, hinting at potential line combinations for his return to the lineup. The 24-year-old forward, who claimed the Rocket Richard Trophy last season with a franchise-record 69 goals, has tallied 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games this season.

As the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Matthews has amassed an impressive 672 points (379 goals, 293 assists) in 586 career regular-season games. His return is sure to provide a significant boost to the Leafs’ offense as they look to climb the standings in the highly competitive Atlantic Division.