Auston Matthews & the Maple Leafs are reportedly at odds on the handling of his injury
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is currently dealing with an injury and according to one NHL insider, there is currently a power struggle brewing.
Matthews has missed the last two games after re-aggravating his lingering upper-body injury and there is currently a debate about how both sides should be moving forward.
Auston Matthews Vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs
You have some who believe that Matthews should play through it, while the level-headed people believe he needs to go on LTIR and even miss the 4 Nations Face-Off.
According to Elliotte Friedman, it seems as though Matthews and the Maple Leafs cannot agree with each other on what to do.
As he recently explained, the Maple Leafs want to sit their captain. However, the captain is insisting that he play.
I think a) because players want to play, and b) as the captain, he feels he needs to set an example and to me, it's clear he wants to play. I think then it becomes a question of if a player thinks he's healthy enough to play,
can the organization force somebody not to play if they are really concerned about it. I'm sure the Four Nations is apart of this. I'm sure he wants to play in that and I'm sure everybody putting on that tournament would like to see him play in that.
I think there is probably a little push and pull there... I think we'll see this develop on a game in, game out basis as the season continues. He's going to have a few days off now...
I think the one thing that is obvious here is that everybody in the league saw that highlight where Gilbert cross-checked him and as the games get more meaningful we all know that is going to happen a lot more often."
It is very understandable that Matthews would want to be out there with all of his teammates.
However, at the end of the day, if he isn't healthy, he won't even be able to be out there with his teammates during the most important time of the season.
The Maple Leafs want to go far in the playoffs this year, and the only way they can do such a thing is if Auston Matthews is healthy.
Having said that, these next few days are going to be very interesting for the team.
Only time will tell whether or not Matthews will return in time for Friday's tilt.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 24 | 206 ANSWERS Auston Matthews & the Maple Leafs are reportedly at odds on the handling of his injury Should Auston Matthews sit for a few months with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| YES | 151 | 73.3 % |
| NO | 55 | 26.7 % |
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