Auston Matthews prepares for pivotal season with Maple Leafs after injury

Auston Matthews is set to return for the 2026-2027 NHL season with the Toronto Maple Leafs after recovering from a severe leg injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2025 season. Last season, he tallied 53 points in 60 games, falling short of his typical output. With new additions to the roster, including standout prospect Gavin McKenna, expectations are high for Matthews to regain his dominant goal-scoring form. Analysts believe that if Matthews arrives at training camp with the right mindset, he could replicate or exceed his prior scoring averages. The Leafs are looking for Matthews to lead their offense under new head coach Jim Hiller.

• 3:20 PMYahoo Sports — Auston Matthews faces most pressure yet ahead of 2026-2027 NHL season