Leafs GM Brad Treliving Shares Additional Information on Auston Matthews' Trip to Germany

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Ryan Smitheram
November 24, 2024 (12:50)

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Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has opened up and shared some additional information on Auston Matthews' voyage overseas for treatment in Germany.

The Leafs GM sat down with The Athletic and Pierre LeBrun for an in-depth interview this past week and discussed all things Leafs, from Nicholas Robertson's early season struggles and their goaltending depth to Auston Matthews' mysterious injury and everything inbetween.

In discussing Matthews' injury, Treliving revealed that it was something that had been bugging him for quite some time and that they specifically chose this time in the schedule to have his injury looked at.

"It's bugged him for a bit. With time, it'll get behind him. We looked at the schedule. We had like three games over two and a half weeks, so we felt here's a time where there's not a volume of games, let's take the time here."

Matthews landed on injured reserve on November 8th with an undisclosed injury that the Leafs and Matthews only declared as "upper body". He and the Leafs surprised everyone when he went over to Germany to receive treatment last week, which Treliving revealed was more about a holistic approach to his overall health as well as dealing with his injury.

"As much as it was to go over there to get treatment for what he was dealing with, it was also like you take the car in sometimes because you need to get the oil changed. But when you're getting the oil changed, let's rotate the tires, let's check the brakes, let's do everything. That's really what this was. It's a guy that he's used in the past. He's been over there before. We know the individual. We have faith in it."

Matthews returned to Toronto and hit the ice ahead of yesterday's practice. Following his short skate, Matthews echoed Treliving's comments, stating that the injury started bothering him during the pre-season, felt better and then got worse.

Matthews won't play in Sunday's game against the Utah Hockey Club, but noted that Wednesday's game against the Florida Panthers may be the target date for his return.

Through 13 games this season, Matthews has just 5 goals and 11 points, which led to fans speculating that something was wrong with him. The Leafs have done well, playing their way to the Atlantic Division lead without him, going 6-1 in his absence while also giving young players such as Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin an opportunity to play NHL games.

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NOVEMBRE 24 \| 3105 ANSWERS Leafs GM Brad Treliving Shares Additional Information on Auston Matthews' Trip to Germany Do you think Auston Matthews' injury issues are finally behind him?
Yes	574	18.5 %
No	2531	81.5 %
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