Major development regarding Maple Leafs franchise star Auston Matthews

We have a major development to announce for the Maple Leafs regarding franchise cornerstone Auston Matthews, who missed Games 5 and 6 due to an illness/injury.

With all of the speculation about Matthews being injured, dealing with an illness or a combination of both, nobody has been able to pinpoint what will happen with number 34 ahead of a final and deciding Game 7 in Boston.

Fortunately for the Maple Leafs, Matthews has been able to make some "progress" this week, according to Sheldon Keefe. The latest Matthews sighting, however, has been the most promising. This morning, Matthews arrived at TD Garden in Boston with the rest of the team, ahead of Saturday's game day skate.

There's something very important to note here. Matthews does not seem to be walking with any sort of a limp or any discomfort, likely meaning that whatever his ailment was, it probably wasn't a lower-body injury at all.

After a 69-goal performance in the regular season, many expected Matthews to be a dominant force for the Maple Leafs in the postseason. However, after a big Game 2, in which Matthews had produced 3 points, including a highlight reel game-winning goal, Matthews was noticeably off in Game 3, before actually being pulled from Game 4 following the second period.

If Matthews does return tonight, the big question from fans will be "what percentage is he playing at?". Even at 75%, Matthews is still better than 90% of the players competing in these playoffs, so we'll have to just hope that whatever is ailing him is mostly behind him now and that he'll be able to help the Leafs do what they need to do tonight in Boston to punch their ticket to the 2nd round.

MUST READ

1 hour ago  |  By Dean Chaudhry The Maple Leafs May Need to Have a Difficult Conversation With Auston Matthews

4 hours ago  |  By Mike Armenti Two Popular Toronto Podcasters Let Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly Have It Amid Rough Stretch

6 hours ago  |  By Mike Armenti William Nylander Fully in Rocket Richard Trophy Race, But His Priorities Are Elsewhere

6 hours ago  |  By Nick Matthews Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Shares Blunt Assessment After Disappointing Loss to Islanders

7 hours ago  |  By Ryan Smitheram Craig Berube Snapped at Leafs During an Early Timeout; Nylander Reveals What Was Said

9 hours ago  |  By Ryan Smitheram Craig Berube Shares What Little Information He Can About Leafs Captain Auston Matthews

22 hours ago  |  By Mike Armenti Maple Leafs Make Questionable Roster Decision With Auston Matthews Out of the Lineup

22 hours ago  |  By Nick Matthews Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Confirms How Auston Matthews Suffered His Injury

MORE STORIES