Auston Matthews back in Toronto early, training with Leafs teammates
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ biggest star appears to be back on the ice in town a little earlier than perhaps expected.
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Auston Matthews and teammate Max Domi were spotted on the ice over Labour Day weekend with Marlies goalie Brendan Bonello.
And it makes sense why Matthews would want to get back on the ice in Toronto a few weeks out from training camp. While Matthews could be skating anywhere, he’s likely looking to get comfortable ahead of what he would presumably hope is a bit of a personal bounce-back season, particularly after the high-profile departure of Mitch Marner.
In 67 games with the Leafs this past year, Matthews put up 33 goals and 45 assists for a total of 78 points. That’s a fine season for most players, but the former MVP admitted he’d been dealing with a lengthy injury throughout much of 2024-25 that held him back from his lofty standards.
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Matthews is also coming off his first season as team captain, taking over the mantle from John Tavares.
“I think there was a lot of growth there,” Matthews said at his end-of-season media availability this past May of his first year as team captain. “I thought [head coach Craig Berube] pushed me in different areas. There was also the support of John [Tavares] and other guys who have been around for a while. There were a lot of steps taken. It was definitely very eye-opening, but I want to continue to get better in that area.”
When do the Leafs begin playing again?
This year’s season is a bit condensed compared to the usual season, with an approximately three-week break for the 2026 Winter Olympics going on in February. While Matthews will be representing Team USA there — assuming he’s healthy — many of his teammates will simply be enjoying the time off from the 82-game grind.
The Leafs have a six-game preseason lined up, beginning in a little under three weeks. They’ll be taking on all of the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens both at home and on the road starting Sept. 21, before things start for real against the Canadiens on Oct. 8.
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