Auston Matthews isn't playing again this season.
Radko Gudas made sure of that with a knee-to-knee hit recently on the Toronto Maple Leafs' captain.
After the hit, Matthews went through testing that determined his 2025-26 season was over prematurely.
The Leafs weren't making the playoffs anyway, so it was logical to take the safe route and shut him down.
If all goes well, Matthews will heal up to try and help Toronto bounce back from what has been a nightmare campaign.
Plenty still to be done, though. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that Matthews is likely looking at surgery before he can get right.
"We’ll see when it happens, but it sounds like surgery will be part of Auston Matthews’ recovery," Friedman writes.
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The good news?
"There is still plenty of confidence he will start next season on time," Friedman added.
The Maple Leafs have a big summer ahead of them. After trading away pieces before the deadline, and with such a messy campaign, they've got to make sure they have an improved roster for the 2026-27 season.
Of course, much of what Toronto does starts with the captain, Matthews. If his injury were to drag into next season, that'd make things that much tougher.
There are plenty of surgeries that aren't massive setbacks, and that's what this sounds like for Matthews.
The Leafs just want him back on the ice at his best for next season.
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