‘I Don’t Know, I Hope So’: Auston Matthews Isn’t Sure If He’ll Get Through This Season Without Dealing With Upper-Body Injury

Auston Matthews participated in his first full practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs since aggravating an upper-body injury on Dec. 20.

The 27-year-old didn't skate on a specific line during Toronto's New Years Day skate, but made it through the entire session, something he didn't do earlier this week when he practiced with the team the first time.

"Feeling good, feeling better," Matthews said on Wednesday. "It's nice to get out there in a team setting, get some reps, and just kind of take it day by day and see how it goes."

Related: 'Everybody Is Excited About Him Being Out There': Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Practicing, But Won't Play Against Islanders

The forward has been dealing on-and-off with an upper-body injury since training camp. He missed some time with an undisclosed ailment during pre-season, but began the year with the team. Matthews played 13 games before exiting the lineup with an upper-body injury.

He missed most of November before returning to the lineup in the final game of the month. Toronto's captain skated in 11 more games, where he tallied six goals and six assists.

As we approached mid-December, it appeared that Matthews was still dealing with the upper-body injury. He took a cross-check from Dennis Gilbert in their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 20, was visibly in pain, and hasn't been in the lineup since.

The forward said on Wednesday that the cross-check aggravated the injury "a little bit," but also mentioned he's been dealing with a number of things.

"I'd say that (cross-check) definitely didn't help the cause."

With the forward practicing in a grey jersey before their game against the New York Islanders on Thursday, one would think Matthews wouldn't play. He confirmed that notion on Wednesday afternoon, adding that what he's dealing with is pain and discomfort.

But it's promising that he's been on the ice with the team as of late.

"I mean, it's been good progress throughout this week. I think it's always a good gauge from getting into practice and seeing how you feel in that and competitive aspect of drills and stuff like that," Matthews said.

"So, a lot of positive signs. Like I said, just take it day by day, and, hopefully just keep progressing, and see where we're at maybe later this week."

A massive date coming up in the calendar is the NHL Four Nations Face-Off. Beyond that, we begin to creep into the NHL trade deadline, and before you know it, the postseason.

When asked on Wednesday if Matthews believes this is something that, with rest, he can put behind him, the forward didn't really have an answer.

"Yeah, I don't know. I hope so. That's obviously the goal," he said.

"It's tricky with these things sometimes. It's a physical sport. It's a contact sport. Things happen out there sometimes that are out of your control. Juts try to manage it as best as I can, and that we can, and you just go from there."

Related: ‘Auston (Matthews) Was Out There, So They Weren’t Paying Attention’: Craig Berube Jokes About Participants Being Distracted At Maple Leafs’ Coaches Open House

There's no target date that Matthews has in mind for a return. Toronto plays in Long Island on Thursday before back-to-back games at home this weekend. The Maple Leafs will then travel to Philadelphia for a game on Tuesday.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube and the team aren't pestering him about how he's feeling. Toronto is waiting until Matthews gives the go-ahead on returning, but the coach still touches base with him.

"I do check in with him. You know, when I see him, I don't bother him too much. When you're injured as a player and they're always asking you, 'How are you feeling? What's going on?' It gets annoying," Berube said.

Their next practice day likely won't be until one week from today in Carolina, which means Matthews could be out for a bit longer. Maybe they'll target next Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes?

Either way, it'll be all up to Matthews on when he'll return to the Maple Leafs lineup.

"When he's available, he'll let us know," Berube said.

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