Insider Reveals Power Struggle Between Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs

"I think that there's a couple of things here. Number one, it is very clear that Matthews wants to play through it. He wants to keep playing. I think a) because players want to play, and b) as the captain, he feels he needs to set an example and to me, it's clear he wants to play.

I think then it becomes a question of if a player thinks he's healthy enough to play, can the organization force somebody not to play if they are really concerned about it. I'm sure the Four Nations is apart of this.

I'm sure he wants to play in that and I'm sure everybody putting on that tournament would like to see him play in that. I think there is probably a little push and pull there...

I think we'll see this develop on a game in, game out basis as the season continues. He's going to have a few days off now...

I think the one thing that is obvious here is that everybody in the league saw that highlight where Gilbert cross-checked him and as the games get more meaningful we all know that is going to happen a lot more often."