Leafs GM's Comments About A Rejuvenated Auston Matthews Creating Excitement in Toronto
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Leafs GM Brad Treliving loves what he sees from Auston Matthews so far, and is creating excitement with his recent comments about his captain.
An injury-plagued 2024-25 season really took the wind out of the sails for Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Matthews was limited to just 67 games last season, in which he battled a mysterious upper-body injury which dated back to training camp.
This year, however, Leafs GM Brad Treliving has confirmed during an appearance on Sportsnet's The Real Kyper & Bourne that not only is Matthews Auston fully healthy, but he's also driven to put the past behind him and have a sensational 2025-26 season.
Treliving revealed this week that Matthews had arrived back in Toronto to begin training for the season a month ahead of schedule, which should show his determination to rebound in a big way.
To me, it starts with his preparation. He was back here early in the summer. It is amazing; when he shows up, it seems like everyone else is here now, too. He was here probably a month before we got going, and with the preparation he puts toward his craft and the way he practices, he sets the standard.
Additionally, Treliving took some time to applaud Matthews' tremendous work ethic, which sets a great example for everyone else in the Leafs' locker room. He also thought Matthews looked especially dangerous in his pre-season debut.
For any team or organization, when the top guys are working the hardest and competing the hardest, that is the level everyone else has to follow. He has been dialed in since the start of camp. He feels good physically. He looked dangerous [on Tuesday] in the first preseason game.
The Leafs GM capped it all off by referring to Matthews as "the tip of the spear", indicating that where he goes and what he does, his teammates will follow.
He has been dialed in. He is the tip of the spear for us, and everyone else follows. I have been really happy that, number one, he is healthy, ready, and looks good.
The Leafs are back in pre-season action on Thursday evening, taking on the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. The puck is expected to drop shortly after 7:00pm ET.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 25 | 993 ANSWERS Leafs GM's Comments About A Rejuvenated Auston Matthews Creating Excitement in Toronto Will Auston Matthews pass Mats Sundin for most goals by a Maple Leaf by Christmas? (Needs 20) | ||
| I say he does it | 747 | 75.2 % |
| No, he'll be close though | 208 | 20.9 % |
| No, it will take him until the Spring to pass Mats | 38 | 3.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
