Do right by Auston Matthews. Does he need surgery, rest, a playmaking right winger who can help out in all three zones? As much as Auston Matthews also needs to step up the team isn't going to be at its best until Auston is put in a situation where he looks like he can put up 60 goals again. If that's not possible at all anymore the Leafs problems are bigger than we think.
Nylander is day-to-day still. He's doing better but still day-to-day. Matthews will be a game-time decision. Tanev is lower-body, it's not the same injury. He's getting evaluated today so we'll have a better timeline later today on him,
Prior to Tuesday night's game against Chicago, the Leafs will honour their long-time play by play voice as part of "Holy Mackinaw Night." Bowen, who's called over 3800 games for the Maple Leafs, will be retiring at the conclusion of this season. We talked about that, Joseph Woll, and Anthony Stolarz in the opening block of the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. After missing four games with a lower body injury, Woll will make his return.
"I mean, it's fine. It's been a grind lately," Matthews said. "You know, for us, it's trying to string together points and wins. And I think we've done a pretty decent job of that over the last seven, eight, nine, 10 games. You just want to continue to put yourself in a position to win games, and the team win games."
Depending on where Hughes lands, there could be serious implications for the Maple Leafs. If Hughes goes to the Detroit Red Wings, the Leafs could be seriously impacted. But beyond Hughes' potential landing spot, an interesting question comes to mind: Could the Toronto Maple Leafs use the Quinn Hughes trade as a template for a possible Auston Matthews deal? Questions regarding the Maple Leafs potentially trading Auston Matthews have not been foreign to the team.
"Knies, Matthews and Roy all practiced today," Berube said. "Looked good, they finished practice, but still gotta see about tomorrow. So that's where they're at, but it was good that they were out there and finished practice, went through all the drills."