Toronto's Auston Matthews has an excuse for his off year

For the vast majority of NHL players, having 31 goals on the season so far would not be considered anywhere near an off year. It's different for Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, though. Matthews finished last season with 60 goals and 106 points while winning the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player. He won't hit those numbers this year, but has explained there's a reason for it.

In an interview with The Athletic, Matthews said he's been dealing with a hand injury, the first time he's ever really acknowledged that something was going on.

"It was bothering me," he said. "It just felt like something was off. I just felt like not completely, like I wasn't able to do exactly what I wanted to at times."

Obviously, a hand injury isn't a good thing for a player whose bread and butter is his shot. But, he said things are starting to get better now.


"I think my hand and everything has been feeling a lot better, just stronger," said Matthews.

"Just shooting it a little bit more fluidly I'd say."

As for what it was like playing through the injury, Matthews admitted it was impacting his game.

"Just maybe not as strong honestly, and (it) just didn't feel as fluid. I think sometimes it can be like a number of different things, whether it's footwork or stuff like that."

"Now it's feeling a lot better," Matthews explained.

That's certainly good news for the Maple Leafs who are getting prepared to enter the playoffs and trying once again to break the curse of the 1st-round exit.