Auston Matthews undergoes knee surgery, sidelining Maple Leafs captain for at least 12 weeks

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews underwent knee surgery Thursday and is expected to need 12 weeks to recover, dealing a major blow to the club’s late-season playoff push. For Leafs fans in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario, it is a tough turn for one of Canada’s highest-profile hockey stars.

Surgery follows knee-on-knee hit against Anaheim

Matthews was hurt March 12 in Toronto’s 6-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks when he suffered a grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion in his left leg after a knee-on-knee collision with Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas.

Gudas received a major penalty for kneeing, a game misconduct and later a five-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Big loss for Toronto’s stretch drive

The 28-year-old had 53 points, including 27 goals and 26 assists, in 60 games this season. NHL reporting said Toronto entered Friday at 29-28-12, with Matthews already ruled out for the rest of the regular season and the 12-week timeline leaving open only the possibility of a return if the Maple Leafs make an unexpectedly deep playoff run.

What it means for Leafs fans in the Northwest

Matthews remains the face of the franchise, Toronto’s captain and the club’s all-time goals leader with 428. He also recently captained Team USA to Olympic gold. His absence leaves Toronto without its top finisher and one of the NHL’s marquee players at a point in the season when every game matters.