Maple Leafs training camp opens with double dose of good news

"It's hard to imagine a better start to the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp. Auston Matthews, the team's franchise centerpiece, put any lingering concerns about his health to rest by saying he's "feeling really good" as the new season begins. Meanwhile, general manager Brad Treliving delivered more encouraging news, expressing confidence that the club "can find something that'll work" to get a new deal done with goaltender Anthony Stolarz."

"It included a trip to Germany to look for solutions. He missed fifteen games, and for many of the contests he did play, he was not his dominant self. The result was a career-low 33 goals. He followed up his subpar regular season with only three goals in thirteen playoff games. After the Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs, Matthews stated that "physically, it was a tough season.""

"Matthews, commenting that he's "feeling really good," is great news for the Maple Leafs. He's the team's best player and the NHL's best goal-scorer when he is at the top of his game. Also encouraging for the Leafs is Matthews' recent goal-scoring pattern. After hitting the sixty-goal mark in 2021-2022, the Maple Leafs' captain had a dip in production (for his high standards) to forty goals in 2022-2023. Next came the franchise-record sixty-nine goals in the 2023-2024 season."

Auston Matthews reports feeling really good entering training camp, alleviating health concerns after an injury-plagued 2024-2025 season. Matthews missed fifteen games, recorded a career-low 33 goals, and managed only three playoff goals while describing the season as physically tough. His recent goal-scoring history includes 60 goals (2021-22), 40 (2022-23), a franchise-record 69 (2023-24), then 33 (2024-25), suggesting potential for a bounce-back when healthy and motivated. General manager Brad Treliving expressed confidence in reaching a new contract with goaltender Anthony Stolarz. These developments increase optimism for the Maple Leafs' postseason prospects in the post-Mitch Marner era.

Read at Editor In Leaf