Is This Collision From 2024 What’s Hindering Auston Matthews?

Auston Matthews has started to take heat in Toronto as his lackluster 2024–25 season has seemingly carried over into 2025–26 through the first 26 games. That scrutiny reached a fever pitch following Saturday’s 6-3 loss at home to the Edmonton Oilers, where Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl dominated the Maple Leafs from the drop of the puck.

Matthews was surprisingly quiet in a matchup against McDavid — one he usually elevates for — held off the scoresheet while registering just two shots on goal.

Questions had already been surfacing well before last weekend, with fans wondering about what’s happened to their superstar center who buried 69 goals less than two years ago. A lingering injury, Craig Berube increasing his defensive responsibilities, and the departure of Mitch Marner have all been cited as possible explanations for Matthews’ underwhelming play and production, but one stands out above the rest.

As much as Marner’s absence hurts, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Matthews simply isn’t right physically. The 28-year-old looks stiff at times, lacking the explosion and burst that once defined his game, and the numbers back that up as his shot velocity and skating speed have both cratered over the past year.

You don’t suddenly lose a step — or two — like this in the middle of your prime, so something is clearly nagging the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner.

There’s been plenty of speculation about what the injury might be and when it occurred. While it’s impossible to know for certain, given how tight-lipped Matthews and the Maple Leafs have been, one moment has always stood out: his violent crash into the end boards in Game 80 of the 2023–24 regular season against Detroit.