Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews’ possible return date revealed (Getty Images) Auston Matthews is still waiting for the green light to return as the Toronto Maple Leafs try to push through a demanding week without their captain. He is out with a lower body injury that he suffered against the Boston Bruins last Tuesday, a moment that sparked plenty of guesswork. Some believed the injury happened during a hit by Nikita Zadorov, but head coach Craig Berube shut that down quickly. The Leafs then placed Matthews on injured reserve, a move that opened a roster spot and made his IR placement retroactive to the date of the injury. Even with that timeline, his return is not close. However, he was back skating on the ice for the first time since his injury. That was certainly some good news. Berube confirmed on Monday that Matthews has not skated since he went down. That detail alone suggests that the Leafs will likely continue without him through this week. On Monday’s edition of “Leafs Morning Take”, TSN insider Darren Dreger added another layer to the story, revealing that a “best case scenario” return date for Matthews would be Saturday in Montreal. With no skating yet, even that seems like a long shot.Auston Matthews injury outlook raises concerns for the LeafsThe Leafs already expect to play all three games this week without Matthews, Anthony Stolarz, Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo. Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton will miss at least Tuesday’s game. General manager Brad Treliving is set to meet the media on Tuesday, and his update may finally bring clarity to Matthews’ recovery timeline.This injury comes during a season that has not been easy for Matthews. The 28 year old has found himself chasing the pace set by his teammates. William Nylander has been brilliant with 26 points in 16 games. Matthew Knies has surged with 22 points in 19 games, becoming a major driver of the offense. Even John Tavares has turned heads by leading the team with 11 goals and sitting second in points with 24. Morgan Rielly, coming off a difficult year, sits ahead of Matthews too with 15 points.Matthews has managed 14 points through 17 games, placing him fifth among Toronto players. His +9 rating offers a positive note, but the Leafs rely on him for more than small bright spots. As the team waits for medical updates, the focus shifts to how long they can stay afloat without their franchise cornerstone on the ice.Also Read: Auston Matthews’ return is in doubt as Leafs’ coach reveals discouraging signs about lingering lower-body injury
