May 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) carries the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews will miss the first three games of the season as he continues to recover from wrist surgery.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday that the 24-year-old center is unavailable this week. Toronto opens the season Wednesday at home against Montreal, then travels to Ottawa on Thursday before hosting the Senators on Saturday.
Matthews, who led the NHL with 41 goals in 52 games last season, enters his sixth season with 199 career goals. He has 152 assists and 351 points in 334 games since Toronto drafted him No. 1 overall in 2016.
Matthews had surgery on Aug. 13 and began participating in contact drills earlier this month.
Keefe also announced that forward Ilya Mikheyev needs thumb surgery and will be out approximately eight weeks.
Mikheyev, who turned 27 on Sunday, tallied seven goals and 10 assists in 54 games last season. He had 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 39 games during his 2019-20 rookie season with the Leafs.
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–Field Level Media