Leafs’ Auston Matthews ‘100 percent’ healthy for 2026-27

The optimism continues to rise for one of the game’s biggest stars as the new season draws near.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka was asked about the health status of captain Auston Matthews heading into the 2026-27 campaign. Chayka admitted that Matthews is in top form, having taken a lot of time during the offseason to be fully healthy.

“He looks great,” Chakya said. “Give him credit, he put in the work. He worked with world-class trainers. He’s full go, 100%, physically he looks great. More important, he’s smiling and having fun and engaging with his teammates, being the great leader that he is.”

This comes a day after a video that was released by the team showing Matthews discussing how he’s feeling as we approached the new season.

“I’m feeling really good,” Matthews said in an interview with Ryan Leslie. “I think it’s obviously a tough way to end the season last year, but I think there’s always positive that you can take out of adversity (and) negative moments,” Matthews said. “I feel like coming back here now, (it’s) probably the best I’ve felt in a long time.”

Matthews’ status is a positive sign for Leafs fans after a horrendous 2025-26 campaign for Matthews and the team. Due to a suspected injury plaguing him early on, the Arizona native struggled to score at the same clip that made him a two-time 60-goal scorer. On top of that, a season-ending MCL tear suffered at the hands (or the knee) of then-Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas knocked him out for the final month of the year. The Leafs came short of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since Matthews was drafted first overall in 2016, finishing last in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference.

Matthews has had a rough injury history throughout his career, as the 28-year-old has notably played through shoulder and wrist injuries that have limited his scoring potential for stretches. He has only appeared in all 82 games once during his 10 years in the NHL, that coming during his rookie season in 2016-17.

When Matthews met with reporters, he was asked whether his future with the Leafs was ever in question. Matthews eliminated any rumors of a departure, stating that “my intent was always to be here,” but wanted to see who the team hired as GM. He added that he likes what Chayka has done with the team, noting that he “brought in great people, great players, some great outside hires as well.”

In 689 regular-season games in the NHL, Matthews has scored 428 goals and 352 assists for 780 points, with another 59 points in 68 playoff contests.