Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews declined Tuesday at the club's locker cleanouts to reveal the type of injury he dealt with throughout the campaign.
"It was tough, definitely, physically," Matthews said, per TSN. "Very tough season. I don't need to get into the specifics of stuff, but I got injured in training camp. Obviously, I wasn't feeling great throughout the first month or so of the season. Took some time off, went to Germany, did all these things to try to feel better, then get in a place I felt like I could manage it."
When asked if the injury affected his ability to shoot the puck, Matthews responded: "I think it impacted a lot of different things, for sure."
Matthews' production declined this season, dropping from 69 goals and 369 shots in 2023-24 to 33 goals and 261 shots in 2024-25. He was also limited to 67 games and traveled to Germany to seek treatment for the injury.
The 27-year-old added Tuesday that he doesn't need surgery and is confident he'll be 100% healthy by the start of next campaign.
Matthews gained extra rest in the playoffs by sitting out select practices. He had three goals and 11 points in 13 postseason games before the Florida Panthers eliminated the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the second round.
Toronto held a 2-0 series lead over the defending champions but lost four of five games the rest of the way to bow out with a whimper. Florida dominated Game 7 with a 6-1 victory, handing Matthews and the Leafs their seventh consecutive winner-take-all loss.
"This one stings the most," Matthews said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.
