Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has surgery on left knee
Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) is injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, March 12, 2026. Credit: AP/Nathan Denette
TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had surgery Thursday in New York to repair the torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
The team said he's expected to need about 12 weeks of recovery time.
Matthews was injured March 12 in a home victory over Anaheim on Radko Gudas' knee-on-knee hit that drew a major penalty, game misconduct and five-game suspension.
The captain of the winning U.S. Olympic team, Matthews finished the season with 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games. He’s Toronto's career leader with 428 goals.
