Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews leaves practice with 'upper-body thing'

 

Without their new captain, the Toronto Maple Leafs had to conclude practice on Tuesday.

With what Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube called a "upper-body thing," Auston Matthews left the team's on-ice practice early on Tuesday, according to Terry Koshan of Post Media.

According to Berbube, Matthews' problems are "not serious" and he "should be fine."

John Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain since October 2019, was replaced by Matthews, who was chosen the 26th captain in franchise history in August.



This season, after scoring 69 goals, the 27-year-old sensation Matthews took home his third Rocket Richard Trophy. In 2022, Matthews won the Ted Lindsay Award as well as the Hart Trophy.

Matthews signed a four-year, $53-million extension last summer that will begin this season.

Toronto opens the regular season on Oct. 9 in Montreal against the Canadiens.