Auston Matthews’ recovery process leaks in new footage

It has been several months since Auston Matthews went under the knife to repair a serious knee injury, and the Toronto Maple Leafs captain is steadily working his way back. But the latest footage out of Switzerland suggests he may be further along than some fans feared.

Matthews was spotted at the HC Davos training facility taking shots alongside former teammate Joe Thornton, firing pucks at 17-year-old U-21 goaltender Silvano Andri. The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed Matthews looking comfortable on the ice and letting his shot go with apparent ease.

It was not exactly a high-intensity session. Matthews was reportedly keeping things light, placing shots to the blocker and glove rather than trying to pick corners. Still, the progression from skating to shooting work is a meaningful marker in his rehabilitation timeline.

Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear along with a quad contusion, an injury combination that strikes at the very foundation of a hockey player's game. Leg strength drives skating power, balance, and explosiveness, so any lingering weakness there would significantly limit what he can do at full speed.

The good news is that Matthews appears to have surpassed his projected 12-week healing window with no reported setbacks. This shooting session follows an earlier return to skating at the start of July, when footage highlighted his movement and edgework on the ice. Both clips paint an encouraging picture, even if neither one can answer the question of whether he is truly back to full strength.

That answer likely will not come until training camp and the preseason, when Matthews faces contact, high-tempo drills, and the kind of physical demands that replicate real NHL action. Teams around the league are well aware of his injury history, which means he could draw extra attention from opponents looking to test his durability.

New head coach Jim Hiller reportedly has the personnel to better support Matthews this season. Toronto's offseason additions may not include traditional enforcers, but the club brought in players willing to stand up for teammates, a quality that was arguably lacking last year.

The sight of Matthews casually ripping shots in the Swiss Alps is exactly what Leafs fans needed to see. The road back is not finished, but every step forward makes the outlook for 2026-27 a little brighter.