Maple Leafs Breaking News: Auston Matthews Undergoes Surgery; What's Next?

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is down on the ice in pain after knee injury

So Radko Gudas is only missing five games. Now we've learned that not only was Auston Matthews knocked out of the final 16 games of the season, but he has now gone under the knife to repair the torn MCL that was the result of that knee-on-knee hit courtesy of "The Butcher."

Auston Matthews underwent MCL surgery today in New York, per the #leafs. His recovery time is expected to be 12 weeks.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 19, 2026

The Leafs' statement called the surgery successful, and said the recovery time is approximately 12 weeks. He should be fine and ready to go for training camp in the fall.

Gudas got only a five-game suspension, which had the whole hockey world, including even Connor McDavid, questioning the league's disciplinary process.

Will Auston Matthews' time off recovering from surgery help him decide on his future with the Leafs?

But the bigger story, as insider Chris Johnson notes in The Athletic, is what happens next with Matthews and the Maple Leafs? i.e. Will he stay?

Head coach Craig Berube admitted this week that the team's lack of response to the dirty hit that left Matthews writhing in pain on the ice is something they discuss "daily."

"The reverberations could wind up being felt within the organization for weeks or months yet," writes Johnston.

Discussions will be had between the team's brass and Matthews and his representation. What direction is the team heading? Who will oversee the changes? And how does the captain feel now about his teammates who failed to come to his aid?

A major conversation was looming between Leafs management and Matthews this offseason even before he limped off the ice at Scotiabank Arena with a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion...
It might not be until June before a clearer picture emerges on how Matthews wants to proceed after debriefing on the season and getting a gauge on where things are headed next.

As Johnston notes, it's a very uncertain summer ahead for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their captain, Auston Matthews.