Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is out for the season after sustaining a torn MCL and quad contusion in a brutal hit from Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas, the team announced Friday.
The NHL later announced Gudas had received the maximum penalty of a five-game suspension for the knee-to-knee hit.
In a statement, the Leafs said Matthews will be re-evaluated in two weeks:
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that captain Auston Matthews sustained a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion on March 12 during the second period of the team's game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Matthews will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. A further update will be provided at that time. He will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
On the fateful hit, Gudas charged Matthews in front of the crease and led with his knee, leaving Matthews in clear pain. Matthews was later helped off the ice and did not return to the game, while Gudas received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty.
This is hardly the first incident involving the 35-year-old Gudas, as he received 21 games worth of suspensions forfour infractions from 2015-2019.He was also involved in the two hits that knocked Sidney Crosby out of the Olympics, an injury the Pittsburgh Penguins captain still hasn't come back from.
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Matthews' agent Judd Moldaver wasn't pleased with this discipline in particular. A five-game suspension is the largest allowed by the NHL CBA, but Moldaver called for change viaSportsnet's Elliotte Friedman:
"In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am disappointed and shocked the league would allow such a ruling. A phone hearing and 5 games is laughable and preposterous. While the process is set in our CBA, that this was the discipline is reckless and ridiculous.
This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players. Players and fans deserve better. The Player Safety Department should be suspended."
This hit was bad enough that some Leafs players essentially apologized for not going after Gudas in the aftermath,via USA Today:
"It's on me for not responding," said Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly, who was on the ice when Gudas hit Matthews.
"It's a dirty hit. I didn't understand how bad he got him in the moment, but I take full responsibility for not being the first one in there or being quicker to respond. When your captain goes down on a dirty play, you have to respond as a group, but I take responsibility for not being the first one in there after the hit."
It is probably worth noting the Maple Leafs still have a game against the Ducks remaining on their schedule, a road game on March 30 when Gudas' suspension should be over.
Toronto won Thursday's game 6-4, breaking an eight-game losing streak that stretched back to the Olympic break.
With only 16 games left in the Maple Leafs' season, any significant injury would have been a tough obstacle for Matthews to overcome. However, with the team in last place in the Atlantic Division at 28-27-11, the team is likely less than concerned about what losing Matthews will do for its playoff chances in a disaster of a season.
Toronto's first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft is owed to the Boston Bruins, though it carries a top 5 protection.The Leafs currently hold the seventh-worst record in the NHL.