Insider Mike Johnson wants Auston Matthews' to skip the Four Nations Faceoff (image credit: IMAGN)
NHL insider Mike Johnson discussed Toronto Maple Leafs' captain Auston Matthews’ injury and the tough choices he is facing. On Thursday's episode of the "FirstUp" podcast, Johnson explained why Matthews might need to skip the upcoming Four Nations tournament. He has been dealing with an upper-body injury since Dec. 20 and has missed his team's last five games in addition to nine games earlier.
Johnson believes the focus should be on Matthews getting healthy for the Maple Leafs' season.
"He should not play the Four Nations." Johnson said, "Absolutely, given that, he gotta be healthy and it’s uncertain. Like, like that answer alone. I know he wants to, and I don't want to take that opportunity away from him. But if I am the Leafs, you just sort of acknowledge you don't know if it's gonna creep up again, or how good you're gonna be, or 100%."
