Head coach Craig Berube didn't mince words or criticism for his captain Auston Matthews after securing a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
Craig Berube is not shy about telling it as it is, whether you're a fourth-line player or a superstar. If you make mistakes, 'Chief' will let them know about it. That demeanor hasn't changed as he bluntly pointed out that while his captain has returned to the lineup, he's not 100% ready just yet.
'He is not up to speed yet for sure, and we all know that, but it was a big goal for him. It is going to take time - practice time, which is going to be difficult with the schedule - but he is working at it. He will get there. I have no worries about it. He will get there.'
So far this season, Matthews has 15 points in 14 games, including three since returning from a near month-long stint on the IR.
It was a great sign to see Matthews back on the scoreboard although Berube is correct with his captain having a bit of trouble adjusting due to the schedule as Toronto's December outlook is brutal.
For the month, they play 15 games including three back-to-back slates. It's tough for Matthews to get equal parts rest and practice with Toronto needing to play so much. Their biggest stretch without games is the three game stretch for Christmas (24th-26th) otherwise it's a game every other night or two.
Toronto will be hard-pressed to try and get Matthews up to speed as quickly as possible as they have a few tough teams spread out in that schedule such as New Jersey, Dallas, and Winnipeg.
Those three teams have a current combined record of 51-24-2 and will give Toronto arguably their toughest test of the season so far, and Matthews' ability to play to the best of his ability is a key factor for Toronto maintaining their current success.
Toronto currently sits atop the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Florida Panthers as both teams are neck in neck for the crown of Atlantic champion. The two teams don't face each other until March, a crucial time of the season as far as playoffs are concerned, and it'll be interesting how the race ends up by then.
The game against the Blackhawks could have started very differently for Toronto on Monday as they luckily avoided a disaster with Auston Matthews erroneously named as a starter even though it was supposed to be Fraser Minten.
Matthews, ever the leader took initiative and didn't let Toronto get handed an early penalty:
"They announced my name, but I wasn't told I was starting. I think it happened like a week ago where a team got a penalty for something like that, so just to be safe I went out there and started."
The Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews will continue to build up their Atlantic Division lead when they take on the Nashville Predators on Wednesday as they try to pounce on a struggling team near the basement of the NHL.
