"Obviously he's around his teammates. He's got to get the work in," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said of the 21-year-old after the morning skate prior to a game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, SNO, NHL.TV). "When you come back, it's the NHL. It's a fitness league. Everyone else is pumping and grinding, and you've got to get back up to pace. Then right away all eyes are on you and how you play.
"So the more time he can spend getting ready, and that's what's great about a shoulder injury versus a leg injury or a head injury, that allows you to be prepared when you come back, or at least more prepared."
Matthews was injured on a hit by Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba during the second period of a 3-2 win. At the time, the Maple Leafs said Matthews was expected to be out at least four weeks; according to that timeframe, the earliest he would return would be Nov. 26, when Toronto hosts the Boston Bruins.
"It's frustrating, but there's not much you can do," Matthews said then. "It [stinks], but it's part of the game. I'm going to work as hard as I can to get back as soon as possible when I'm feeling back to myself. We've got a lot of depth on this team, and no doubt everybody is going to be fine and step up."
Matthews, who has 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in 11 games this season, had been skating prior to practices and morning skates on his own or with a coach but had not skated with the team before Thursday.
Matthews has missed seven games; the Maple Leafs are 4-3-0 without him.
The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Matthews has 148 points (84 goals 64 points) in 155 games over three seasons with Toronto. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year for the 2016-17 season when he had 69 points (40 goals, 29 assists).
