Auston Matthews is back shooting on the ice as Jim Hiller waits for the Maple Leafs captain to clear the next stage of his recovery.
New footage from Switzerland showed Matthews working at the HC Davos training facility alongside former teammate Joe Thornton.
The session remained controlled. Matthews fired pucks at 17-year-old goaltender Silvano Andri, placing shots toward the blocker and glove instead of attacking the corners.
Still, progressing from basic skating to shooting work is an encouraging development after surgery to repair a serious knee injury.
Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and a quad contusion, injuries that can directly affect stride power, balance and explosiveness.
He has now moved beyond the reported 12-week healing window without a publicly reported setback. Earlier July footage had already shown him skating and working on his edges.
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Auston Matthews' latest recovery footage reveals something fans didn't expect
The latest clip doesn't show contact, high-tempo drills or the sudden changes of direction he'll face once training camp opens.
Those stages will reveal far more than a light shooting session. Matthews must prove his knee can handle pressure, traffic and repeated explosive movements before Toronto can fully relax.
His release looked comfortable in the footage, which matters after the injury interrupted his season and removed the Maple Leafs' most dangerous scoring threat.
Hiller will need to manage the return carefully. Toronto can't let opening-night urgency push Matthews into full-speed work before his leg strength and confidence are completely restored.
The club's offseason additions should give him more support. A deeper lineup can absorb defensive assignments and reduce the need for Matthews to carry every difficult shift immediately.
Opponents will test him once games begin. They'll close space, finish contact and force him to stop and start under pressure, making preseason work a major checkpoint.
For now, the sight of Matthews shooting again is the strongest update Toronto has received this summer. The road back isn't finished, but the captain has taken another meaningful step toward rejoining Hiller's lineup.
Will Auston Matthews be ready for opening night?
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