I’m curious about what’s going on with Matthews. My theory is this: He’s got a shoulder injury that’s affecting his shoulder mobility. It’s really causing his shooting accuracy to be off. Other than that, everything else works. When he went to Germany, they probably told him; you can continue to play but your shoulder issues will be an issue for the rest of the season. You can still play well defensively, but there’ll be a slight weakness to shoot. He was probably given a choice; shut it down and do surgery immediately, but your season will be over and you’ll need months of rehab. The other option was to play with what you’ve got, mobility-wise, and contribute defensively and still pick up some goals and assists. He chose to take the shot at winning it all this year, with the cast of players that the Leafs currently have. Knowing that Marner would probably be either moved, or leave as a UFA, he chose to try for the Cup.
It’s obvious that he’s not shooting the puck with accuracy and zip. He can still turn his wrists over to take faceoffs and make passes. As a betting man, I’d think that it’s something of this magnitude.
~PrinceLH
If we take the things they have said to us at face value, then we know:
– It will take a while to heal
– Playing doesn’t make it worse
– Rest won’t make it better, only time will
Take this for what it’s worth because I really don’t know – but I had one of those friend’s neighbour’s brother . . . type of things, and I heard that was a bruised or lacerated organ . . . from what I read if it’s the liver it’s 4-6 months to heal on the outside and if it’s the kidney it could be to 12, but the kidney runs more risks of playing making it worse. From that – and just because I know this friend isn’t one to make stuff up or believe things easily – it makes me think it could literally be a liver injury.