Check out the latest on Auston Matthews, Mark Scheifele, Rasmus Dahlin and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons reports Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews recently traveled to Germany to see Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt. The physician is internationally recognized for his work with big-name athletes like sprinter Usain Bolt, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, former tennis star Boris Becker and celebrities like U2’s Bono and the late opera star Luciano Pavarotti.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Matthews has been sidelined since Nov. 3 with an undisclosed upper-body injury. He traveled to Germany with Leafs team physician Dr. Noah Forman. The Matthews camp and the club declined to comment.
Simmons writes that Muller-Wohlfahrt is known for treating some injuries with conventional methods “and not-so-conventional methods to treat others”, earning praise and scorn.
The German physician is an advocate for the controversial drug Actovegin, which is not approved for use in North America but is available in Europe and not on the IOC’s list of banned substances. Simmons writes there is “no evidence to suggest Actovegin was used in any of Matthews’ unknown treatments in Germany.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews’ lengthy absence and the cone of silence he and the Maple Leafs have placed on this situation generates growing speculation about his condition from pundits and fans. The Leafs captain resumed practicing with the teammates this week and could return to action on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carter Brooks believes Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele is nursing an upper-body injury. It’s unclear when this happened but Brooks speculates it may have occurred during a fight with Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
Brooks pointed out Scheifele hasn’t scored a goal since his hat trick against the Panthers on Nov. 19, firing five shots on net over his last four games and taking no faceoffs during his last two games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 26 points in 23 games (netting 24 in his first 19 games), Scheifele’s been a significant factor in the Jets’ dominant performance since the start of the season. After going 17-3 through their first 20 games, they’ve dropped two of their last three with Scheifele collecting an assist during that stretch. An injury to their first-line center would explain the recent drop in his production.
BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin left practice yesterday for what head coach Lindy Ruff called “a little bit of maintenance.” His status is uncertain for Friday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.
SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Canucks, blueliner Filip Hronek could be sidelined for a while after suffering an upper-body injury during Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He went shoulder-first into the end boards after a hit by Penguins blueliner Jack St. Ivany in the game’s final minute.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks placed forward Barclay Goodrow (upper body) on injured reserve and recalled forward Ethan Cardwell.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche placed forward Miles Wood (undisclosed) on IR and recalled forward Chris Wagner.
ROTOWIRE: The Edmonton Oilers recalled forward Drake Caggiula on Thursday.