NHL analyst makes bold claim that Toronto Maple Leafs are in the dark about the extent of Auston Matthews' nagging injury

NHL analyst Martin Brion has raised serious concerns about Auston Matthews' ongoing injury situation.

Matthews has been sidelined since aggravating an upper-body injury against the Sabres on Dec. 20, leading to him missing five games. On Tuesday, he was placed on the long-injured reserve.

Although Auston Matthew is reportedly making progress, there's no clear timeline for his return. It marks his sixth consecutive game out, adding to the nine games he missed earlier in the season due to the same issue.

On TSN's "That's Hockey" show, Biron highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Matthews' condition. The analyst expressed concern that the absence of a specific timeline raises questions about the nature of injury and whether it might recur.

"I'm very concerned, because of the fact that there's no timetable. We don't know what the injury is, and we don't know if this will happen again. Look, he came back from that same injury after taking some time off, he played, and now he's off again. So to me, that is the concerning part of not only is there no timetable," Biron said.

Biron pointed out that the Toronto Maple Leafs likely better understand Auston Matthews' injury than what they're revealing to the public. He believes the organization is deliberately keeping this information private.

"I think internally, they probably have a better idea. They don't want to let anybody know. But that's very concerning in that point alone, is that they don't want to tell anybody, because I don't think they know for sure what is happening and how to remedy it and how long it will be for Matthews," Biron added.

On Wednesday, HC Craig Berube confirmed that Matthews will be sidelined against the New York Islanders on Thursday. During Wednesday's practice, Matthews said that he's making progress with his injury, although he hasn't pinpointed a return date yet.

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Auston Matthews frustrated about not being able to play

Auston Matthews expressed his frustration about not being able to play due to his injury. He highlighted that participating in practice is a significant step for him, especially after being sidelined.

"It's frustrating not playing. Trying to be mindful of everything that goes on, and it's nice to still be around the guys a lot. Being able to take part in practise is big, especially when you've been out for a little bit."

Matthew has accumulated 23 points through 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.