NHL insider Mike Johnson urges $53,000,000 Maple Leafs star to make difficult 4 Nations Face-Off decision

NHL insider Mike Johnson discussed Toronto Maple Leafs' captain Auston Matthews’ injury and the tough choices he is facing. On Thursday's episode of the "FirstUp" podcast, Johnson explained why Matthews might need to skip the upcoming Four Nations tournament. He has been dealing with an upper-body injury since Dec. 20 and has missed his team's last five games in addition to nine games earlier.

Johnson believes the focus should be on Matthews getting healthy for the Maple Leafs' season.

"He should not play the Four Nations." Johnson said, "Absolutely, given that, he gotta be healthy and it’s uncertain. Like, like that answer alone. I know he wants to, and I don't want to take that opportunity away from him. But if I am the Leafs, you just sort of acknowledge you don't know if it's gonna creep up again, or how good you're gonna be, or 100%."

Matthews is in the second year of his four-year $53 million contract. He has been practicing with the team but has no return date.

"Taking it day by day here," Matthews said on Wednesday, via Sportsnet. "Feeling good, feeling better every single day. Just going to continue and hope for that positive progression. It's tricky with these things sometimes. It's a physical sport, it's a contact sport, so things happen out there sometimes that are out of your control."

Johnson suggested Matthews should avoid unnecessary risks by skipping the Four Nations tournament.

"So like, we can't risk having one of those incidents happen while you're playing in the Four Nations." Johnson said. "If it's gonna happen to you, which we hope it doesn't, it better be happening to you while you play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. So it's probably more likely than not that he will be forced to miss that tournament."

Leafs coach Craig Berube also emphasized caution.

Maple Leafs' HC Craig Berube talked about Matthews' availability.

Craig Berube confirmed Auston Matthews will miss Thursday's against the New York Islanders and that there’s no timeline for his return.

"Seeing him out here in practice and competing in a full practice is progress," Berube said on Wednesday, via Sportsnet, "I do check in with him... Right now, the situation we're in with him, I'm preparing the team to play without him. He's not in that game tomorrow (against the Islanders)."

Matthews’ absence has impacted the team. The Maple Leafs have won only two of the five games he’s missed. Matthews recorded 69 goals last season. He has scored 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games this campaign.