"Should've never gave him the C" "Always gets hurt": NHL fans react to Auston Matthews being ruled out for Maple Leafs' next two games

Auston Matthews missed the Toronto Maple Leafs' morning skate on Friday ahead of their game against the Detroit Red Wings. Matthews, 27, has missed the last two games due to an upper-body injury he re-aggravated. The injury first happened during training camp, and Matthews has been dealing with it for most of the season.

NHL insider David Alter shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Matthews was not participating in the morning skate.

"Full skate is underway and Auston Matthews is NOT taking part. He has missed the last couple of games after aggravating an upper-body injury."

B/R Open Ice later shared an update, saying Matthews would miss both Friday and Saturday’s games.

"Auston Matthews will be out Friday and Saturday after re-aggravating his upper-body injury. This latest setback will keep the Leafs captain out at least 4 games," the post read.

Following Alter's post, fans quickly reacted on X. Some expressed frustration, with one saying:

"Always gets hurt."

"Made of glass, shoulda never gave him the C," another commenting.

"Just LTIR, the guy Until the playoffs. Healthy when it matters most and use that money to go shopping," one user suggested Matthews should go on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) until the playoffs.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X.

"Auston obviously doesn't care that I used my first round pick on him in hockey fantasy. It's infuriating," one fan opined.

"He’s cooked we’re cooked," another added.

"Ltir until the first game of the playoffs," a fan wrote.

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Craig Berube earlier explained that Auston Matthews will rest during holiday break to recover and return stronger

Previously Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said Auston Matthews would rest during the break and hope to return in better shape. With Matthews out, Pontus Holmberg will take his place on the second line, centering Matthew Knies and William Nylander.

"He's going to rest here over the break and hope he comes back in a lot better shape," Berube said on Sunday (via hockeynews.com).

Matthews was cross-checked by Buffalo Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert in Sunday's game. Despite the injury, Matthews scored a goal in the Maple Leafs' 5-3 win. Matthews had missed nearly all of November with this injury and even traveled to Munich for treatment. Since returning on November 30, he has scored 12 points in 11 games.