Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel praised Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews for travelling to Europe to receive treatment for an upper-body injury.
Related: Report: Maple Leafs Being Careful With Auston Matthews’ Upper-Body Injury, Return To Lineup Still Unknown
The Golden Knights’ forward is in Toronto for their matchup against the Maple Leafs and reporters asked him what he thought about his American counterpart travelling to Germany to see a doctor to treat an injury.
“I think it’s important. You have to express what you feel comfortable with and what you feel is the best treatment, whatever that might be. I feel like guys are more open, and you know what, teams are more open to it too. I think that’s an important part as well,” Eichel told reporters on Wednesday morning via TSN.ca.
“I think teams are communicating well with players and giving them the chance to see the people they want to see and I think that’s been a big part of it as well. I think it goes both ways. It’s good that he’s been able to get the treatment that he needs, or wants. Hopefully, he can get healthy.
“I had a similar situation here years ago with my neck surgery. The [Vegas] organization was super supportive of what I wanted to do, so I give him a ton of credit on that.”
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving revealed on Tuesday that Matthews had been in Germany with the team’s physician, Noah Forman, visiting a doctor the forward has seen in the past to treat an upper-body injury.
Matthews hasn’t played since Nov. 3 in Toronto’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.
“More as a general checkup, but also to get some work done on his thing. It’s not alarming,” Treliving said. “It was something we’ve been discussing, knowing that he’s going to be getting this week, but we’re hopeful that once we get through the week here, he’ll be back up and skating and his return to play would be after that.”
Related: Maple Leafs’ Brad Treliving Explains Why Auston Matthews Flew To Germany To Get His Undisclosed Upper-Body Issue Checked Out
Eichel understands what it’s like to receive treatment outside an NHL organization. After acquiring him from the Buffalo Sabres in Nov. 2021, Vegas allowed the forward to undergo an artificial disk replacement, a procedure the Sabres weren’t comfortable with.
At that time, the surgery had never been done on an NHL player.
The 28-year-old forward believes that — in Matthews’ case, and every other NHL player’s case — if you need a procedure done, which you think can help you feel better as fast as possible, a player should get it done.
“I think whatever you feel is the best treatment available to you, and whatever is going to give you the best chance to get back on the ice feeling as good as possible, and then not have something continue to be an issue for you, I think whatever that treatment is, you’re going to think about it and it’s going to be an option,” Eichel said.
“If Auston felt that going to Germany was his best chance of getting back as soon as possible and feeling as good as possible, and helping their team, then I’m sure that’s why he’s over there. He’s a smart guy. He’s got a lot of great resources. I’m pretty sure he knows what he’s doing. He’s a competitor and he wants to be back out here playing, and he’s going to do whatever he can to try and get back on the ice.”
Treliving said the Maple Leafs hope Matthews returns to the lineup when Toronto travels to Florida to face the Panthers next Wednesday.
