Auston Matthews to rejoin Maple Leafs on Tuesday, expected to play in Tampa

The Maple Leafs captain will fly to Tampa from Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening following a visit to the White House and celebrations with his American teammates.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Auston Matthews, the captain of the Maple Leafs and the U.S. Olympic hockey team, is expected to rejoin the Leafs and play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Matthews led the U.S. to a gold medal at the Olympics in Italy. Several other Leafs players, including William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, have also returned from the Olympics and will be available to play against Tampa Bay.

Why it matters

The Maple Leafs are hoping to have a healthy and rested lineup as they make a push for the playoffs. Matthews' return is a big boost, as he is one of the team's top players. The Leafs will also get other key contributors back from the Olympics, which should help them as they face a tough opponent in the Lightning.

The details

Matthews will fly to Tampa on Tuesday evening after visiting the White House and celebrating the U.S. Olympic hockey team's gold medal victory. Leafs coach Craig Berube said they will evaluate Matthews' condition on Wednesday morning before determining if he will play against the Lightning. William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have also returned to practice with the Leafs and will play against Tampa Bay. The Leafs will be close to full strength, with the exception of Chris Tanev, who remains out with a groin injury.

  • Matthews will fly to Tampa on Tuesday evening.
  • The Leafs will evaluate Matthews' condition on Wednesday morning.
  • Nylander and Ekman-Larsson returned to practice with the Leafs on Tuesday morning.

The players

Auston Matthews

The captain of the Maple Leafs and the U.S. Olympic hockey team, who led the U.S. to a gold medal at the Olympics in Italy.

William Nylander

A Maple Leafs player who represented Sweden at the Olympics, where his team lost in the quarterfinals.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

A Maple Leafs player who represented Sweden at the Olympics.

Craig Berube

The head coach of the Maple Leafs.

Chris Tanev

A Maple Leafs player who remains out with a groin injury.

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What they’re saying

“He's riding a pretty good high right now with winning. We'll evaluate (how he's feeling) tomorrow and see where he's at and I'll get a better feel when I talk to him here tonight.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Maple Leafs (nytimes.com)

“I mean, it's frustrating. It's another four years until the next one. So that's where my mind has been the past couple days.”

— William Nylander, Maple Leafs Player (nytimes.com)

“I'm so happy for him. He deserves it all. He works hard. He's the leader of our team. Awesome human being, great hockey player, and I think he's shown on the biggest stage he can be one of the best players in the biggest games.”

— Max Domi, Maple Leafs Player (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Leafs will evaluate Matthews' condition on Wednesday morning before determining if he will play against the Lightning that night.

The takeaway

The Maple Leafs are poised to have a healthy and rested lineup as they make a push for the playoffs, with the return of key players like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson from the Olympics. Matthews' gold medal victory with the U.S. team has given the Leafs a boost, and they will look to capitalize on their full roster as they take on the tough Tampa Bay Lightning.