Brad Treliving on Auston Matthews' health & mindset ahead of the new season: "There is a seriousness to him... He looks great physically and is in a great spot mentally"

"I would agree. He looks really, really good. We all know he was fighting through some stuff last year and never bitched about it. He just dug in and played. He is an elite player. It is always great to have as much talent around you, but elite players drag others up with them. He has been here for almost a month now. There is a seriousness to him. He looks great physically. I think he is in a great spot mentally."

"Some people say he had a down year. There would be a lot of guys who would pray to have a down year like he had. It is not just the goals and points. He drives our team; he drives it defensively, he drives it in his preparation, and he is looking forward to the challenge. We all know he will have a different right winger there."

Auston Matthews appears physically and mentally prepared and is expected to remain an elite, dominant presence who elevates teammates. Last season included physical challenges, but resilience and preparation kept offensive and defensive contributions strong. The absence of Mitch Marner means a new right-wing partner will be identified during training camp as the team searches for top-six scoring help. The roster is viewed as a collection of players starting a new process of team-building without relying on prior momentum. This marks the first training camp in a decade without Brendan Shanahan overseeing hockey operations, prompting modest changes to daily organizational roles.

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