Auston Matthews did what any 20-year-old would do to pass the time while recovering from injury

BarDown Staff

Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images

The Leafs and their fans got some good news on Wednesday as Auston Matthews returned to practice and even if he doesn't play on Thursday against the Devils, it's nice to see practicing with his teammates again.

Matthews said he'll have to confer with medical staff before decision on whether he plays tomorrow
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 15, 2017

Auston Matthews: "I haven't skated (with the team) in a week so it's almost like you forget how to stickhandle the puck (smiles) so it's just about getting back out there & getting your legs and hands back."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 15, 2017

The 20-year-old is having an incredible season (19 points in 16 games) and we imagine he'll pick up right where he left off before this injury forced him to miss a few games.

While he was injured, though, aside from watching the Leafs play, Matthews also brushed up on his gaming skills, as per his longtime linemate Zach Hyman.

Although Hyman didn't say what video game Matthews was getting better at, we think it's safe to assume it was Call of Duty.

In the past, Matthews' Call of Duty skills have been talked about by his teammates and friends in the NHL.

When back at home, good guy Mitch Marner has been helping his buddy Matthews be less "terrible" (as Rielly would say) at Call of Duty pic.twitter.com/YB1lvcpsIo
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 17, 2017

Marner's help not enough, Werenski confirms "it's brutal" how bad Matthews still is at Call of Duty.

At least he's got his day job 🏒 https://t.co/Qqm6t4ydP7
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 14, 2017

If you were to ask Matthews who the worst Call of Duty player on the Leafs is, though, he would have a different answer.

Matthews plays @CallofDuty v Leafs teammates: "100% Tyler Bozak is the worst player, for sure, absolutely & Morgan Rielly is terrible"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 14, 2016

If Matthews is getting at whatever game he was playing like Hyman says he is, at least it was time well spent, but we imagine most of Matthews' time was spent trying to do whatever he could to get back in the lineup.

Matthews suggests he would've tried to find a way to play through injury had the stakes been higher (playoffs) ... but it's early in the season so not worth the risk of tweaking it; "We’ve been pretty cautious"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 15, 2017

(H/T: Mark Masters)