Leafs’ Auston Matthews Reportedly Tests Positive for COVID-19

The bombshell has been widely speculated for the last few days. Brad Miller, host of The Morning Bagger podcast, reported on Wednesday that there are multiple players out of Arizona that have tested positive for COVID-19.

Miller didn’t mention the team, which might’ve been the case if the cases solely involved the Arizona Coyotes, leading to speculation pointing at Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen. The pair had been quarantining together in Arizona.

Simmons reported that Matthews isn’t the only Arizona hockey player to test positive, with numerous Arizona Coyotes also testing positive.

Leafs starting goaltender Frederik Andersen is thought to have tested negative, and that he is no longer with Matthews, or even in the state of Arizona. He’ll go through isolation procedure in hopes of joining the Leafs on July 10th, when the NHL plans on letting camps open. 

Arizona has seen a large spike in COVID-19 cases, so it doesn’t come as a complete surprise that an NHL case has originated from there.

Earlier on Friday, it was announced that the Tampa Bay Lightning would also be forced to close their facilities due to three COVID-19 cases in the team. Numerous other players from other teams have been confirmed to have tested positive, but these being so close to the planned season may put it in jeopardy.

The Philadelphia Phillies have also announced a handful of COVID-19 cases. Auston Matthews joins the likes of the NFL’s Ezekiel Elliott as stars that have tested positive, Elliott testing positive only a couple of days ago.

Implications for the Season

It’s easy to say “just move forward and quarantine in the cases of other COVID-19 cases such as those on the Lightning and Coyotes, after all, other leagues are doing it. But that doesn’t make it right, nor safe.

Now, for one of the league’s rising superstars to be publicly revealed to have tested positive becomes a major roadblock.

The NHL has a tricky road ahead of it. Is it worth it for the season to resume? It’s going to be a very tough process for the league and the players, but I’d expect today’s announcements to put a further delay on the season.

Implications for the Players Testing Positive

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and leaves an impact on the patient’s respiratory system. The uncertainty around the illness makes it worth asking what impacts it could make on those who get it in the long-term. It might be too early to say, but there is a possibility that these could be somewhat career-altering. Let’s hope that’s not the case.

Stay safe!

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Matthews Positive COVID-19