Auston Matthews skated in a red non-contact jersey while participating in a full practice on Thursday for the first time since sustaining a knee sprain in a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers on Jan. 25.
Matthews was expected to be out a minimum of three weeks.
"It's just nice to be back out there and just get a feel for everything, feeling better every day," Matthews said. "Definitely moving in the right direction, it's been a positive week for me, so [I've] just got to continue to work and hopefully just feeling better and better."
Matthews, who remained in Toronto to rehab during the team's bye week, sustained the injury during warmups prior to the game against the Rangers and said that it got worse throughout the game.
"I don't know, I think just kind of take it day by day," Matthews said of when he could return to the lineup. "It's been two weeks yesterday, so hopefully not too much longer. Another week or so, get in some good practices, some more practices with the team and feel my way through that and go from there."
Matthews is third on the Maple Leafs with 53 points and second in goals with25 in 47 games this season.
Toronto also placed goalie Matt Murray on injured reserve Thursday. He last played Jan. 17, when he allowed four goals on eight shots in 21:41 of a 5-4 overtime win against Florida.
Joseph Woll was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Thursday and is expected to back up Ilya Samsonov against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.
The Maple Leafs also signed defenseman Conor Timmins to a two-year, $2.2 million contract Thursday. It has an average annual value of $1.1 million.
The 24-year-old has 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 18 games with Toronto since he was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 23.
"I think I'm just a piece of the puzzle, I'm glad I've found a fit here," Timmins said. "I'm just trying to play a role and it's been pretty good so far, so I'm really happy with it." -- Dave McCarthy
