The Maple Leafs placed Auston Matthews on injured reserve, the team announced Friday. But the move, retroactive to the last game Matthews played, isn’t as alarming as it may look.

It means only that Matthews will remain out at least through the weekend. He will miss Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings and Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens but will be eligible to play when the Leafs host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

The Leafs don’t view this move as a setback, but rather a path to creating a roster spot for Connor Dewar, previously on long-term injured reserve following offseason shoulder surgery, while Matthews continues to recover from his undisclosed ailment.

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