Auston Matthews' health status may have the Toronto Maple Leafs looking for center help before the March 7 trade deadline.

Still without a timeline for return, Matthews spoke with media for the first time since he last played on Dec. 20.

Dreger echoed Ferraro’s perspective, adding that Matthews’ return may in fact align with the Four Nations Faceoff, which begins on Feb. 12. Matthews will represent Team USA for the first time since 2016 and was one of the first six players included in the roster last summer.