Matthews eager to face Coyotes in special Valley homecoming

A refreshed Matthews eager to play in front of hometown crowd

Until he reported to practice on Wednesday to join his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates for a quick workout at Gila River Arena, Auston Matthews got to spend the previous few days in Arizona just being a kid again.

Talk about a well-needed break from reality.

This is about as far away from Toronto as a 20-year-old living legend can get. There are no giant billboards here baring his likeness, no mega banners hanging from skyscrapers featuring his face. For a young hockey star as big as the CN Tower, Matthews had to love being obscure again back in his home state.

The only time he’s really recognized at all here, he reminds, is when he’s playing hockey in an ice rink.

Spending the past few days at his boyhood home in Scottsdale, the celebrated former No. 1 overall draft pick from last season could just be himself, enjoy his mother’s home-cooked meals, embrace the weather, and play some

“It definitely brings back some memories of being at the rink and going to games.” Auston Matthews, on being at Gila River Arena

golf with his father and sister.

“I’m pretty fortunate for that,” Matthews said after Wednesday’s practice in Glendale as he and the Maple Leafs prepared for Thursday night’s game against the Coyotes. “It was just nice to be around the family and get away from hockey for a couple days and not really think about anything. Just recharge the batteries, you know.”

It’s not like Matthews didn’t need it. He’s deep into his second NHL season, which can be a real grind for even the greatest of young players who enter the league. It’s a time when they have to learn how to make serious adjustments – to their body, their game and their mind – lest they get swallowed up by the heavy expectations.

Matthews also needed the break because he only just recently returned after missing six games because of concussion-related symptoms. That was scary enough, he said. Matthews talked about it openly a week ago with Toronto-area reporters, much to the chagrin of head coach Mike Babcock. But on Wednesday, he kept it short and