TORONTO – Auston Matthews’ first official training camp practice as a member of the Maple Leafs ended with a bang.

A wayward one-timer by Toronto’s first overall pick obliterated a panel of glass far to the left of his target (the net) and required three people to fix. While a multitude of eyes were tracking his every line change and drop pass on Wednesday, the most memorable moment came while he was having fun with teammates after many watchers had left.

“We were just messing around. It was me, [Mitch] Marner and [Andrew] Nielsen. We were the last guys on the ice and just taking shots,” Matthews said. “I missed the net and broke the glass. Lucky day for me I guess. It was a terrible shot too, it wasn’t even hard. But it just hit the right spot I guess and shattered the whole thing.”

Joking how “Lou [Lamoriello] won’t be too happy” about the mess, Matthews seemed quite at ease in his new surroundings at MasterCard Centre. He’s back after a whirlwind few weeks with Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey, where he recorded two goals and one assist in three round-robin games.

The production won’t temper the high expectations for Matthews entering his Leafs tenure, a notion the 19-year old humbly acknowledges with a laugh.

“I think I kind of expected myself to make an impact in whatever way and I was just to be able to score a couple goals and contribute on offence and play my game, a full 200-foot game,” Matthews said of the experience. “Going into the season, nothing really changes. You want to get better each and every day and learn as much as you can from the older guys.”

Filling in for head coach Mike Babcock, who is still at the helm of Team Canada, assistant coach Jim Hiller wasted no time throwing Matthews onto a line with James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov — two wingers who flanked Nazem Kadri on the team’s top line for much of last season.

“They look good. They’re all big bodies,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said of watching the three work. “Obviously Auston will get a lot of attention this season from opposing players because of his skill, and I think JVR and Leo are going to try and take advantage of playing with him. That line, if they do end up playing together for a long time, I think they’ll be a tough line to play against.”

Babcock told reporters earlier on Wednesday that Matthews will start on the team’s third line, a decision he first revealed over the summer. How far and how fast Matthews goes is up to the rookie.

Shilton: Matthews keeps finding ways to surprise us

TSN Maple Leafs reporter looks closely at the first day of Auston Matthews at Leafs training camp.

At this point, Matthews has already performed for thousands at Air Canada Centre. He’s heard the fans chant his name and doesn’t deny the confidence that opportunity has given him as he prepares for the long NHL campaign ahead.

“[I want to] just must an impact each and every night,” he said. “Gaining the trust of the coaching staff and being able to go out there in all situations and having their full trust that you can go out there and be responsible, that’s a big key for me.”

How Matthews has carried himself since being drafted, on and off the ice, hasn’t gone unnoticed by even the highest echelon of hockey superstar. On Tuesday, Wayne Gretzky pointed to Matthews and Connor McDavid as young players carrying themselves in the same tradition of dignity and class set out by the likes of Gordie Howe and Jean Beliveau.

“I’m kind of speechless I guess, especially coming from him,” Matthews said of the compliment. “[Gretzky] is the best player to ever play the game. That’s a pretty humbling comment from him and to be in the same sentence as those guys, that puts you on your heels a little bit. It’s tough to get your head around. I haven’t even played an NHL game yet.”

Next on the docket are back-to-back preseason games for Toronto, both against Buffalo, on Thursday and Friday. Matthews will play in at least one of those games. Considering what he’s already conquered in the last month, Matthews is eager to get started on his next chapter.

“I’m not too [nervous] it’s an exciting time,” he said. “Not everyone gets to go through this or have the opportunity to do this. For me I’m excited and anxious to get going and just play hockey. It’s always exciting when hockey season comes around.”

Leafs practice lines on Wednesday:

GROUP 1

Rychel - Kadri - Holland
Hyman - Nylander - Martin
Lindberg - C.Smith - Clune
Leivo - Gauthier - Leipsic
Cameranesi

Valiev - Carrick
Dermott-Marincin
Loov-Holl
Hrabarenka-Brouillard

Sparks
Kaskisuo

Power Play Unit

Leivo-Kadri-Holland
Carrick-Brouillard

Smith-Nylander-Rychel
Dermott-Valiev

GROUP 2

JVR-Matthews-Komarov
Michalek-Bozak-Marner
Greening-Laich-Brown
Prust-Froese-Kapanen
Timashov

Gardiner-Corrado
Hunwick-Zaitsev
Nielsen-Rielly
Campbell-Polak

Bibeau
Enroth
Andersen

Power Play Unit

JVR-Bozak-Marner-Greening
Gardiner

Michalek-Matthews-Timashov
Corrado-Zaitsev