NHL Rumors: Auston Matthews to Replace John Tavares as Maple Leafs Captain
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVAugust 12, 2024
The Toronto Maple Leafs will reportedly have a new captain during the 2024-25 season.
Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston of TSN reported Monday that the Eastern Conference team is expected to name center Auston Matthews as its next captain on Wednesday. John Tavares has been the captain, but Toronto apparently decided to go a different direction for the upcoming campaign.
"This is part of the evolution of Matthews as a leader and current Maple Leafs captain John Tavares fully supports the change," Dreger wrote. "Tavares has been heavily involved in the process with GM Brad Treliving."
Johnston noted Toronto has also held "extensive internal discussions" following last season's playoff exit, and the captain change has been part of them.
It's hard to argue with the notion that Matthews is the face of the franchise at this point.
The 26-year-old's resume includes a Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year), three Maurice Richard Trophies (top goal scorer), the 2021-22 Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's MVP and five All-Star selections.
He is coming off an incredible season that saw him lead the league in goals (69) on the way to 107 points and a plus-minus total of plus-31.
That Tavares, 33, was reportedly involved in the decision to make Matthews the captain suggests this is more about the team believing it is time for the younger player to assume more responsibility and go from one of the best playmakers in the league to the leader of the franchise than any disappointment with Tavares himself.
The Maple Leafs are also looking for most postseason success and surely hope this move can help inspire some.
They have been to the postseason in eight consecutive campaigns but failed to make it past the second round every time. In fact, they advanced past the first time just once in that span, and that came in 2023 when they defeated Tampa Bay Lightning and then lost to the Florida Panthers.
It will be up to Matthews to lead a deeper playoff run from his captain position.
