In a move that was long anticipated by many, Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews has officially been named the 26th captain in franchise history. The 26-year-old Arizona native has been a force on the ice ever since he was selected first overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, with his most recent campaign seeing him notch an impressive 69 goals and 107 points in just 82 games.
With a total of 368 goals and 649 points in 562 career games, Matthews has consistently proven himself as a top-tier talent in the league. His leadership qualities were not lost on former Maple Leafs captain Rick Vaive, who remarked to TSN 1050’s First Up, “He leads by example on the ice and you can’t argue with what he’s done over the years.”
Matthews is taking over the captaincy from John Tavares, who held the position since 2019. Under Tavares’ leadership, the Maple Leafs achieved 100-point seasons three times, but the lack of progress in the playoffs prompted discussions about the need for a change.
In response to their postseason shortcomings, the organization made several changes off the ice, including the hiring of Brad Treliving as the new general manager and Craig Berube as the new head coach. These changes, coupled with the decision to shift the captaincy from Tavares to Matthews, signal a new era for the Maple Leafs.
Despite the change in leadership, Vaive doesn’t believe there will be a drastic shift in the team’s overall leadership dynamic. “A lot more is going to be expected out of Matthews with the leadership role but Tavares is still there and he’s still going to be one of the main leaders,” Vaive explained. “Matthews may have to be a little more vocal in the room than before but it’s the same leadership group.”
As Matthews takes the reins as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, all eyes will be on him to lead the team to greater success both on and off the ice. With his talent and determination, there’s no doubt that he is more than ready to embrace this new challenge and continue to make his mark on the franchise’s storied history.
