The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to have a new captain for the 2024-25 NHL season, with reports indicating that center Auston Matthews will be named as the team’s captain on Wednesday. This change marks a significant shift in leadership for the Eastern Conference team, which has seen John Tavares serving as captain up until now.
Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston of TSN broke the news, noting that the decision to appoint Matthews as captain is part of his ongoing development as a leader within the organization. According to Dreger, Tavares has been supportive of the decision and has played an active role in the process alongside General Manager Brad Treliving. This suggests that the change is not a reflection of any dissatisfaction with Tavares but rather a strategic move to empower the younger Matthews to take on more responsibility.
The Maple Leafs have engaged in extensive internal discussions since their disappointing playoff exit last season, and the decision to name Matthews as captain has been a key outcome of those talks. The franchise believes that Matthews, who has already established himself as the face of the team, is ready to step into the captaincy role.
At 26 years old, Matthews boasts an impressive resume that includes the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year, three Maurice Richard Trophies as the league’s top goal scorer, the 2021-22 Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s MVP, and five All-Star selections. He is coming off a stellar season where he led the league with 69 goals, amassing a total of 107 points and a plus-minus rating of plus-31. These accomplishments underscore his status as one of the NHL’s elite players and justify the decision to entrust him with the captaincy.
The decision to transition the captaincy from Tavares to Matthews is seen as a move to foster the team’s future success. Tavares, now 33, has been a key figure for the Maple Leafs, but the organization appears to believe that Matthews’ leadership can take the team to the next level. This transition aligns with a broader strategy to capitalize on Matthews’ prime years and enhance the team’s chances of achieving deeper postseason success.
The Maple Leafs have made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons but have struggled to advance beyond the second round. They have only made it past the first round once during this period, in 2023, when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning before falling to the Florida Panthers in the second round. The hope is that Matthews, as the new captain, can inspire the team to overcome these playoff hurdles and lead them to greater success in the postseason.
As the Maple Leafs look to the future, the appointment of Auston Matthews as captain represents a pivotal moment for the franchise. With his leadership, the team aims to build on its regular-season success and finally break through in the playoffs. The decision reflects the organization’s confidence in Matthews’ ability to lead both on and off the ice, as they strive to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.