The Leafs can’t change their failing core, what with the players flexing the power of their no-trade contracts. So they’re changing the pecking order.
To be named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of the great honours in hockey. When Auston Matthews is bestowed with that hallowed C on Wednesday, as TSN’s Darren Dreger first reported he will be at an event at a team-owned sports bar, he’ll become just the 26th player to wear the letter in the century-plus history of the once-storied franchise. He’ll be the first American to do so. After Mats Sundin, he’ll be just the second non-Canadian.
But here’s the truth about the move that’ll see John Tavares cede the captaincy — willingly, according to Dreger — to his higher-scoring teammate in a move that’s been a long time coming. On one level it’s an overdue acknowledgment that Matthews is not only the best player on the team, but at age 26 very much on pace to be the greatest regular-season performer in the history of the club, what with three Rocket Richard trophies as the league’s top goal scorer and a 2022 Hart Trophy as MVP.