Auston Matthews has been appointed the 26th captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first American-born player to hold the position in the team’s 107-year history. He takes over from John Tavares, who has been the captain since 2019. The role had been vacant for over three years before Tavares assumed it.
Matthews, selected first overall by the Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, has made a significant impact with his scoring prowess, including winning the Rocket Richard Trophy three times. Last season, he achieved a career-high 69 goals.
In his captaincy announcement, Matthews expressed his intention to stay with the Leafs for his entire career and his commitment to winning a championship for the team and its fans.
Matthews is under contract with Toronto through the 2027-28 season, which is crucial for the team’s future as they aim for a Stanley Cup. Tavares, set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025, supported the decision to name Matthews as captain, showing a collaborative transition between the two leaders.
Tavares’ leadership, which included his tenure as captain of the New York Islanders and the Maple Leafs, will now pass to Matthews. The handover was marked by Tavares’ children wearing Matthews’ jerseys, indicating a supportive and respectful transition of leadership.
As the fifth-youngest captain in the NHL, Matthews will face the challenge of leading the Leafs to success beyond the second round of the playoffs, a milestone they have yet to achieve since he joined the team. His new role brings high expectations as he guides the team forward.
