Though the names and faces are the same, the Toronto Maple Leafs are entering a new era — one with Auston Matthews at the helm.
The Maple Leafs superstar is taking over the captaincy from teammate John Tavares, who has held the role since the 2019-20 season. Matthews will become the team’s 26th captain and only the second non-Canadian captain in franchise history — the other being Mats Sundin.
At a crowded press conference in Toronto on Wednesday, surrounded by the families of both players, teammates Morgan Rielly and Mitch Marner as well as captains of bygone eras Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour, the torch was officially passed and the coronation of Toronto’s brightest star took centre stage.
“Before my second season in Toronto, I was given the incredible honour and responsibility of being the next captain and follow in the footsteps of 24 Leafs greats,” Tavares said in his opening remarks. “I’ve cherished every second of it, never taken it for granted, and have given the captaincy everything I have every single day It has meant the world to my family and I.
“Over the last few months, through deep discussions and thoughts with Brad [Treliving], Brendan [Shanahan] and myself, we have come to the decision that now is the time to pass the captaincy to Auston.”
Tavares’ three children even sported Auston Matthews No. 34 jerseys for the occasion, indicative of the buy-in from the organization and players alike.
General manager Brad Treliving said that the idea of passing on the captaincy was brought up after the season following the first-round playoff loss to the Boston Bruins. He added that Tavares will wear an “A” as alternate captain.
“It was at that time John and I had a conversation and I first raised the thought I had about the succession of the captaincy to John,” Treliving said. “And I can tell you right from the start that John was on board. I can tell you he loves being the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Tavares took the time to compliment Matthews, saying that he knew his time would come to a close being in a locker room filled with so much young talent, but added that he felt honoured passing the torch to the 26-year-old.
“I was shaking, I had chills,” Matthews said of what it means to fill Tavares’ shoes in the leadership role. “It’s such a big honour to represent the Maple Leafs and put on that jersey every night. To be the captain is truly special. For him to call me and kind of (pass on) the captaincy, it was very emotional. Felt a lot of things. It’s truly an honour.”
Tavares, 33, took over the captaincy just over a year after joining the team via free agency in 2018, a moment made famous by him posting a photo of himself as a child, sleeping in Maple Leafs bed sheets. Born in nearby Mississauga, Ont., but raised in Oakville, Ont., he is set to enter the final year of a seven-year, $77-million contract ($11 million AAV), which at the time of signing was the second-largest contract by AAV in NHL history, behind only Connor McDavid at $12.5 million AAV.
Meanwhile, just under a year ago, Matthews, who was drafted first overall by the Maple Leafs in 2016, put pen to paper on a four-year, $53-million extension, making him the highest-paid player in the league by AAV ($13.25 million).
This past season marked several career highs for Matthews, including games played (81), goals (69) and points (107). He won his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2023-24 as the NHL’s leading goal scorer, adding to an individual awards collection that also includes the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Memorial Trophy and Calder Memorial Trophy.
Tavares finished with 65 points (29 goals, 36 assists) — his lowest point tally in a non-shortened season since his rookie year in 2009-10.
Toronto will be hoping that the change in captaincy can provide a boost to a team that has struggled in the playoffs in recent years.
Despite making the post-season every year since the 2017-18 seaason, the Maple Leafs have advanced past the first round only once, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023. This past season, they were knocked out by the Bruins in seven games.
The franchise has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967.
