Reports: Auston Matthews to be named Leafs' captain

Field Level Media|published: Mon 12th August, 22:32 2024

Apr 24, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) get set for a face-off against the Boston Bruins in game three of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Star center Auston Matthews will be the Toronto Maple Leafs' next captain, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Toronto will make the official announcement in a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, per the reports.

Matthews is replacing fellow center John Tavares as captain and will be the 26th player in Maple Leafs history to take on the role. It marks the first time Toronto's captain is an American.

Reports indicated that Tavares was involved in the decision to name Matthews captain and supports the move. Both players will be at the press conference on Wednesday.

Matthews, 26, led the NHL with 69 goals last season. He also had 38 assists to finish with 107 points in 81 games.

Selected to the All-Star Game seven times in his career, Matthews has racked up 649 points (368 goals, 281 assists) in 562 games across eight NHL seasons, all with the Maple Leafs. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, where he collected 60 goals and 46 assists.

Toronto selected Matthews with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft.

Tavares, 33, was named captain of the Maple Leafs on Oct. 2, 2019. He has been with Toronto for the past six seasons, most recently tallying 65 points (29 goals, 36 assists) in 80 games during the 2023-24 campaign.

Heading into his 16th NHL season, Tavares has career totals of 456 goals and 584 assists in 1,109 games with the New York Islanders (2009-18) and Maple Leafs (2018-24). He is a six-time All-Star.

Like Matthews, Tavares is a former No. 1 overall pick, with the Islanders taking him in the 2009 draft.

--Field Level Media

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