The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to change their captain from John Tavares and name Auston Matthews their new leader on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly decided their leadership group needed a different player at the top.
The Maple Leafs called a press conference on Wednesday at 11 a.m. for a team announcement. They're expected to name Auston Matthews as the 26th captain in franchise history, ending John Tavares' time in the role, according to TSN's Darren Dreger and The Athletic's Chris Johnston.
Tavares had been captain for the last five seasons – he received the captaincy in 2019, one season after joining the team from the New York Islanders.
The 33-year-old Tavares has one year left on his seven-year contract before he becomes a UFA, while Matthews is beginning a four-year contract worth $13.25 million annually. Tavares was involved in making the change with Leafs GM Brad Treliving, and he supports having the 'C' go to Matthews, according to Dreger.
Matthews, 26, is entering his ninth season in the NHL, all with Toronto, which drafted him first overall in 2016. Since then, he's recorded 368 goals and 281 assists for 649 points in 562 games. He also has 49 points in 55 playoff games, including 11 points in 11 games in 2022-23, the only time the team won a playoff round in 20 years.
Last season, Matthews' goal-scoring reached a new level, getting 69 goals and a career-high 107 points in 81 games. Tavares, meanwhile, had 65 points in 80 games, a drop from his 80 points in 2022-23 and his 76 points in 2021-22.
Both players remain involved in the community, including visiting the SickKids hospital in Toronto last December, when Matthews also took part in an ad with Ryan Reynolds and Michael Buble to raise money for the children's hospital. It appears more as the change is part of Matthews' development as a leader, per Dreger.
The Maple Leafs have never had an American captain before Matthews. The only other non-Canadian captain was Hall of Famer Mats Sundin.
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