Matthews assumed the captaincy from John Tavares on Aug. 14, becoming the club’s 26th captain in franchise history and the first American-born player to hold the role.

On Aug. 14, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a historic decision, officially appointing Auston Matthews as the 26th captain in franchise history, taking over the role from teammate John Tavares. This announcement marked a new era for the Maple Leafs, with Matthews becoming the first American-born player to wear the coveted ‘C’ in Toronto’s storied history.

The move, which surprised many, has generated excitement from Leafs nation ahead of the 2024-25 season and also received commendation from Matthews' teammates. On Thursday, Matthews earned more praise, coming from one of the game’s top players, Edmonton Oilers’ superstar and captain, Connor McDavid. 

“First and foremost, he’s an amazing player, great player, but he’s a great person, highly intelligent, loves the game, loves the Leafs. I think he’s a great captain,” McDavid told Sportsnet. 

Since being drafted first overall by the Leafs in 2016, Matthews has grown into the face of the franchise. McDavid’s endorsement of Matthews’ leadership reflects the respect the 26-year-old commands across the league. In a city where hockey is more than just a sport, Matthews has embraced everything that comes with representing Toronto – and it was only a matter of time before he donned the ‘C’.

As two prominent faces in the league, the duo has been seen together in the offseason. Unexpectedly, the duo were skating at SAP Garden in Munich, Germany, at the end of August, practicing and doing drills with one another. Though never played together in the NHL, McDavid saw Matthews’ abilities up close in 2016 at the World Cup of Hockey, where both players represented ‘Team North America’.

As for Matthews, the former number one overall pick is entering the first year of a four-year, $53 million contract he signed in August 2023. The contract carries an average annual value (AAV) of $13.25 million – the highest AAV in the NHL for the upcoming season. Now, as captain for the first time, he becomes the newest face to overcome the challenge of leading Toronto to its first Stanley Cup since 1967.

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