The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a captaincy change. The Hockey News breaks down why Auston Matthews will become the 26th captain in franchise history. There is a new captain in town for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman prospect Noah Chadwick has been named the 32nd captain in the Hurricanes’ history, the club announced on ‘X’ [https://x.com/WHLHurricanes/status/1829594938738118797] Friday. “I’m super honored and it’s a privilege to be named the captain of the Hurricanes and it’s something that I’m not going to take lightly,” Chadwick said in an article posted on the official Hurricanes site [https://chl.ca/whl-hurricanes/article/chadwick-named-hurricanes-captain/]. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman served as an alternate captain during the 2023-24 season and now steps into the top leadership role, taking over from Joe Arnsten. “To be able to take over from a great captain in Joe [Arntsen] is an honor,” Chadwick explained. “I bring a lot of different aspects to the role than him, but he’s a fantastic leader and he helped shape me and he showed what it means to be the captain.” The Leafs selected the 19-year-old in the sixth round (185th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and the left-handed blueliner signed a three-year, entry-level contract in December 2023. Chadwick has accumulated 19 goals, 60 assists, and 79 points in 146 regular season games for the Hurricanes over three WHL campaigns. In 2023-24, he set career-highs in goals (12), assists (44), and points (56). After an outstanding season, the Saskatoon, SK native was named the winner of the WHL and Canadian Hockey League Scholastic Player of the Year. Recently, Chadwick was among 42 players invited to Canada’s National Junior Team summer showcase roster, joining Leafs forward prospect Easton Cowan. Over his first three seasons with the Hurricanes, Chadwick has shown steady progress, surpassing his previous season’s records each year. His recent appointment as captain is a testament to his leadership and maturity, reinforcing the Leafs’ belief in his potential for a promising professional career. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related 'He Brought Joy To Everyone Around Him': Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Releases Statement on Passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/he-brought-joy-to-everyone-around-him-maple-leafs-gm-brad-treliving-releases-statement-on-passing-of-johnny-and-matthew-gaudreau] Maple Leafs Join Hockey Community in Mourning the Passing of Johnny Gaudreau and Brother Matthew [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-join-hockey-community-in-mourning-the-passing-of-johnny-gaudreau-and-brother-matthew] ‘They Can Tell You That You're Going To Play One Position, And Then, Like In My Case, It Turns Out Not To Be The Case’: Former Maple Leafs Forward Alexander Barabanov Reflects on His Time in Toronto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/they-can-tell-you-that-youre-going-to-play-one-position-and-then-like-in-my-case-it-turns-out-not-to-be-the-case-former-maple-leafs-forward-alexander-barabanov-reflects-on-his-time-in-toronto-] News from THN.com NHL Expansion: Kansas City, Cincinnati and Omaha Long Shots To Land a Team [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-expansion-kansas-city-cincinnati-and-omaha-long-shots-to-land-a-team] NHL's Top Issues Facing the L.A. Kings: Byfield's Growth, Kuemper's Impact and GM's Risk [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhls-top-issues-facing-the-l-a-kings-byfields-growth-kuempers-impact-and-gms-risk] Screen Shots: Jets' Vintage Jersey Love, NHL Labor Uncertainty, And Bruins An Underdog Vs. Leafs? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/screen-shots-jets-vintage-jersey-love-nhl-labor-uncertainty-and-bruins-an-underdog-vs-leafs]
