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. Alex Steeves will be in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for another season. The 24-year-old restricted free agent signed a one-year, two-way deal with Toronto which carries an annual average value of $775,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 at the AHL level, according to PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/player/alex-steeves]. Steeves appeared in 65 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies last season, scoring 27 goals and 30 assists. He had the third-most points — only behind Joseph Blandisi (59) and Marlies captain Logan Shaw (58) — and the second-most goals on the team. The forward also became an AHL All-Star for the first time this past season, along with fellow teammate and Toronto goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby. Since signing an entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs on Mar. 28, 2021, Steeves has only appeared in seven NHL games with the club and has registered one assist. His role in the NHL has mainly been as a winger within Toronto's bottom six, and he remains an interesting depth option for the organization. Steeves has played a massive part with the Marlies throughout the last few seasons. He's appeared in 188 regular season games with the club and has scored 69 goals and 85 assists in that span. Steeves also has one goal and four assists in 10 AHL playoff games. The forward's best attribute is his shot, but throughout the last few years, he's attempted to refine his game to have a role within an NHL club. With a new head coach in Craig Berube, this could be a clean slate for Steeves to show his potential with the Maple Leafs. Steeves will become an unrestricted (likely group 6 [https://x.com/PuckPedia/status/1826305048504402335]) free agent after this season unless another deal is signed with Toronto. Nick Robertson remains the only restricted free agent to be unsigned by the Maple Leafs. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Counting Down the Top 10 Maple Leafs Prospects in 2024: No. 3 - Topi Niemela [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/counting-down-the-top-10-maple-leafs-prospects-in-2024-no-3-topi-niemela] 'Now There Won't Be Any Deferential Treatment': What, If Anything, Will Change With Auston Matthews as Captain of the Maple Leafs? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/now-there-wont-be-any-deferential-treatment-what-if-anything-will-change-with-auston-matthews-as-captain-of-the-maple-leafs] 'There's Nothing I Haven't Seen Or Experienced': Devils Head Coach Sheldon Keefe Reveals What He Learned About Himself During His Time Coaching the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/theres-nothing-i-havent-seen-or-experienced-devils-head-coach-sheldon-keefe-reveals-what-he-learned-about-himself-during-his-time-coaching-the-maple-leafs] News from THN.com NHL's Top Issues Facing the Carolina Hurricanes: New Defense Corps, Goalie Tandem and Jarvis [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhls-top-issues-facing-the-carolina-hurricanes-new-defense-corps-goalie-tandem-and-jarvis] Five NHL Destinations for Predators' Yaroslav Askarov: Goalie Reportedly Requests Trade [https://thehockeynews.com/news/five-nhl-destinations-for-predators-yaroslav-askarov-goalie-reportedly-requests-trade] NHL's Top Issues Facing the Anaheim Ducks: Lottery Sweepstakes, Zegras, Gauthier [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhls-top-issues-facing-the-anaheim-ducks-lottery-sweepstakes-zegras-gauthier]
