The idea to name Auston Matthews captain of the Maple Leafs didn't originate from Treliving, Berube or Tavares
The idea to replace John Tavares with Auston Matthews as captain was initiated by a high-ranking Maple Leafs executive who is believed to be fighting to save his job.
Knowing they were going to be unable to make a significant change by trading one of the "Core 4" members, the next best thing Leafs management felt they could do was to change the leadership structure. Shifting the captaincy from Tavares to Matthews signifies the changing of the guard, so to speak, as Tavares enters the final season of is 7-year mega-deal he signed in 2018.
Matthews will be entering year one of his four-year extension, which he signed last summer. During the introduction of Matthews as captain on Wednesday, Brendan Shanahan revealed that it was him that kicked the idea into gear.
Shanahan told reporters that Tavares knew the day would come and accepted it with grace while showing his his full support for Auston Matthews who was ultimately named the 26th captain in franchise history on Wednesday.
While the move will allow Tavares to focus less on leading and more on playing, the Leafs confirmed that he will still wear an "A" this season.
Source: The Hockey NewsMaple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan Visited John Tavares to Gauge How He'd Handle Idea of Passing Captaincy to Auston Matthews
| POLL | ||
17 AOUT | 1845 ANSWERS The idea to name Auston Matthews captain of the Maple Leafs didn't originate from Treliving, Berube or Tavares Will the Leafs have a culture change with a more vocal Matthews as captain? | ||
| Yes, things are different now | 1003 | 54.4 % |
| No, still the same old Leafs | 842 | 45.6 % |
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