Courtesy of nhlpa.com
Being named captain of an NHL team is an honor that very few players receive. Some players wait their whole careers for the “C” on their sweater, while others may receive it when they are very young. A captain must be hard-working and dedicated to the game, and also a leader to their teammates and the community. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, nobody demonstrates these qualities more than Auston Matthews, who was named as the 26th captain of the franchise. Matthews, a three-time NHL goals leader and United States National Team Development Program alum, will succeed John Tavares, who was captain for five years. Here is a bit about Matthews and his journey to becoming captain of one of the most reputable NHL teams.
Early Days
Courtesy of Sportsnet
Matthews was born in San Ramon, California to parents Brian, who is American, and Ema, who is Mexican. Soon after Matthews was born, his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. When he was three, his dad and uncle took him to his first hockey game to see the Arizona Coyotes. When he was five, he started playing for the Jr. Coyotes. This was his first taste of being on the ice. In addition to hockey, Matthews also played baseball. However, as he approached his teen years, he started skipping baseball practices to get in more ice time. By the time he was 13, he was committed completely to hockey.
When he was 15, Matthews was selected to play for the USNTDP. While playing for the USNTDP, his team won a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. In 2015, his team placed fifth at the IIHF World Junior Championship. That same year, Matthews team won gold at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, where he served as alternate captain and was named Tournament MVP. At the 2016 World Junior Championships, he was named alternate captain again, and he led the tournament in goals and Team USA in points. Later that year, he was a member of Team USA’s Men’s World Championship team, where he tallied nine points in 10 games. During this time, Matthews was also playing in the Swiss National League A for the ZSC Lions. All of this international experience developed Matthews as a player and solidified his chances of being the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft.
NHL Milestones
Courtesy of Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images
In 2016, the Maple Leafs won the draft lottery and, not surprisingly, took Matthews as their pick. He was the first ever Arizona native and the first ever Mexican-American to be drafted first overall, as well as the seventh American to accomplish the feat. He lived up to the hype his rookie season, being the first NHL player in the modern era to score four goals during his debut. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded every year to the NHL’s top rookie.
Fast forward to the 2021-2022 season, Matthews became the first player to reach the 60 goal milestone in over a decade. His stellar performance that year helped him become the second American ever to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given out every year to the most outstanding NHL Player. Additionally, Matthews won the Ted Lindsay Award, which is also awarded to the NHL’s most outstanding player, but is voted on by the players themselves.
This past season after scoring a career best of 69 goals, Matthews won his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, which is awarded every year to the player who scores the most goals. This upcoming season, he could be on track to score more than 70 goals.
Thoughts on Being Named Captain
Courtesy of Alex Lupul/AP Photo
With all his experience and five seasons of being alternate captain under his belt, it was evident for everyone, from his teammates to the front office, that Matthews was ready to take the lead.
“When [general manager] Brad Treliving and I met at the end of this past season and discussed ways for our team to take the next step, we both agreed that Auston is ready and it's his time to lead," former captain John Tavares said. "It's been an incredible honor to serve as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs these past five seasons. Looking forward, I will do everything to support Auston as we continue our pursuit of the Stanley Cup.”
After years of working hard and becoming the face of the team, it is only fitting that Matthews gets the “C” on his sweater. He is excited to take this next step, not only for his teammates and the Maple Leafs’ Franchise, but also for the city of Toronto and the fans.
“I'm incredibly humbled to be named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs," Matthews said in a statement from ESPN. "I'm honored to follow in John's footsteps and continue our work in leading this team along with so many other leaders within our dressing room. This team, this city, and our fans mean everything to me. We all embrace the history of this franchise, and we are determined to get the job done.”
It will be exciting to see Matthews continue to make history on and off the ice as he takes the lead this season as the Maple Leafs begin a new chapter in their history. As the Leafs turn over a new leaf with leadership from Matthews, NHL playoff greatness may be on the horizon.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano
Comments