The Toronto Maple Leafs have been without a captain since trading Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators in 2016. After being eliminated for the third consecutive time in the first round of the playoffs, it’s just what this team needs; a captain.
Expectations are that the Toronto Maple Leafs will name Auston Matthews as the 19th captain in franchise history. That would be a mistake. There are multiple reasons why the Toronto Maple Leafs should not give Matthews the “C”.
With his contract lasting five years, Matthews proved to be cunning in what is best for his own self-interest, financially.