NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs May Consider Captain Change

Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumors. Toronto has made a lot of moves this offseason, but there are rumors surrounding captain John Tavares. According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs are reportedly considering a captain change.

Could there be a new captain in Toronto?

Tavares has been captain of the Maple Leafs for five seasons now. He was named the 25th captain in Leafs history ahead of the 2019-20 season. That was just one season after signing a seven-year, $77 million contract. Alongside him are alternate captains Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Retired NHLer and former Maple Leafs player Nick Kypreos believes the idea of ​​the Maple Leafs removing him as captain is a popular one.

“From what I hear, the Leafs are thinking about taking the captaincy away from him and giving it to Auston. They’ll talk about it,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but it’s real.”

Matthews never wore the “C” in his professional career, which would make him the 26th captain in franchise history. He would also be the first NHL captain of Latino descent, as he identifies as having Mexican ancestry, due to his maternal family. This rumor is not entirely ridiculous, as fans have already suggested that Matthews should replace Tavares as captain. Matthews has a much more imposing style of play on the ice, as he is a superstar. There are also behind-the-scenes videos that reveal Matthews’ leadership abilities in the locker room, which has wowed fans.

However, if this rumor of Tavares being captain turns out to be true, one can only wonder what the impact would be on team morale. The 33-year-old is a highly respected player in the league and a move like stripping him of his captaincy could be seen as rude or disrespectful. Teams don’t typically change captains just to change things up. It usually only happens if a player retires or joins another team. A move like this is not very common and would generate a lot of media attention.

Tavares’ future in Toronto

Drafted first overall by the Islanders in 2009, Tavares is entering the final year of his contract with the Leafs. He has scored 419 points in 440 games for the Leafs and has been a great second-line center for them. There have been quiet rumors that general manager Brad Treliving has acquired Tavares. However, Tavares has a full no-trade clause in his contract and is making significantly more than he is worth. As such, it is unlikely that he will be traded in the final year of his contract.

Many are wondering if the captain and the Maple Leafs will agree on an extension for next season. It’s obvious that the Mississauga native would have to accept a salary significantly lower than what he currently earns, but can the two sides agree on the length and value? Furthermore, the general manager still needs to pay some attention to Marner and his expiring contract. Either way, the current Toronto Maple Leafs captain will have to tune out the noise and give his best during what will be a contract year.