Former Maple Leaf outlines what Auston Matthews needs to do to be a good captain

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Austin Kelly
August 21, 2024 (5:46 PM)

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A former Toronto Maple Leaf and current analyst gives his thoughts on what it will take for Auston Matthews to succeed in uniting the Leafs locker room as the team's new captain.

Leafs analyst Mike Johnson spoke on TSN 1050's 'Overdrive' discussing the new role Auston Matthews has as the Leafs captain for this season, and how he can be a uniter in the locker room despite not being a longtime veteran.

"The one element that could change, maybe for the better if you can imagine that for Auston Matthews....I don't know how much better Auston Matthews can get, maybe being better in the room....is that he is so respectful of the older players, veterans, guys who've been there before, maybe he bit his tongue on occasion or was quieter on occasion, deferring to (John) Tavares and his leadership".

For Matthews, Johnson views Matthews role as needing to be that of a team unifier, a positive character in the locker room, being able to add a respected attitude beyond just his ability as the leading man on the ice, but as the leader off of it.

There's little doubt of the talent Matthews showcases as a player, with a league leading 69 goals for 107 points on the season with Toronto in 2023-24, winning the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard trophy for top goalscorer, and a nominee for the Selke Trophy, given to the league's top defensive forward.

But for Matthews, for all he does on the ice, he'll have to find a way to translate into leading the rest of the team to stay motivated and trust in each other as a unit, balancing his talent and keeping the rest of the room connected to one another, even more pressing with a new Head Coach in Craig Berube and a second-year GM in Brad Treliving, with more chances possible if yet again Toronto cannot make a deep playoff push.

If Auston Matthews is to succeed as the Leafs captain, the likelihood is for #34 to not just be Toronto's best player, but someone the rest of the team wants to win for.