Matthews clearly the next captain
The rookie and the coach say they’ve never thought about it, but it is clear the No. 1 pick will have a ‘C’ soon
BUFFALO — Auston Matthews claimed to have never thought about it and Mike Babcock doesn’t want to talk about it.
The idea that Matthews should be the next captain of the Maple Leafs has been solidifying for the past several weeks, with the 19-year-old rookie strengthening his case for the Calder Trophy as games are getting more intense in the final push to the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Leafs captaincy has been vacant since Dion Phaneuf was traded to the Ottawa Senators nearly 14 months ago, and there’s an expectation that a captain will be in place when the 2017-18 season begins.
In a hockey year that has featured eye-opening performances for varying reasons from all of the Leafs’ freshmen, Matthews has stood above the rest. He was tabbed as a franchise player before the 2016 draft and got Leafs Nation thinking the previously unthinkable when Toronto won the right to choose him first overall; in the ensuing months, Matthews has made the rest of the NHL understand what he is capable of accomplishing through the next decade and beyond.
To do that with alternate captain’s A on his sweater, perhaps, instead of the captain’s C? We don’t see it.
“Not at all,” Matthews said when we asked whether he thinks about the possibility of being the Leafs captain. “I just go play hockey and that’s never been on my mind.”
The Leafs have alternate captains in Morgan Rielly, Leo Komarov, Tyler Bozak and Matt Hunwick. All can be commended for leadership qualities. None are Matthews.
For Babcock, the question means nothing as the Leafs busy themselves with trying to lock down a playoff berth.
“I’m not comfortable talking about anything like that because right now we have (alternate) captains and we are preparing for Buffalo,” Babcock said.
The Leafs took Sunday off from the ice after winning in Detroit on Saturday, instead using the day to watch video in advance of playing the Sabres at the KeyBank Center on Monday night.
Frederik Andersen will start in net, and Babcock indicated Curtis McElhinney will get the call on Tuesday night when the Leafs play host to the Washington Capitals to finish their 17th back-to-back set of the season.
With 38 goals, Matthews has tied Neal Broten’s 35-year-old record for most by a U.S.-born rookie. Another point, which will be his 67th, and Matthews will set a record for most points by a Leafs rookie, snapping Peter Ihnacak’s mark.
Matthews hasn’t wilted as the heat has increased — frustration isn’t part of his game — but there’s more to consider if you’re not convinced he should be the next Leafs captain.
“I don’t know what (the Leafs) are going to do, but he definitely has the qualities,” Leafs winger Matt Martin said.
“He appreciates what everyone does on this team and goes out of his way to comment on that, whether it is a blocked shot, hit, fight, whatever.
“It speaks volumes. He is not just consumed with what he is doing on the ice, he understands what everyone does, the importance of what everyone does. On the same side, when things are not going well for him, he is not a negative person. He works hard every day and he is humble, especially for his age.”
Toronto has been piling up points, winning games when there has not been an inch to spare. The Leafs are 10-2-1 in their past 13 games and Matthews has been a large reason. Matthews has an eight-game point streak and will attempt to become the first Leafs freshman since Gaye Stewart in 1942-43 to score a goal in five consecutive games.
“This season has not been all roses for him, even though it seems that way,” Martin said. “There have been (slumps). When you are playing in this market, that’s never easy. Yet he handles everything the same way.
“He just goes about his business. He is going to be a good leader for this team for a long time.”