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The Toronto Maple Leafs should restore John Tavares’ team captaincy, considering an offseason move likely on the horizon.
The Toronto Maple Leafs should go ahead and restore the team’s captaincy to John Tavares this offseason.
There’s a reason for that statement.
The market is already pricing in an Auston Matthews trade. It seems a foregone conclusion that Matthews will not be a Maple Leaf next season. Of course, that’s just hearsay at this point. The current Toronto Maple Leafs captain could remain with the team, at least at the beginning of the season.
At some point next season, especially if the Leafs get off to a poor start, Matthews trade chatter will go into overdrive.
That said, the assumption here is that an offseason trade will happen. If that’s the case, there’s no reason for the Leafs to play without a captain next season. Tavares willingly stepped aside to let Matthews take over.
That experiment has yet to yield the results everyone expected. So, if Matthews departs, why not restore some measure of order by going back to an earlier model that worked for the most part?
It’s like testing software. When a new iteration turns out wonky, the best thing to do is go back to a previous version that everyone knows is stable. That’s the purpose behind returning the Maple Leafs captaincy to Tavares should Matthews leave this summer.
Maple Leafs Actually Play Well without Matthews
The Maple Leafs have missed Matthews over the years. The former 60-goal scorer has missed significant time throughout his time in Toronto. And, somewhat surprisingly, the Leafs have played well without him.
Overall, the Leafs are 49-28-6 without their current captain. While those numbers go back to 2017, just the last few games have been an interesting stretch. Yes, the Leafs are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, but two of those three wins have come against playoff teams.
The Maple Leafs’ 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night was an interesting development. It’s always nice to beat a division rival. But Toronto managed to do it playing a decent all-around hockey game.
No, the Leafs are not going to close out the season on a 12-game winning streak. But the numbers do show that, if the organization is serious about moving Matthews this summer, it really wouldn’t be as catastrophic as fans might believe.
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Tavares Right Leader for Transition Period
Tavares has three years left on his current four-year deal. He’ll be 38 by the time the deal is over. It’s safe to assume that he might still have some tread on his tires even at that point.
Then again, three seasons is enough time for the Maple Leafs to turn things around. An influx of young talent, draft picks, and even a major front-office shift could lead the Maple Leafs to another window of contention.
It’s feasible to suppose the Leafs might achieve that in about two to three years. That’s the right window for Tavares to lead the team through a tough stretch.
Again, that situation all depends on the assumption that Matthews leaves this offseason. If Matthews stays, that changes the entire value equation. At that point, the Leafs would need to assess if a quick retool would be feasible. In that event, Tavares can continue to lead the team seemingly behind the curtain.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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