It’s time for the Toronto Maple Leafs name a new captain

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t had a captain in over three years. They should change that.

It’s been since Feb. 6, 2016 when the Toronto Maple Leafs last took the ice with a captain in what would be Dion Phaneuf’s final game with the franchise. However, after three years and counting, it’s time the club names a new captain.

Phaneuf was in his sixth season as captain before being traded to the Ottawa Senators as the Maple Leafs were in full rebuild mode. Since the defenseman’s departure, Toronto has elected to not to add a “C” to the front of anyone’s jersey, instead choosing to be patient by allowing someone to develop into the role.

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For the past few seasons, it’s made perfect sense for the Maple Leafs to go without a captain. The team was turning the keys to the car over to a youth movement and naming a captain was unnecessary, especially after many felt it was a rushed decision to name Phaneuf captain in the first place. This time around, Toronto wants to ensure it makes the right selection when they name their new team leader.

Only now, the Maple Leafs have reached a stage where they aren’t short of candidates for the role. Three key members of the club immediately stand out when it comes a potential new captain. Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly are at the top of the list with all three having a legitimate case for why they should be given the honor.

Matthews is the franchise superstar, credited most for turning around the club after a decade of dark years. He’s the youngest of the three candidates but his age doesn’t reflect his maturity level as the book on Matthews since he’s entered the league is he’s wise beyond his years.

Few 18-year olds would have been able to handle the media-crazed Toronto market with as much class and thoughtfulness as Matthews did in his rookie season. Through three years in the league, he’s only continued to show he’s not overwhelmed by the unless demands by the media. He’s continued to grow as a player and a person, while also dealing with injuries which forced him to miss 34 games the past two seasons.

Tavares has already been a captain in the NHL having worn the “C” with the New York Islanders for five seasons. Much like Matthews, Tavares entered the league with about as much hype imaginable for a former first-overall draft pick. He’s no stranger to carrying the weight of an entire franchise on his shoulder as for the majority of his time in New York, Tavares was all the team had as the supporting cast around him was thin.

It was heavily rumored last summer after Tavares signed with Toronto that the hometown boy returning to his roots would immediately be named the captain of the Maple Leafs. The counter-argument to naming Tavares captain was it’d be too much pressure all at once to live up to the big contract he signed, playing for his hometown team, and also being named captain.

However, after 88 points in 82 games, Tavares put to rest any doubts living up to the contract or playing in Toronto would have any impact on his on-ice performance.

Then there’s Rielly, one of the longest-tenured Maple Leafs, who has seen a little bit of everything in Toronto. He’s seen the team at its worst with disastrous seasons leading to fans tossing their jerseys onto the ice. He’s seen the team build itself up to a position where if they ever got passed the Boston Bruins in the playoffs, it feels a run to the Stanley Cup final would be within reach.

Through it all Rielly has been a steady and stable force on Toronto’s blue line. His game continues to improve each season, highlighted by a career year last season with 20 goals, 72 points, and a plus-24 rating.

With big names on the roster like Matthews, Tavares, Mitch Marner, and formerly Patrick Marleau, things always seem to circle back to Rielly’s leadership when talking about a new captain. If anybody has proven consistently they can endure Toronto media criticism and still perform at a high level, nobody has done it longer than Rielly.

Another factor that may point towards Rielly being the best choice is it allows Matthews and Tavares to continue to be the dominating offensive forces the club needs them to be. It’s not to say adding the “C” to either center would cause their game to suffer, it’s to say they won’t always need to be front of the line answering questions after a tough loss. Something Rielly has proven over the years he’s more than capable of shouldering.

That being said, the media will still always hunt down Matthews and Tavares looking for answers, so the argument could be made naming either captain wouldn’t impact their media responsibilities one way or another.

Regardless of who the Maple Leafs decide to name captain, one thing is for sure, they have three legitimate candidates and it’s time they choose one. Matthews is old enough, Tavares is settled into his new home in Toronto, and Rielly has earned it just as much as the other two. After three years and counting, it’s time one of the original six NHL franchises names a new captain.