Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews to take over captaincy from John Tavares

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be making a major change to their captaincy.

Star forward Auston Matthews will replace veteran John Tavares in the role, Sportsnet can confirm.

The 26-year-old will be the Maple Leafs' 26th captain in franchise history. It marks the first time the team has ever had an American captain and just the second time they have had a non-Canadian captain — the other being Swede Mats Sundin.

Matthews takes over from 33-year-old Tavares, who was named captain in October 2019. Tavares took on the role just over a year after joining the team as a free agent in the summer of 2018. The Mississauga native is about to enter the final season of his seven-year, $77 million contract.

Meanwhile, Matthews is about to enter the first season of his five-year, $53 million deal.

This past season marked several career highs for Matthews, including games played (81), goals (69) and points (107). He won his third Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2023-24 as the NHL's leading goal scorer, adding to an individual awards collection that also includes the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Memorial Trophy and Calder Memorial Trophy.

Selected first overall by Toronto at the 2016 NHL Draft, Matthews has been with the team for the past eight seasons and been named an All-Star five times.

The Maple Leafs will be hoping the change in leadership will provide a boost to a team that has struggled to find success in the playoffs for many years now, including this past season when they were knocked out in the first round at the hands of the Boston Bruins.

Apart from Matthews' rookie season (2016-17), the Maple Leafs have advanced to the playoffs every season. However, they have not advanced past the second round, which they reached only once during that span.

The franchise has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967.

The official announcement is expected on Wednesday, with the team announcing Monday that they will be holding a press conference at 11 a.m. ET.