Should Leafs Strip Tavares Of The 'C' & Give It To Matthews? | SDP 

Lowry is captaincy done right. Just giving it to your best player is usually a meaningless symbolic gesture that doesn't benefit the team, just gives media closure.

Auston's debut is a perfect microcosm of his time with the team. Record goal scoring, shocking skills we've never seen before. And we lost the game.

It was Marleau to Thorton, Thorton to Pavelski, Pavelski to Couture.

For those who are too young or don't understand WHY Matthews can't be an NHL team captain allow me to explain. Team captains are in charge of things behind the scenes (and on the ice) that greatly impact: * Team morale * Team chemistry & integration * The image of the team members to the general public * Their own individual efforts on the ice * Making sure the whole team is on the same page (internal issues being addressed) So does Matthews have these qualities since being a Leaf? Well... * He's definitely an on-ice points & goals producer! * He's been involved in not one but TWO legal incidents where he's harassed people during the off-season * He's outright said to Leafs' management that he'll give his best effort ''when it matters'' * He's had a bad relationship with 2 out of the 3 NHL coaches he's played for so far * He's spent a LOT of time boosting his ''frat-boy image'' as a Bieber buddy outside of hockey * He's not overly active in any Toronto community building (apart from the standard PR events) * He's handicapped this team for the past 5yrs with his contract, and will now be handicapping them for the next 5-6yrs * He's shown ZERO leadership on and off the ice in pulling this team together .....So will Leafs management make him captain? Of course they will - hey maybe they'll pay him an extra 1-million per season just because they want everyone to know how much they like him as captain.

I hope Marner goes and Matthews gets the C, then everyone can see he is part of the same problem.

What is that going to do? Is stripping the "C" going to bring playoff series wins? A cup? Quit address issues that don't matter. Change the core!

Should commentators stop worrying about non-essentials and start talking when the Leafs 'do' something to "improve" the team.

Rielly should be captain

No C for captain underpants. The guy is no where to be found in the playoffs

Unless there's an interpersonal/discipline issue, I don't believe in stripping the captaincy. It may be inherited once the existing captain is gone. I also don't think the best player has to be the captain. Please see the stripping of Rod Brind'Amour for Eric Staal. Besides, if you're giving the C to anyone else, it should be Rielly.

Reilly should be captain. He's been there the longest and always gets in people's faces when needed.

No. They should strip the captaincy from Tavares and give it to Reilly. I can't stand the Leafs so it doesn't matter what they do tbh, but I've been saying it since day 1 Tavares isn't a leader. Someone that blasé can't motivate the team or rile guys up.

Joe Thornton was stripped on his captaincy. The only player I can think of who made a decision on his own to give it up was Craig Conroy to Jerome Iginla.

With all the issues Leafs have I think this should be dealt with next season. Doing this will not change the way they play but demoting a player may have a negative effect. This Topic is just SO STUPID but doesn’t surprise me coming from the LEAFS.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Absolutely not! Matthew’s has never been a team player. He’s a goal scorer and nothing else. The captain must be someone who embodies the entire team, not just themselves and their own stats.

why would they insult JT? there is zero reason to do that move.

JT stays Captain til he retires 👍🏼, then Matthews can wear the C

The old man or the tummy ache captain. Top tier choices for sure.

This organization needs to stop worrying about grown men’s feelings and just do what’s best for the team NOW. If Papi is the true leader then make him captain.

Its funny that none of the big 4 are really great leaders. Tavares is the best of the bunch but that isnt saying much. Reilly was always the best guy to be the captain.

Honestly with 1 year left on JT's contract whey even bother with this now. This move could have been done maybe a season or two ago but now you play it out. This isn't the Anaheim Mighty Ducks it's TML the C means something we should not make these decisions in this manner.

We need a captain that does captain things when captain things need to be done. 10,14,27,17,93,13. Those were captains.

JT, end of season media availability day; "Six years being a Maple Leaf, obviously becoming captain. Something very special I don't take for granted... it comes with age." JT knows the history of this team and what the captaincy means. He doesn't take it for granted, and I think a player like Matthews would. I also thought he said somewhere something of the lines like, I have one year left, I am the captain, I love being the captain of this team. We'll see how the year plays out. but I can't find it. If he did say something like that, I highly doubt he willing past the mantle to Matthews. I think he was told too and everything else is just for show. Don't let the team or media spin it any other way. If they strip him, it's just to say, 'youjr time is done here, accept a trade,' which would be a horrible way to treat a captain that has led the team to the playoffs these past 6 years, and scoring the only series clinging goal in that time.

If Matthew did this it would be so classless. This team is always in the headlines for the wrong reasons. It’s easy to dislike the leafs

no

Auston Matthews should NEVER hold the Captaincy of the Leaf's. He is a totally self centered "me first" child. He is NOT so solidly stupid that he did not realize that 4 players taking more than 50 % of the cap, would mean that the Leaf's would never win a cup during his tenure.

Imagine giving the Captaincy to a guy that doesn't show up in the Play-offs, be such a Leafs thing too do haha! All well and good scoring 60+ goals in the reg.season...when there's generally more space and time. But he disappears when it matters.

the illusion people have, that the "C" has to be on the best player is nuts. it should be on the leader of the team, the guy everyone looks up to and respects.

No... mathews doesn't say "captain" to me.

They didn't give it to "drop your pants" boy in the first place because...well, he dropped his pants in public. Now he's worthy?

Captains are leaders is Mathews a leader? Skill is great but the the will to win and natural leadership are necessary for a hockey team captain. I haven't seen these in his game so far.

changing the C wont help nothing will help the laffs another season of hilarity incoming hoping steve has insurance on his voice, he is going to need it

The emotional leader that straight up quit on his team when it mattered the most

Captaincy? Why, for the regular season only?

Captaincy is absolutely and utterly meaningless in todays NHL 🤷‍♂

Absolutely change. 34=C

I've commented on here plenty of times saying the same thing: strip JT of the captaincy. It's a no-brainer. No successes and clearly the wrong personality for the job. ...it's time for Captain Morgan. Better media handling, big personality, has served longer and can use his new platform alongside Tanev to step up another level.

NO

They shouldn’t have made Tavares the captain in the first place.

A captain is the first person you select in a team and a leader; on form it’s Reilly, on popularity it’s Mathews and on romance it’s Nylander. That’s partly a joke but imagine Nylander being culpable

Stripping the C from Tavares is the dumbest idea. Why? What point does it serve right now unless it’s the team and players deciding to do so.

What I find adorable about the Maple Leafs is that each year they want big changes after losing in the first round of the playoffs, and once those changes don't happen, they become okay with the status quo, believing that the next season will somehow be different. Matthews, while he's an exceptional player, he's not the greatest leader. But, I could be wrong.

This is the passing of the torch, I think JT will have such a weight lifted and he deserves he’s respect.

Leafs fans are so desperate to take the c away from Tavares and give it to Matthews. You guys have been talking about it for 3 years now

Definitely don't strip the captaincy from Tavares. He will need to make that decision on his own and pass the torch to Mathews. I still think Riley should have been captain from time.

Give it to Nylander. He actually seems to care and was distraught after the recent first round exit. Matthews looked like it was just another loss. Where is the passion? Anger? Have never seen it from Matthews or Tavares. Matthews is more passionate about scoring regular season goals than about winning in the playoffs.

This conversation is *exactly* what is wrong with the Leafs. The captaincy is about leadership and personality. The abilities of the player are important as well but should NOT be the driving force of the C being on anyone’s chest. FWIW, JT is a fantastic hockey player but never gave the vibes of a guy who had passion for winning. Very “ho hum” and while I’m sure losing in the playoffs year after year are him up, if you look at the team they kinda took that personality to heart and showed that same style on the ice. And I’m not sure AM34 would be that different.

That will distract from the fact they still will not have traded anyone of the core. Feels like a Shanahan thing to do.

Why would they strip Tavares a year or something before his contract is up? Just doesn't make sense

"...a better citizen..." who is in trouble with the Canada Revenue Agency?

None of you guys mentioned the most obvious question, is he a leader?

I dont think any of them on the team should be captain. The captain makes sacrifices for the team and AM doesnt do that cap wise or leadership wise. None of them do that on the team, the Capt materials are the ones that walk away.

Thats a weird way to say Tavares is a better captain that Phaneuf.

Who says the best player should be the captain? Why put that extra pressure on someone!

Are we forgetting why he didn't get the c back in 2019? He was facing disorderly conduct charges and I believe was suspended by the league over it.

Yes I think Matthews should be Captain, but I think JT should walk up to him and say here I give this to you and I will follow you to the end

No do not strip John of the captain. He has one year to go then rethink it

That aggregator sounds a bit like the news media!

Depends. Does Auston want it? Does Tavares want to pass it on? Do the Leafs players even care and is this just a media talking point? Probably. As a Leafs fan idc. Tavares and Matthews both handle the media well but i think Tavares is best at giving them nothing and keeping drama at bay.

Nylander is a better choice than Austin. Tavares might as well keep it one more year until he's gone or takes a smaller contract.

JT will be gracious and give it to Auston like the player JT is.

34 DOESNT DESERVE IT.....hes done nothing too show why he deserves it.....scoring 69 goals but then collects his 13.25M after each 1st round lost.....

It was Patty to Jumbo.. and even though both lost the C eventually they eventually went to the cup finals. Imagine that...not blowing up the core lol. They did make a coaching change however.

After that incident in Arizona...no

Tavares should never have been named Captian...Auston Matthews was in Toronto before Tavares...he was younger and was always going to be in Toronto longer...it never made any sense. Tavares is a great player but not the most vocal guy...Toronto has wasted Auston Matthews up to this point. The guy should already have won a cup by now. Figure it out!!!

If they don't remove the C from this guy then it shows how badly run this team is. No consequences for anything with this core. They are so pampered it's pathetic. I don't see anything getting better until Shanahan is gone. He is the guy who let Hyman go for free and he is the guy who continues to run everything back. They could have traded Kampf, Liligren and Jarnkrok and used that 7 million towards signing Pesce or Montour. So now the defense is apparently is what it is, then they should trade all 3 of those players for the best center they can get.

Tavares should keep C

Kinda speaking out of both sides of your mouth when you complain about everything that's wrong about the core-4 every day (rightly, I think) and then insist that one of them should be given the C.

Toronto needs stronger voices in the room period Regardless of who wears a letter

The American locker room cancer who only seems happy in off-season and on commercials he’s paid to smile? Really? Captains aren’t the best players on sheet but are in he locker room. Matthews makes the same golf reservations or mid to late April in the states cause he doesn’t care. Shoresy said it best “he doesn’t hate to lose” a guy like that won’t end a 50+ year drought even if he scores 34% of the points

The Leafs org. is so anal about the who wears the C. After Sundin Left how many years was there before the gave it to Pylon..2008-10 and then no caption for three season 16-19. There were people they could have given it too, but decided not to. They will not give it to Matthews while JT is on the team.

Papi should have got the C his 2nd year but couldn't keep hir pants up

just do what Luongo did with Sundin, make it a show

John doesn't carry a purse...

Marner loves Toronto, is a workhorse, incredible talent. Sign Marner before he leaves and wins the Hart.

None of those flakes should be captain. Not one of them are captain material. Find someone with a Wendel Clark mentality and you'll have your captain

Makes absolutely no sense!! Why is this even a topic? Oh yeah its the middle of summer and nothing else to do! 🤔

I mean, can he score a playoff goal?

Let JT ride out his last year as Captain. Give AM the C the next year. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Frankly I'd give the Cto tanev

Steve, you’re so out of it this day

Lets be real, theyre sending an obvious hint to jt. Leave bro. Lets us move yoyr contract.

Lol word it however you want they still had the C taken away, whatever mental gymnastics work for you though.

Matthews hasn't earned it yet. He disappears in the playoffs.

to give it to Tanev

Matthews is like Nate Mackinnon. They might not technical be the captain, but everyone basically already thinks of them as the captain anyway

1st: Tavarez never was the right choise. In 2019 Morgan Rielly was. 2nd: There is no need to strip him of the "C", now that he got it for years and his contract is up next season. 3rd: If you switch the "C", give the "C" to the person, that deserves it the most: The fans! (So go with triple A again, until a "C" really steps up, which nobody does at this point in time! Simple as that.

The C and A's are cosmetics and just for show. The only leader on the Leafs that actually did something was Spezza. Waste of breathe and time talking about it

100% great guy

No!! He's not a leader either. Give it to Sidney Crosby when he comes. 🎉

They still be golfing

Reilly

No.

This is a BS story and Matthews isn't a leader. His frat boy Bieber buddy attitude isn't what the Leafs need to build a team to win in the playoffs and take home a Cup. Do we all forget about his 2019 Arizona incident?! Bad decisions don't make him leader material.

I'd take Wendel or Dougie all day, any day, over Auston. Sorry.

So glad you brought that up Adam. All these contracts were signed not knowing a global pandemic was going to flatten the salary cap for a half decade.

C -> 44

In a word No! What qualities would Mathew have that Travares lacks or missing! Adam has been on making Mathews Captain for sometime now! Where has Mathews taken over a game ? A playoff series! Stood up for another player! Face of the franchise doesn't mean he would make a good Captain ! get respect not from his team mates but from around the league,!! Mathews is not a dominate player he does not or can not take control of a game ! He does not dictate the tempo ! Like a MacKinnon McDavid ! He shows no emotion !! Nothing at all ! His voice does not make you want to listen ! Or play by example. He hits but will not ever get in a players face. It would be the worst mistake if Mathews is to be made Captain , Morgan Rielly Jake McCabe have better qualities to be a Captain. This is not high school or college. A Captain does not have to be the face of any team!! Mathews gets ragged doll and smiles while it's happening!!! Sorry but Adam Steve Jessie Mathews is not worth the Captiancy!! If your point is because of of Points why wouldn't Marner be worthy of being Captain or Nylander??? Ove Sid Trubba Larkin Marchant Petroangello Barkov are worthy of wearing the C and not necessarily the face of their teams

I deposed this organization so much. Everything is so political. Grow up and run the business like real men

No. Taking it from John is fine, but don't give it to that passionless clown. NO HEART. and....what?! you mean how they WON both games without him in the playoffs? (ok, that was more rough than I should be, but I don't see him leading anything. Maybe, just leave it off all until someone shows up to lead)