Craig Berube Reveals Whether or Not Auston Matthews is the Right Captain for the Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has a lot to say about his captain Auston Matthews, especially following what was considered to be a down year.
Auston Matthews was controversially named the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, following a long reign from John Tavares.
Transitioning the captaincy is always hard to do, especially when the previous captain is still on the team. Some felt like it was disrespectful to Tavares, while others saw this as a plan for the future.
Whatever the case may be, Matthews was a lead-by-example kind of guy, and while he had a down year due to injury, he certainly showcased that he can be the head of a group.
Craig Berube on Auston Matthews
Training camp has officially begun, and unsurprisingly, head coach Craig Berube has been asked a few questions about his captain and his competency.
This is where Berube made sure to give a ton of compliments, noting that Matthews grew into his role exceptionally fast. However, there are a ton of leaders on the team right now.
I thought he grew quickly as a leader. You guys don't see it-the in-game things, in the room where he's commanding. He's not the only guy. We have a lot of strong leaders who don't have to wear an A or a C.
The veteran presence on the Maple Leafs is certainly significant, and it is important to remember that some of these guys are going into their second season with the team.
Meanwhile, Matthews is going into this year healthy and, presumably, will have a much better season where he gets back his previous goal marks.
If Auston Matthews can become a 50-goal guy again, then this Leafs team is going to go very far this season.
Only time will tell whether or not the captain's promises will officially come true.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 19 | 266 ANSWERS Craig Berube Reveals Whether or Not Auston Matthews is the Right Captain for the Maple Leafs Do you believe Auston Matthews is the right captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| YES | 143 | 53.8 % |
| NO | 123 | 46.2 % |
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