(Toronto) The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to confirm star forward Auston Matthews as their next captain.
The Leafs called a press conference Wednesday morning to announce that Matthews will become the 26the captain in the history of the Ontario concession, according to many sources.
He will succeed teammate John Tavares, who played the role for six seasons.
The Leafs have made the Stanley Cup playoffs every season under Tavares, but have only advanced past the first round once.
Matthews, 27, scored 69 goals last season and won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer for the third time in his career.
Matthews, who was selected first overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, has spent his entire career with the Toronto team.