Mike Babcock Comments on Lingering Leafs Captain Rumors
By Chris Russo
There's an air of speculation and mystique in Ontario right now.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is giving almost ominous comments on his team's vacant captaincy.
Mike Babcock on #leafs captaincy: "We'll announce our decision here coming up and end the speculation."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 13, 2019
After a fan pointed out something on forward Auston Matthews' jersey, rumors are swirling that the Arizona native will become the team's first captain in nearly four years.
?? ACTION!
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 12, 2019
Take a peek inside media day to kick off camp. pic.twitter.com/d6FGRaLzTs
The last time the Maple Leafs had a captain, Babcock was just a few months into his role in Toronto. The team traded away leader Dion Phaneuf in the middle of the 2015-2016 season. In 16 seasons as an NHL head coach, Babcock has only had five captains: Paul Kariya and Steve Rucchin in Anaheim, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg in Detroit, and Phaneuf.
Finding a captain would be big in terms of unity, as the team has had some struggles this summer.
Also, it is quite rare to see a team without a captain make a significant playoff run, something the Maple Leafs seem destined to do at least in the next few years, if not this season. No team has won a Stanley Cup without a captain since the Bruins did it in 1972, 47 years ago.