The Toronto Maple Leafs Have a Captain on Every Line

John Tavares

The Leafs weren’t the first to name Tavares a captain. That distinction belongs to the New York Islanders. They were fortunate enough to benefit from the terrible play that put them in last place in the 2008-09 season, allowing them to draft Tavares with the first-overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

In September of 2013, after a year where he was a Hart Trophy Finalist, the Islanders trusted Tavares to be their captain. Taking over for Mark Streit, who was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, Tavares became the 14th captain in Islanders’ franchise history.

Auston Matthews

As already detailed, Matthews didn’t become the captain of the Leafs but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t had the role while playing on NHL ice. In December of 2018, NHL fans decided that Captain Matthews had a nice ring to it.

Hockey fans were trusted with the power to determine who would not just participate in the 2019 All-Star festivities but also who would captain each team. Matthews was elected as the Atlantic Division captain for All-Star Game.

Alex Kerfoot and Jimmy Vesey

There are others on the Toronto Maple Leafs who have had the distinction of being named a captain of their team. Jimmy Vesey and Alex Kerfoot are among them. They were both captains of their NCAA team, Harvard Crimson.

Not only did both players hold the role but Kerfoot earned it when Vesey vacated the position to join the New York Rangers. Kerfoot was actually a co-captain along with his teammate, Devin Tringale.

Jake Muzzin

Reaching all the way back to his time playing Major Junior hockey in the OHL, we can find another former captain on the Maple Leafs. In Jake Muzzin’s final season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, he was honoured by being named team captain.

Muzzin had a great season. As an overage player that year, he won the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s top defenceman. His strong play was what led him to earn an NHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings.