What Should a Maple Leafs Captain Look Like in 2025-26?

The debate about Auston Matthews and the captaincy isn’t really about him—it’s about what people think a Toronto Maple Leafs captain should be. That word, captain, carries more weight in Toronto than almost anywhere else in the NHL. It’s about history, identity, and the city’s expectations, as much as it is about the player wearing the “C.”

Matthews’ Leadership Is of the Quiet Kind

For plenty of fans and probably most of his teammates, Matthews checks the boxes. He’s one of the best players in the world, he works hard, he rarely looks rattled, and he sets a high standard just by being himself. Not everyone wants their captain screaming in the room or punching walls after a bad period. Sometimes, leading quietly is enough.

But for others, that’s not the Maple Leafs’ way. To them, a captain in Toronto should look like he’s dragging the team through fire when the games really matter. That’s why names like Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour always come up. They weren’t just talented—they made the fight visible. They showed grit, defiance, and a connection to the city’s underdog spirit.

Fans who comment at the bottom of posts I write on The Hockey Writers keep circling back to those images. One even suggested putting together a highlight reel of past captains as a blueprint for Matthews to study. Another floated the idea of adding Gilmour to Legends Row, as a reminder of what leadership can look like in Toronto. Those aren’t small gestures—they show how much people are still measuring today’s stars against yesterday’s heroes.