Why Does Matthews Look Different as Maple Leafs Captain?

Sometimes you watch a player and get the feeling something has changed. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but there’s something different about the way he carries himself. That’s what JD Bunkis and Sam McKee were talking about when they discussed Auston Matthews and his start to the season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain seems to be handling himself a little differently this year. Maybe it’s the offseason, maybe it’s being healthy again, or maybe he’s had a chance to step back and look at things from a different perspective. But the two hosts raised another possibility. Could having Mats Sundin around the organization be making a difference?

It’s an interesting thought, and I don’t think you need to stretch things too far to see why.

Sundin Knows What It Means to Be Captain in Toronto

Sundin knows what comes with being the captain of the Maple Leafs. He lived it for years, and he handled himself in a way that earned a lot of respect. He was good with the media, carried himself with class, and seemed to understand what an honour it was to lead this team.

As Bunkis and McKee pointed out, Matthews and Sundin have likely had chances to talk since Sundin joined the front office. We don’t know what they’ve discussed, but I’d be surprised if they never brought up the captaincy. And really, who better to talk to?

Matthews doesn’t have to lead the same way Sundin did. Every captain has his own personality, and there’s no single way to do the job. But it can’t hurt to have someone around who understands the pressure, the attention, and what it means to wear that C in Toronto.

Sometimes, you learn something from a conversation with someone who’s been there before. It doesn’t have to be a big lesson or a long talk. It might simply be a different way of looking at things.