Who should be the captain next year?

[SwaggySpungo]

You say it's stupid and act like it's ridiculous to not have one, but you don't give any reasons why it even matters.

The post explicitly said why it matters. But you can ask every Stanley Cup championship team in history why it matters, if you prefer.

Or ask the 4/6 teams who couldn't even make the playoffs.

 

[Gary Nylund]

This thread needs more Hyman.

 

[Canadian Finn]

surprised to even see 19 votes for Matthews.

Tavares is my 1st choice. Mo would be 2nd.

 

[Hogan86]

Rielly C
Tavares A
Marner A

In the running for an A- Hyman, Muzzin

 

[socko]

I think I made a mistake not voting for Rielly. But Marner would probably be my 2nd choice. Hopefully someday it's Matthews who deserves it, he has by far the most talent. Just need the consistent effort and compete.

 

[Warden of the North]

Still Rielly

 

[mulefarm]

Matthews is starting to emerge as the leader this series!

 

[MyBudJT]

Halfway through the season, I had it ranked approximately like:

Tavares - 50%
Rielly - 42 %
Marner - 5%
Matthews - 3%


Now, I have it:
Rielly - 44%
Tavares - 40%
Matthews - 7%
Marner - 6%
Muzzin - 3%

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I still think Matthews will get it, but I'd personally pick Rielly without a doubt.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

Matthews has proved he is our leader this series. Probably our most consistent player not named muzzin or andersen this series

Rielly would be my second choice. With that said, I didnt notice him until last game honestly. Muzzin has been the stud on the backend all series.

Tavares should no way be captain. First of all, he just got here. More importantly, speed is catching up to him. I can see him losing it in the next couple of years honestly. Marner is great but doesnt have that captain persona.

 

[wingman75]

So having a season to digest this season and playoffs, to me the best choice would be Rielly. If not him, I support Matthews.
I think both players had great seasons, but more importantly really stepped up in the playoffs, and if not for the Bobcat could have even contributed more (especially AM34).
We cannot go into next season without a C imo. It's time to commit. Lets go.

For me:
C = Rielly
A = Matthews
A = Tavares

 

[A1LeafNation]

Matthews after the season and playoffs he had.

 

[SwaggySpungo]

3 years with no captain.

3 years of 1st round exits.

Put a damn C on somebody. Enough of this millennial “my fee fees hurt” crap.

 

[Peiskos]

You know what?

Win a playoff round first, let a leader emerge. Then name a captain, until then no captain.

 

[Loosie]

 

[SwaggySpungo]

You know what?

Win a playoff round first, let a leader emerge. Then name a captain, until then no captain.

Ridiculous.

A NHL team shouldn’t go 1 season without a captain, much less 5, 6, 7, 8 seasons.

It’s so bush league.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Matthews or Rielly. The only 2 Leafs who looked good for the entire series.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

Matthews ainec.

Rielly would be 2nd.

 

[socko]

If it's not Rielly, I'm going to be kind of pissed. And like a dummy, I didn't vote for Rielly. What can I say, I got caught up in the moment with those Mitch blocked shots. Still love Mitch, but Rielly has earned the captaincy and the race is over as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Peiskos]

Ridiculous.

A NHL team shouldn’t go 1 season without a captain, much less 5, 6, 7, 8 seasons.

It’s so bush league.

Captains are pointless when you actually sit down and examine it.

 

[SwaggySpungo]

Captains are pointless when you actually sit down and examine it.

Every team that has ever won the Stanley Cup disagrees with that opinion.

 

[Marmoset]

I think that you can make an argument for all of those forwards, but none of them is significantly more worthy than the others.

Morgan Rielly is by far the best and most important defenceman, has tenure, has been good in interviews and demonstrated leadership capabilities - at this point in time I think it's him.

I originally thought it was inevitable that Matthews was going to be the captain, but then Marner emerged and we signed JT; and Rielly took his game to another level.

 

[Stephen]

It's Rielly and Matthews. Tavares is not it at this stage and Marner cannot score enough points to overcome the fact that he's just a millennial youth playing in a men's league.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Matthews, he was a beast this series, and showed that he can step it up.

I’d be worried about Tavares, he is probably the best choice right now, but in 3/4 years when he slows down... that’s a lot of un needed pressure. He also just got here...

 

[MapleLeafs77]

Matthews, he was a beast this series, and showed that he can step it up.

I’d be worried about Tavares, he is probably the best choice right now, but in 3/4 years when he slows down... that’s a lot of un needed pressure. He also just got here...

He was our best player. He is clearly our leader. Wherever he goes, we follow. He is the face of the franchise and stepped up when no one else did.

Our forwards didnt produce besides him. Pretty much scored every goal.

Its time. Give him the C this summer.