The Toronto Maple Leafs tabbed John Tavares as the 25th captain in franchise history prior to Wednesday's season opener against the Ottawa Senators.
Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner were named alternate captains. The latter two will rotate throughout the season, the team announced.
The Maple Leafs decided the captaincy well before learning of Matthews' disorderly conduct charge last week, general manager Kyle Dubas said during the first intermission, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Tavares, 29, becomes the first Leaf to wear the captain's "C" since Dion Phaneuf in 2015-16. The Oakville, Ontario native served as captain of the New York Islanders for five seasons before signing a seven-year, $77-million contract with Toronto on July 1, 2018. He scored 47 goals in his first season with the Maple Leafs.
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