There’s plenty of space for a lapsed captain in the Leafs’ dressing room.
That’s from Wendel Clark, who held the position for three years and came back twice under successors Doug Gilmour and Mats Sundin. It’s the only time the past 50-plus years that such a curious circumstance occurred in Toronto, before John Tavares gave Auston Matthews his seat at the captain’s table on Wednesday.
Clark recalled he didn’t walk on eggshells when near Gilmour and Sundin, nor they around him.
“It takes a group of leaders, Auston getting the ‘C’ is not one thing,” Clark said as he and Gilmour watched Matthews’ investure from the front row of Real Sports. “It’s a little more focal point on him now because he has that letter. But it’s just a letter.
“It was great how this was handled, with John’s professionalism. He’s watched Auston grow and wants to help his teammate. But John’s not changing the way he plays or prepares and Auston doesn’t want him to. The letter doesn’t change the person; the reason you got the letter was because of the person you are.”
In the spring of 1993 and ‘94 with Gilmour as Clark’s assistant, the two helped take the Leafs through six total playoff series, winning four.
“The joys (of captaincy) are leading the greatest franchise in hockey,” Clark added. “The downfall is you’re the conduit if the team’s going through a tough time. You might get blamed individually, but you can’t take it personally as an ‘everybody doesn’t like me’. That’s the big thing.”
AUSTON WON’T BE A YELLER
Other than learn the etiquette of partaking in about 500 ceremonial faceoffs the next few years, do not expect a different Matthews as captain come October. A good time to point out three former Leaf captains, Syl Apps, Sid Smith and Dave Keon, were Lady Byng Trophy winners while 69-goal scorer Matthews always gets votes for that particular good conduct award.
“I’m not going to be yelling at people or anything, I’ll continue to evolve, lead by example,” Matthews said. “I approach it to be myself, I think I know who I am as a person and my role on the team, to continue to be the best player I can be.
“We have one goal in mind, that’s to win. We believe in each other. But take it one day a time, be in the present because you can only control so much.”
OH SAY CAN YOU ‘C’?
here must be about 20 million Canadian boys through the years who’ve dreamed of accepting a Leaf captain’s jersey. Wednesday, it went to a California-born, Arizona-raised son of a Mexican mother.
But as Ema Matthews and husband Brian looked on proudly, Auston said his eight years in Toronto playing under the Scotiabank Arena banners of team greats and walking past the Legend’s Row statues has enhanced his sense of now belonging in Toronto.
“You realize very quickly how special the place is, the history and everything that comes with being a Leaf,” Matthews said. “It’s something I don’t take for granted, every day representing this city and this organization.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the season going.”
CRAIG’S LIST
Almost lost in Wednesday’s crowd of current and past Leafs, MLSE honchos Keith Pelley and Larry Tanenbaum, Argo president Pinball Clemons and dozens of corporate staffers given the morning off to attend was new coach Craig Berube. He’s had a busy June, July and August on the interview circuit.
“It’s been great to get to know all the players and their different personalities,” Berube said.
He’s had a first-hand chance to see Matthews as the team’s summer scrimmages heat up.
“He’s a great player, but it’s his work ethic off the ice and how he prepares. He’s at an elite level in that department in my opinion, a team-first guy, the type who will take care of his teammates.”
Berube was asked about his staff, including new power play architect Marc Savard.
“He an offensive guy, scored a lot of points (728 in 832 NHL games) and a great power play. I had him in St. Louis running the power play, he did a great job there and went on to be a head coach in junior (Windsor) and went to (the Calgary Flames) last year. It’s just the familiarity I have with him and his personality will work really well with these types of players.”
TURN BACK THE CLARK
As Matthews did his media rounds Wednesday, screens at Real Sport were doing a montage of past captain press conferences, including Clark’s.
It came at Maple Leaf Gardens on 1991, the same day as Team Canada was holding tryouts for that autumn’s Canada Cup.
“Wayne Gretzky and Dougie taped a fake ‘C’ on my practice jersey. Two weeks later I got cut from the team.”
“(GM) Cliff Fletcher went in the Hot Stove (for the news conference). It was a huge honour.”
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