The three-season wait is over. Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares is the team's new captain.
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Prior to puck drop on the 2019-20 NHL season Wednesday night, the Leafs revealed the Oakville, Ont., native as the 25th captain in franchise history. Tavares was the last player introduced, sporting the "C" on his jersey, before the team's season-opening game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
OFFICIAL: John Tavares has been named the Captain of the @MapleLeafs . pic.twitter.com/U3Ki8zFvvT
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) October 2, 2019
The team utilized Tavares' wife Aryne, and newborn son, Jace, to deliver the good news: he was greeted by his son wearing his jersey when Toronto's front office and coaching staff told him he would be named captain.
"It's a real honour. I won't ever take it for granted." #LeafsForever
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 2, 2019
The Leaf: Blueprint Moment presented by @Molson_Canadian. pic.twitter.com/6eyYUXQhvg
"That's a hell of a surprise," Tavares said as Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas brought him into a room with coach Mike Babcock and team president Brendan Shanahan. He greeted his son with a kiss, saying "[The jersey] looks good on you, bud."
"We don't expect anything from you other than you just continue to be who you've been," Dubas told Tavares. "It's been a lot of discussion and it's because of who you are and how you do things every single day, yourself and Morgan [Rielly] and the rest of the group and how you conduct yourselves day in and day out. It's what we want as a representation of our team every single day in here and to the public. We're just fortunate we have some willing help to share the news with you."
Tavares, 29, had the best season of his career in 2018-19 (47 goals, 88 points), his first with the Maple Leafs. He played nine seasons for the New York Islanders and served as their captain for five seasons before signing with Toronto in July 2018.
The last captain in Leafs history before Tavares was defenseman Dion Phaneuf from 2010-16.
Defenseman Morgan Rielly will serve as an alternate captain for the season while forwards Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner alternate wearing the other 'A' on their jerseys throughout the year.
Toronto Maple Leafs captains throughout team history
| YEARS | CAPTAIN |
|---|---|
| 2019- | John Tavares |
| 2010-16 | Dion Phaneuf |
| 1997-08 | Mats Sundin* |
| 1994-97 | Doug Gilmour* |
| 1991-94 | Wendel Clark |
| 1989-91 | Rob Ramage |
| 1981-86 | Rick Vaive |
| 1975-81 | Darryl Sittler* |
| 1969-75 | Dave Keon* |
| 1957-69 | George Armstrong* |
| 1956-57 | Ted Kennedy* |
| 1956-57 | Jimmy Thomson |
| 1955-56 | Sid Smith |
| 1948-55 | Ted Kennedy* |
| 1945-48 | Syl Apps* |
| 1943-45 | Bob Davidson |
| 1940-43 | Syl Apps* |
| 1938-40 | Red Horner* |
| 1937-38 | Charlie Conacher* |
| 1927-37 | Hap Day* |
| 1926-27 | Bert Corbeau |
| 1925-26 | Babe Dye |
| 1924-25 | John Ross Roach |
| 1922-24 | Jack Adams |
| 1920-22 | Reg Noble |
| 1919-20 | Frank Heffernan |
| 1917-19 | Ken Randall |
*Hall of Fame