This season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have not met the expectations that everyone hoped from the roster before opening night. A strong offensive team for years is now at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and has spent most of the year trying to stay close to the playoff line.
This situation has brought Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs into greater public attention.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere Questions Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs Captaincy
The 2007 Stanley Cup champion Jean-Sebastien Giguere recently shared his thoughts on Matthews’ situation while appearing on Leafs Morning Take.
The former NHL goaltender spoke about the challenges tied to the captaincy in Toronto. He suggested the role may have added extra pressure during a difficult 2025-26 season.
“Well, I’m seeing a guy that has a lot of pressure, feels, you know, I think maybe giving him the C probably wasn’t the right idea. You know, I don’t know. It’s a tough market to be the captain, you know. I don’t wish that on anybody,” Giguere said.
Giguere explained that the environment in Toronto often places intense expectations on the player wearing the captain’s letter. In his view, the team’s overall performance can affect how that player approaches the game and handles the public spotlight.
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“And I think the success of the team weighs on him a lot more than him personally. But if we had both of them together, it just looks like a guy that’s not having fun, not inspired, not inspiring anybody else either,” he added.
The former Anaheim Ducks goaltender also noted that not every strong player naturally fits into the role of captain. According to him, the position in Toronto involves responsibilities that go beyond on-ice performance.
“So maybe he needs a change, but maybe he also needs help. Maybe he needs people to come and help him out and take away some of that pressure of being the leader of that team. Maybe he doesn’t have that in him to be the voice of the team, you know what I mean?” Giguere said.
“And it doesn’t mean that you’re not a good leader if you can’t be a good captain. You know, you can be vocal, you can do all the right things. But being a captain of the Maple Leafs requires a lot of other things that maybe he’s not comfortable with.”
Matthews Points to Examples of Teams Bouncing Back After Difficult Seasons
Toronto’s overall record shows how challenging the year has been. The Maple Leafs hold a 27-27-11 record with 65 points, eighth in the Atlantic. Defensive issues have been a major concern, as the team allows 3.48 goals per game, while the power play has produced mixed results at 19.1%.
Even with those struggles, Matthews continues to contribute offensively, though at significantly lower levels than his 69-goal season. The Toronto captain leads the team with 26 goals this season, after a drop due to injuries last season.
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Matthews himself addressed the situation during a conversation with TSN’s Mark Masters, pointing to recent NHL examples of teams recovering after missing the playoffs.
“I remember Lightning missed the playoffs one year (16-17) & then the next year they’re back at the top of the division, competing. Boston this year had a down year and now they’re right back in the mix. Sometimes it happens.”
The comment indicates Matthews believes the team’s current struggles do not necessarily determine the franchise’s long-term direction.
