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Eddie Olczyk optimistic of Toronto Maple Leafs' final four chances next season
The Toronto Maple Leafs named star center Auston Matthews as the team's new captain on Wednesday, replacing John Tavares. Matthews becomes the first American-born captain in franchise history and just the second non-Canadian after Mats Sundin.
According to NHL insider Eddie Olczyk, naming Matthews captain boosts Toronto's chances of making a deep playoff run this season.
"Now, Auston Matthews has re-signed, so that’s not the case anymore, but going into it, nobody knew...
“I just believe this is the year. I'm expecting a run. What’s the run? I don't know. But there’s no doubt in my mind that they have the team to give themselves a chance to get to the final four teams in the National Hockey League." Olczyk said in a phone interview with the TSN on Thursday.
The team has a history of early playoff exits with the latest being a first round defeat against the Boston Bruins. Olczyk thinks that Matthews becoming captain could be the spark needed to alter this storyline.
That’s my gut and my feel for this team. Whether or not that happens, only time will tell."
Matthews scored 107-point season last year, including a league-leading 69 goals which was last scored by Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 season.
Auston Matthews's thoughts on becoming the Toronto Maple Leafs captain
Auston Matthews expressed immense gratitude and honor after being named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"I'm so honored and humbled since being drafted here eight years ago. You realize how special it is to play for the city of Toronto, to wear the Maple Leaf on your chest every single night. It just means the world to do that.” Matthews said said about receiving the captaincy to NHL.com.
Matthews was informed of the decision by former captain John Tavares, who voluntarily gave up the role to pass it on to Matthews.
"After [Tavares] kind of let me know, I told him I was like shaking. I had chills..." Matthews recalled. "To be the captain is truly special. For him to call me and kind of let me know that he wanted to pass on the captaincy to me was very emotional. I felt a lot of things, but it's truly an honor."
Matthews’s leadership will be crucial as the Maple Leafs continue their quest for hockey's ultimate prize.
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