New Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews admits his shortcomings as "not the most vocal" leader

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 11, 2024 05:33 GMT

Auston Matthews, the new captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, opened up about his leadership style, admitting that he's not a vocal leader.

As he prepares for training camp next week, Matthews has been spending time improving his tennis skills with former NBA star Steve Nash, who lives close to him in Phoenix.

On the "32 Thoughts Podcast" with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas, Auston Matthews said that playing tennis with Nash is a lot of fun, even though the former NBA star is much better than him.

Matthews also reflected on his leadership style, acknowledging that he might not be the most vocal presence in the locker room. However, the 69-goal sniper feels he has become more comfortable speaking up in recent years. Matthews said (via Sportsnet's Luke Fox):

"As far as my leadership goes, I'm not maybe the most vocal guy in the locker room. But the past couple years I've felt more comfortable to speak up."

The Leafs' new captain emphasized that he prefers to lead by example, aiming to set a high standard for the team during practices and games. Matthews also noted the importance of recognizing the impact one can have in the locker room over time.

"I tend to just lead by example, trying to set the standard for our team whether it's in practice or in games. But I think over time, it's important to realize the impact that you have in the locker room."

While working on his tennis game, Auston Matthews has also been getting on the ice earlier than usual this off-season. Fans might see changes in Matthews' game style in the upcoming season, as he hinted at making some changes to his training but didn't provide specific details.

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"I got chills, honestly": Auston Matthews on being named Leafs captain

Matthews was named the 26th captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs last month, replacing John Tavares, who wore the letter "C" for the club since 2019.

Auston Matthews also became the first US-born player to captain the Leafs in the franchise's 107-year history. Matthews expressed his candid emotions on being named the captain of the club, felt chills and was both honored and humbled by the recognition. He said (via NHL.com):

"I got chills, honestly," Matthews said about being named captain. "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."