Crisis averted: the Toronto Maple Leafs have decided they won’t have a captain again this year.
Alright, this is a sarcastic commentary. For the entire offseason and right up until a few days ago, countless media outlets were endlessly debating whether Auston Matthews should be named captain of the NHL team. The media interviewed players, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Lou Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock. The pundits ultimately decided the budding superstar should someday, if not now, be the Leafs’ captain. And Leafs management announced the team will again have several assistant captains.
Whew! That’s so good to know. And it’s the regular reminder that everything happening with the Maple Leafs becomes huge news, regardless of how trite the subject or how little the rest of Canada cares. And it told everyone, hey, the hockey season is starting. Thanks, Toronto.