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Auston Matthews was named the Toronto Maple Leafs' 26th captain in August, taking over from veteran John Tavares. The Leafs also made changes in the coaching and brought in well-established coach Craig Berube.
In an interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas, Matthews shared his positive outlook on the current Maple Leafs roster despite acknowledging their playoff struggles over the years.
Auston Matthews expressed his excitement about the group, emphasizing his confidence in their ability to navigate seasonal ups and downs. He believes that, despite the challenges, the team's potential remains strong, and he's optimistic about what lies ahead for them as a group. He said (quotes via Leafs Nation):
“I’m excited about our group, I really like our group a lot. I think over the course of the season, it’s natural you’re going to go through some ups and downs. There’s adversity, but, I think our group as a whole I’m extremely confident in, despite the lack of postseason success over the years.”
Auston Matthews was drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL draft and is now in his ninth season with the club. The 26-year-old has recorded impressive 60-goal campaigns, including a historic 69-goal season last term.
However, despite his remarkable consistency and individual achievements, Matthews and the Leafs have only advanced past the first round of the playoffs once. Looking ahead, Matthews believes that with continued effort and focus, the team can break through in the postseason:
“Sometimes you have to take your licks and just continue to push on, and put your best foot forward. You know, I think we feel confident that we will break through at some point. It just takes one postseason, right? I think for us, just continue to put the work in and stay in the moment. We can only control, what we can control today."
Auston Matthews and Craig Berube face first loss with Leafs
Matthews and Craig Berube experienced their first loss of the season as captain and coach, respectively, when the Leafs fell to the Montreal Canadiens in their season opener at Center Bell.
Cole Caufield was the only scorer in Wednesday's matchup. Despite dominating with 48 shots, the Leafs couldn't find the back of the net, with Sam Montembeault putting in a stellar performance in goal for the home team.
Auston Matthews registered six shots on goal. The Leafs will be back in action on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.
