NHL insider reveals how John Tavares really feels about losing Leafs captaincy

In a move that caught many hockey fans off guard, NHL insider Darren Dreger reported yesterday that the team will be announcing Auston Matthews as the next captain tomorrow morning. Considering that the team has not made any huge roster changes, it is not totally unsurprising that they would want to shake things up some other way, but the timing of the move seems a bit odd as no one was really expecting an announcement so soon.

Of course, the Leafs have been very professional about this process, stating that Tavares himself was heavily involved. As such, it would seem that he gave up the captaincy voluntarily. However, Macramalla thinks otherwise. He did not claim to have any inside information on this instance, but did not that Tavares must have felt some level of embarrassment on a basic human level after he failed to lead his team to a successful playoff run.

This comment sparked a lot of debate among Leafs fans online. Many seemed to agree with Macramalla, with some even promoting conspiracy theories about how the team asked him to relinquish the role peacefully, but only notified him the decision had been made just before the actual announcement.

That being said, many other fans have also come to Tavares' defense, stating that he was and still is a good leader. Many pointed out that he is not dumb, he likely knew a change to the leadership group was coming, especially since Mitch Marner does not appear to be being traded. He very well may have even suggested a change himself, or simply agreed and understood that it is best for the entire team that he passes the torch to Matthews. Making such an admission takes real leadership.

Will Matthews find some playoff success when the Tavares-lead Leafs couldn't? Next season will be our first chance to find out.

Source: HockeyPatrol
TSN reporter hints at John Tavares' true feelings on losing Leafs captaincy