Pressure Mounts on Maple Leafs Captain Auston Matthews

Toronto's star center struggling amid team's late-season slide

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:56pm

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a tailspin, sitting second-to-last in the Eastern Conference with a 27-27-11 record. As the team's captain, Auston Matthews is facing growing pressure and criticism, with an eight-game losing streak and his own 12-game goalless drought adding to the team's woes. Former Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere believes the captaincy may be too much for Matthews, who appears to be carrying the weight of the team's struggles.

Why it matters

As the Maple Leafs' captain, Matthews is the face of the franchise and is expected to lead the team through difficult stretches. His struggles have raised questions about whether he is equipped to handle the pressure and responsibility that comes with the captaincy in a hockey-mad market like Toronto.

The details

Matthews, who became the Maple Leafs' captain in 2024, still leads the team with 26 goals this season. However, his 12-game goalless drought is one of the longest of his career. The team's struggles, including an eight-game losing streak, have placed extra attention on Matthews, with former Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere suggesting the captaincy may be too much for the star center. Giguere believes Matthews appears to be carrying the weight of the team's struggles and is not enjoying the game or inspiring his teammates.

  • The Maple Leafs named Auston Matthews their captain on August 14, 2024.
  • The team is currently in the midst of an eight-game losing streak.

The players

Auston Matthews

The 26th captain in Maple Leafs franchise history and the team's star center, who is in his second season as captain.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere

A former Anaheim Ducks goaltender who shared his thoughts on Matthews' situation during an appearance on Leafs Morning Take.

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What they’re saying

“I'm seeing a guy that has a lot of pressure. Maybe giving him the C probably wasn't the right idea. It's a tough market to be the captain. I don't wish that on anybody.”

— Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Former Anaheim Ducks goaltender

“It just looks like a guy that's not having fun, not inspired, not inspiring anybody else either. So maybe he needs a change, but maybe he also needs help. Maybe he needs people to come and help him out and take away some of that pressure of being the leader of that team. Maybe he doesn't have that in him to be the voice of the team.”

— Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Former Anaheim Ducks goaltender

What’s next

The Maple Leafs need a quick turnaround if they hope to make the playoffs, and the team's performance in the coming weeks could shape the narrative around Auston Matthews' captaincy.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the immense pressure and responsibility that comes with being the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the most high-profile franchises in the NHL. Matthews' struggles to inspire his teammates and lead the team through adversity raise questions about whether he is the right person to wear the 'C' in a hockey-crazed market like Toronto.